Christmas Cookies
Yesterday Annie and I made three different KINDS of cookies. We wanted to give five people--two for Visiting Teachers, one for our wonderful neighbor who helped us shovel the snow that blocked our garage, one for one couples who are due having twins today (the husband helped sweep off the snow on my car last Sunday), and last one is for Annie's little sister, Katie. Oh it was so much FUN making THREE different kinds of cookies. That made me want to do it again for next year. FUN FUN FUN! The tough part is to give the cookies to them because I was too SHY! Sheese, I was grateful that Annie was with me and she can take over the conversation and I just stand and smile. That's my job. Oh yeah, add to my job--wave.
First I wanted to show off those cookies that we made..
Stained Glass Cookies
Chocolate Crinkles
Chocolate-Dipped Melting Moments
(Seriously, it did melted in your mouth! It surprised me!)
We dropped most of the cookies and two of our visiting teachers were not home. Basically three were not home. One answered (the couples who having a twins soon). It was time to drop off for Katie. We saved the last because she live in Baltimore. We tried to find the address, well, we wanted to surprised her. I thought she would like that.
Annie printed the direction how to arrive Katie's new apartment. She moved several months ago. We were so bad that we haven't visit her new apartment. I guess it's time to visit her. We were so excited to see Katie. We followed the direction until we passed her old apartment. I somehow remembered that Katie or Annie told me that Katie lives really close to John Hopkins Hospital which is not close where we were at that time. Annie thought so.
We continued driving and both of us decided to check our GPS on Iphone and I saw that we passed Katie's old apartment. GROANS! We printed the direction for Katie's OLD apartment! Of course, we flipped and can't make a decision what to do without ruin our surprise for Katie. Annie ended up text Katie to ask for her current address.
Lucky she answered and gave us her current address. Grins, we had wasted our precious 45 minutes! We found her little apartment and hoped that she would be home. Our smile dropped when realized Katie wasn't home. Our hearts dropped as well. We had to leave the cookies with a little crappy note to let her know how much we love her.
That reminds me of my mission. My companion and I often faced that "not home" things. We often felt our smiles and hearts dropped when nobody was home or forgot our appointments. But of course, it bought us other wonderful experiences not just "not home".
Back to Katie, I'm grateful that she will joining us for Christmas holiday. She will come and stay with us on Christmas Eve until Christmas. I have made some plans for us to do on Christmas Eve and of course on Christmas Day. Katie and Annie mocked me and said it's "Fifemas". Eh! I can't help but I told Annie what she wanted to do for Christmas and she said, "I don't know.." I tried to use psychology magic to suck things out of Annie's wish what she wants to do for Christmas.. Nothing works, I failed so I had to take over and made a plan for us to have fun, not just sitting on the couch and hoping the snow falling. Girls, it won't happen.. Sorry, girls.
So I realized I have been blah blah blah than the cookies.. Eh, Merry Christmas.. I hope you have a GREATTTTTT Christmas with your families and friends.. LOVE YOU!
White Holiday!
We had a small BIG winter storm yesterday and it was harmless when it was snowing ALL DAY.
Annie and I came down to shovel our little driveway so both of us will not get stuck to get out this Monday. One of our nice neighbor helped us and let us borrow his shovel. Anyway, My car was clean but not really because we have been shoveling and it was still snowing. I was curious how much we get in two or three hours later. I came back and measure it. Wow, three and half inches. The snow gets less and less. It didn't look like this in the afternoon. That picture I took was night time. Oh I found that odd when I saw there were several cars, their windshield wipers, were sticking up from the window. I wonder why...so I decided to do the same. Annie and I suspected that they did this to avoid icy and damage the windshield wipers. Clever, but I'm not sure how clever it would be. I wanted to take a picture of that but I forgot on that night. I was going to take a picture this morning since my church was cancelled. But one of members live in this area came to us and asked if he can shovel and clean my car. Darn. I missed the opportunity to take a picture of sticking up from the window. Oh well, if we get some more snow, then I'll make sure I remember to take a picture..
