Exercise

I like to keep fit but being deaf restricts what I can do somewhat. Group exercise is a very difficult activity because even with the implant I can't really hear the instructor's directions, even worse if they have loud music playing as well. I've discovered the perfect deaf persons exercise though, yoga. It's slow enough that I can watch the person in front of me and copy what they are doing without looking like a fool. Yoga also tends to repeat poses so now that I know most of them I can predict what's coming next. This is me enjoying the relaxing aspect of yoga, I'm in the striped top fourth from the left.

Cochlear Awareness Network (CAN)

I've just become part of the Cochlear Awareness Network. You can view the website HERE.

If I ever had any doubts about the second implant, this lady has convinced me otherwise

Jennie Brand-Miller - click here

Modern Music

Do you know that I've not heard a current song for nearly two years? I have no idea what songs my teenaged son listens to, no idea what popular songs are being played on the radio and no idea what people are listening to these days. I haven't downloaded a song from iTunes in two years either. I think what I miss most, more than music itself, is not knowing what music is out there at the moment. I'm out of touch with popular culture!!!

The Root Canal in Silence

I had a root canal today for an infected tooth. I take my CI off so that the dentist equipment doesn't scramble my settings and sit through most of the appointment deaf. Today my dentist saw me making a few signs with my youngest son and to my delight he (dentist) started using the signs with me!

He mostly used the sign for good, which is the sign you want to see when your mouth is being drilled and your tooth nerves are being removed!! It's such a simple gesture but it actually means a lot to me that he made the effort to learn a few signs, and he made up a few of his own while he was there, that was funny.

The other bonus of course is that I couldn't hear the drill and various other unpleasant dentist equipment noises. In fact I think I feel less pain when I can't actually hear the sound of the drilling! All in all, a rather pleasant root canal .................