I went sort of backyard of the apartment and to measure the "real" snow. We were surprised it reached 17 inches of snow! You see it almost reached my knee caps (I was using boots). Some area has less and other area has more snow. It was fun measuring the snow. Haha, you can see that I was having fun doing this.
See, 17 inches!
Well, I was done with measuring the snow and tried to walk but I slipped! Annie caught the picture that I fell. You see, it was still snowing!
Of course, I had to laugh at myself for the fell.
I heard we might get some more snow this weekend.. Possibly we will have a White Christmas. Oh come snow! Let it snow on Christmas Day!
Touching
Annie had a surgery two Fridays ago. She felt crazy for being stuck in apartment for so long. I tried to take her out a bit such as go to mall, taking her to doctor appointment, etc. Sometimes it was too much for her. Sometimes she almost killed herself by overdo. Oh boy, anyway, yesterday I told Annie that she can do whatever she wants to do. She wanted to see a movie called, "The Blind Side" because it offers closed caption also because I liked the actress, Sandra Bullock. She invited Katie, her sister, come along with us.
We saw the movie and we all loved it. The movie was very touching. At end of the movie, it surprised us all when we learned that recently Michael Oher joined Ravens (football team) which was in our area, Baltimore! I guess I can say.. Go RAVENS! Eh? I do not know how much I would go for it.. Haha. Anyway, my point is that you should see this movie. :D
An Apple Pie
Take a GOOD look at my apple pie!
I made this with my bare hands! Of course, I used food processor to cut up the apples. Goodness I have that machine! That picture I took before I put it in the oven.
After bake the pie, it looked so GREAT and YUMMY, didn't it? Are you drooling?
I loved that picture!
It's time to eat the pie!
We had to add the whipping on the pie. Who wants to eat the pie alone?!
Not bad for a person who made a first pie on Thanksgiving day!
Actually I had to get Annie to do the sauce because I forgot one thing that I was supposed to put in it. Oops, just like a soup. Sighs, I forgot to put water in the boiling when I made a sauce. It ended umm a rock. I don't think I want to put that thing on my pretty pie. Annie saved my pie by making another sauce but she did put water in it. Eh. The main reason I asked her to help to make the sauce because I was busy rolling the crusts for the pie. And yes, I did made the crust by myself and other things. :D Oh, Annie taught me how to make whipping for the pie.
I found that recipe from the internet. It called "An Apple Pie by Grandma Ople." Don't be surprised if you saw that recipe has lot of sugars in it.
Happy Thanksgiving Holiday!!
A Soup
I thought--should we try the soup? Why not! Annie cannot able to help me prepare the soup or make a cake because she has to work on that day. Yup, I do not have class to teach, or take a class or practicum on that day. I just finished the hours for practicum. Nice for me. :D
I collected the ingredients what I need for the soup. I realized I had to make a stock! I never made my own stock. I know I have watched mom made a stock but never watch very careful how she made it. Oh gosh, I do NOT like the touch of a raw whole chicken! I went to the store and look at them--blankly. Of course, I love chicken but touch it.. Nope.
I got everything ready to make the stock. I made the cake and it was done. Okay, let's make the stock and see how pro I was. I read the recipe a several times to make sure I was doing the right thing. I put things in the big pot. The last thing was to put the chicken. EW! When I think about it, EW! Anyway, I realized I had to cut it up to put in the big pot. Me cut up?! NO! I had NO IDEA how to cut it up. (Funny, mom asked me that I had done with turkey from last year Thanksgiving. Actually, it was Annie. Not me. That explains...)
I started panic because I did not know what to do with it but I got an idea and looked up on YouTube how to cut the chicken. I got some idea how to cut the chicken. GOSH! Let me tell you---SERIOUSLY?! I have to cut the drums and legs but crack the bones?! I tried the first drum and heard the crack of bone! AAAAAAHHHHH!! Definitely awful sounds of crack bone! I wanted to close my eyes but afraid will cut myself with sharp knife! (Thanks, mom! You gave me excellent knives!!) Anyway, it made me shatter and drop all of pieces of chicken in the big pot. EW!
I got excited because I made the stock! It was boiling. Okay, I have to leave it boiling for about 30-40 minutes. After 40 minutes, I had to take all spices and chicken out of the stock. It looked so goody and fatty--of course. It smells so good. I had to wait until Annie and Katie come here before I completed the soup. I looked at the recipe again to make sure everything I have were on the table. I saw specific part on the recipe and it said I should have three quarts of the stock. That moment I got confused. I tried to remember did I put three quarts of water? It said I need to put three and half water in the big pot and should have three quarts stock after boiling. Uh ummm, was that a mistake? I guess so because I only put three and half cups of water instead three quarts! I had to measure the stock and realized I only had one quart of stock. Oh boy!
I started stress myself over that thing. I was thinking...do I have to do all over again? What am I supposed to do with one quart? Can I add two quarts of water? Will it make a big difference? It's driving me nuts! I emailed Annie for HELP! She didn't know what to do with it. No help, thanks Annie. I ended up added two quarts of water and pour it in stock to make it three quarts. I hoped it will not make any big difference.
Finally the girls arrived and I put all stuff in the big pot with the stock in it. The soup looked very interesting. We were exciting and nervous to taste the soup. I also bought french bread to go with it. Excellent choice because it tasted so great with the soup. After prayer, I tried it with french bread and it tasted good. So I grabbed the spoon and suck the soup in my mouth. My eyes raised and wondered..do I like the taste of the soup? That taste wasn't what I excepted it would be. The taste surprised me. I couldn't make up my decision if I like it or not. AND today I still can't make up my mind about this soup.
At least I tried my best! At least I tried something new. At least I got some experiences to make a homemake stock. At least I'm still alive after cutting up the chicken. At least it was fun time with Katie and Annie. :D
Swine Flu
Two weekends ago, I dropped dead. Yeah, I got sick over the weekend. It started from little bit Thursday night and end until about Tuesday. My coughs still randoms. (That sucks because I only cough when I laugh, when I use lot of voice, when I eat something thick, when I blah.)
Odd thing that I was really sick on Saturday. My cough suddenly started on Friday. My nose was not running, etc but fever with awful chills. STINKY diarrhea (and now still have diarrhea..) Lost my voice. My body aches. My head was driving me nuts. My ears were not behaving good. Next day, Annie got sick.. Same kind I had! WOW! That was FAST! We were much better and have lot of energy compared to that weekend. However we still some left over.. Annie continued have coughs--not always. For me coughs random and continued having diarrhea..
Last night Annie told me that she found one that explains the difference between Flu, Colds, and N1H1. VERY INTERESTING! Good to know that both of us were on N1H1. Congratulation to us that we won the bingo. I'm pretty sure I got it when I teach ASL at TU. Lot of students got sick and some came with coughs. Sighs.
Click on that to see bigger picture so you can read it better.
The Weekend
I went to see the WICKED in NYC!
And we visited the Emerald City, umm, lot of GREEN in there..
Excited to see the Wicked.
Annie came along with me.
Neat stuff on the stage even the dragon.
Had to take another proof as well.
Annie liked this picture. See Green? It's the Emerald City.
You see the coolest technology I'm holding in my hand. That technology is called captioned, funny name. Yes, I was able to watch and read the words of their conversations and songs. I loved it. I loved one song called, No Good Deed. I do not know why but oh well.. :D
The result that I LOVED the show even it was little too loud for me. But I was able to handle the loudness and enjoyed it anyway. I wish the book was not so awful to read--DARN! The author wrote several books about Emerald City and I wanted to learn more about it but it has lot of bad things in it. I'm not go for it--Clean books, will read it. Dirty books, will not touch it.
A Year Older
Sweet Katie gave me roses for my Birthday. I was thinking that we need something such as flower or something on the table because it looked bare. Now it's full of beautiful roses on the table and enjoy to stare at it when it's time to eat meals. Thanks, Katie.
Annie made me a strawberry cake. It tasted very interesting. That cake includes jello, real strawberries, and stuff. Annie did a GREAT job making this cake. Thanks, Annie. It reminds me of Missy. She made me a cake with a big ladybug.
Close up to the ladybug.
That's me and ready to eat that cake. Hey, it's time to put the candles.
Phew, Annie decided to put three instead ___. I can't imagine the cake covers the candles. Imagine it will lead to a big smoke after blow them off.
Well, I'm a year older now. I admitted I forgot how old I was. Yup, that was sad!
Loud Kids
That's middle school kids.
That's me.
I'm sure my parents will like this especially my dad. My dad always complained that I'm too loud when I was young. Today I went to middle school for practicum to earn some hours. I have been there a few times. The more I go there and the more I feel so sorry for their parents as well for my parents that they went through when I was young. Frankly, I'm sick of their loudness/noises.
The kids were yelling, screaming, and use loud voice. Even kick the table, pound the table, or something to get a person's attention, even more..drop the books on the floor, tapping with pencils, hit things, being angry, and more..but I'm sure you get the idea. Sometimes I had to tell them to walk to get their attention since they cannot hear you. Really, the kids did not know how loud they were. I remember I was young and I knew I can make noise but never understood how loud that can be annoying or pain. Anyway, one student has a cochlear implant and he often makes loud noises. He thinks it was funny, but for me it was very annoying. (I do not know how much he can comprehension things "noise" around him.) I had to tell him quiet down and focus on his work. He stared at me and ignored me. After a few attempts and realized it was worthless because his teacher was deaf.
Today has opened my eyes (ears) to understand how my parents went through with me. Suddenly I realized it is difficult to explain to a deaf child how loud he/she was. Because the concept of loudness is very abstract for them, deaf children. Yes, it's true that the children can understand the concept of loudness somewhat but different way--visuals. Visual like busy--sort of same idea with distract background. Or bright clothes can be loud. But deaf children might never realized that the loudness can hurtful. Annie gave me an excellent example. When you're in a dark room, suddenly there are several thick bright lights go wild. It will hits your eyes and your eyes will screaming and shut closed automatically because it hurts.
Wearing hearing aid was completely different with Cochlear Implants. I have two good examples for you.
1. Watching a television show or a movie:
With hearing aid, I had hard time to listen the show or movie because it was not loud enough but too loud for hearing people. Sometimes I was watching and turned the volume up because I was alone at that time. I forgot to turn the volume down after I'm done with it. One of roommates turned the television, it was very interesting to see them startled and danced same time to get the volume down very quickly. I don't feel it was too loud because it didn't bothered me at all.
With Cochlear Implants, we are on the right page to watch without feeling frustrated to listen or scared anyone when they turn the television on. Oh yeah, we used old imac to hook up our television in the living room. We do not have cables, so we rely on internet for television shows. (It's nice because it's free. But sometimes it sucks because of no closed caption. I recently learned that www.hulu.com have several shows that has closed caption! YAY! Still not many shows have that still...anyway you should check it out yourself..) Anyway we had to increase the volume up because it was too quiet and the quality came from internet not television. When I wanted to watch a movie, I inserted a DVD in Blu-Ray player and changed the plug from computer to television. I turned television on--of course--the television bursted loud and it caused me dance and rushed to turn the volume DOWN. Now I understood why they danced. If I wear my hearing aid, I won't dance for sure.
2. Listening a music in car:
I'm pretty sure that Missy, Heather, and Annie can related to that because it has happened to them. It's the same idea with number 1. I turned the volume all up! I liked the bass but didn't feel it was too loud for me. And yes, I was wearing my hearing aid. There were lot of overlap noises and I wanted to listen the music. Listening to it was worthless, so having bass and little other things were better than none. Of course, I forgot to turn it down or never thought they would use this car. When they turn the key, the music suddenly became a bomb of sonic! I could remember their facial reacts when it happened to them. You see, it didn't scared me.
With my Cochlear Implants, it's a big wow because I couldn't turn the volume all UP and it was TOO LOUD for me to handle it! I would go to volume 5-7 or 9-12 (it's depend on CD quality and ipod etc. I'm sure you know what I'm talking about!) on the highway. Wow. It's a big gap between a hearing aid and Cochlear Implants.
So everyday I thankful for my cochlear implants AND GRATEFUL that I was able to get both. Also everyday, well not everyday but often, I have learned something new with sounds. I can be quiet for my parents when I see them. Eh!
Voice Quality
You can called me nerd for this one because I am going to explain what I have heard the quality of voice from Annie. I am starting to wonder if I am becoming to a nerd or I always have been a nerd? Oh well, it's not my topic for today.
I had an opporunity to test FM system with my both CIs. I have been curious how the FM system works with hearing aids and CIs because some of children used for school. I remember I wore one when I was in middle school. They made us to wear a big box on our chest that attached to our molds. It was no fun because it's pointless to wear this thing. Teacher refused to let us wear outside and they were afraid that we will damage this expensive toys. I hated that body aid so much. To be honest, wearing body aid and hearing aid were not completely different. I thought it was just the same. I would prefer to wear my hearing aid than this huge ugly body aid. But our school got them when I was in 8th grade and I was glad that the year was my last before I left for high school. Whew.
Anyway, it was very interesting experiences I had with FM system. Annie was excited to test on me and want to know more about how it works with FM system. It turned out fun project for both of us. I have learned about FM system. First there is a tiny that attach to my CIs. You can see below that attach to my CIs. And there was a remote that controls tiny FM that attach to CIs.
When Annie started to talk, my face changed into puzzle looks. I felt the sounds were not right. Am I crazy? I tried to describe to Annie. Oh boy, it was tough to describe what I heard through FM system. I was not sure if it's right sounds or do I heard the machine sounds? Annie tried many different ways such as walk away from me, moving the mic on where she puts on her body, using Ling to test my comprehension, walking around, etc. We have learned so much in short time.
I have learned something that I never thought about that. After heard all of Ling sounds, I still confused with "M" and "O". It sounds the same to me. I hope my mind can tell the different in the future. In my mind, I still think the sounds were not smooth what I have been hearing for awhile. I told Annie about my thoughts. It was her turn to be puzzled at my comments. We discussed and tried to figure why I felt that way with sounds. Short after I realized that I have been missing some sounds without FM system.
Annie wanted to do listening therapy and play go fish with animal cards. She won the game and told me that I was doing much better than before because I was able to recognize how many syllables. Umm interesting because I don't know that.. Is FM system good for me? I don't know.
Soon after the game, Annie was talking. I noticed something funny about her voices. I told he that her voice kept making funny noise. It took her awhile to find what it was and it was fry. Wow, that was not that bad, uh? I noticed her voice quality. I asked why she does that? She explained that she tends to do that when she reached the end of the sentences. Interesting! But she also emphasized that it's not always that way. Umm.. Again, she added to that and said she might have sore throat and it may affect the voice quality. Wow...maybe.. Wow.. Not bad for me.
Suddenly I was curious why FM system was important to wear in school? (Remember my experiences in middle school...) Annie was ready to explain and got me lost. After second or third time, I finally got it. It made sense to me and I did picked up more sounds than CIs alone. I wanted to show it to you so you can get the idea. I was so happy that I found one perfect example picture. FM system transmitter goes straight to receiver (CIs) what the mic picked up from 1-3 feet from speech. Without FM system, a person speech goes less and less when it travel to CIs. It's harder to hear, with FM system it's much easier without putting lot of effort to listen the person's speech. Interesting.. But it does not have to wear this FM system all the time, it's good for conversation, school, umm other things like that.
My mind is still learning. Really, I need the sounds stay in my mind so it can recognize the sounds next time when I heard it again. Oh boy.. lot of work.. but I have learned so much about how the FM system works. Amazing!
DONE!
I was so glad that COMP was over! I can't believe that they excepted us to finish this COMP within three hours. Seriously, it's impossible to accomplish about 10-15 pages in three hours with lot of thinking on the topics, but I tried. Yup, I tried my best. My anxious will not go away until I know if I pass or not. Bummer, I won't know in four weeks or more. Sighs. I hate waiting for the results, didn't you? But it's done. DONE! I'm DONE, hopefully.
Stressed!
That's me. I realized this THIS THIS Saturday I have to take a big test called COMP. This program gave us two options: Doing thesis that will steal your life or taking COMP that will cause your body bald. Which would I go for? I can't believe I went for second one! I do not have time to do thesis, that sucks.
I tried to study and memorized several articles. Sometimes I feel it's impossible to accomplish what I wanted before this Saturday. My job and practicum eat up my time. Real world know how to suck up my energy before I got home. I sat down and tried to focus on the flashcards. UGH! It seems those words can't stay on mind. My eyes kept driving me nuts. All of my body were trying to tell me to go bed even it was barely 6pm! Now I'm STRESSED OUT! Even worse my patience has gone to a thin ice. Yikes.
Okay, okay! I need to breath in and out. I can't believe today is Tuesday! I have only three and half to go! AAAAHHHHH! Okay, okay--I need something to slap me stop being stressed.. I found this, Stress Reduction Kit, and wonder if it works.. I should try it.. Should I?
Well, I'm still here and no, I did not try that theory to release my stresses. Sighs, I just finished added some more articles on my listing. NOT fun. UGH! I need something to calm me. Well, I found other picture and it looks like a good idea. Done! I just had a yummy ice cream. Darn, it helps but only for temporary. I decided to search more options how to release my stresses.. Yes, I was wasting my time looking for a perfect solution to calm my stresses. It took me a while......
......until I saw this picture, I bursted laugh my guts out. I guess that's what I need for now.
Please pray for me that I can handle the stresses and able to remember all of the articles for this Saturday, naughty COMP...
Another Mapping
This afternoon I had an appointment with Steve. This appointment was umm interesting because something has happened. First Steve asked me to give him my cochlear implants. Allow me to explain a little so you will not get lost in this story. I'm wearing two cochlear implants, right.. I have two back-up processors. That means I have four processors, two for each right and left ears. When Steve finishes the maps, he puts them on my regular processors and my backup processors (different maps for right and left ear).
Steve hooked up my regular processors to a computer and adjusted the map for me. I explained that it was too quiet every time I left his office. Also I told him that my problem with tingly has stopped a few days ago. I had no idea how it stopped but it stopped somehow. We all were thrilled to know it has stopped; however, hoped it will continue that way from now.
I have coils on my head and the wires goes to the computer. When Steve finished adjust my mappings and started to talk with me to see if the volume was good for me. At that moment, he started to talk, it was too quiet. Steve turned to the computer to make it a bit more louder then try it again. Nope, it was still the same--quiet. Steve was puzzled and decided to try one more time. Third time it was the same! Quiet. Steve asked me if the quiet was just quiet or worse than I had before come in the office. I don't have to pause to think if it was different and gave him the answer right away--it was worse than I came in.
Steve got confused and did not know what happened. It drove us all crazy. He checked everything on the computer. He was curious enough to changed from regular processors to back-up processors. He does not change the maps on back-up processors. He asked me if I was able to hear the same as I came in. He tested me by talking to me. Yes, it was the same what I heard before I came in. MMMM..
Steve gave up and told me that he wanted to test my hearing with regular and back-up processors. He tested me all four processors but goodness he didn't test me a whole test or it will takes forever to do that. He made a quick test for all four processors, I mean individually test. He showed us the audiogram. WOW! It does show the big difference between regular and back-up processors. Regular processors were on 70 dB while back-up were on 40 dB. 30 dB is a big gap!
Steve decided to removed the map that he created for me and make it new. Actually he used the map that I had then adjust the map again. He was anxiety to see if it would make it different. Odd, it works that time! That drove Steve nuts because he cannot able to figure it out WHY it was not working. Poor Steve BUT I'm so glad it worked. Whew.
Now Steve increased volume, especially high frequency on right. Whew, that's what I hoped for when I came to the appointment. Right now I'm trying to handle the loudness. It's overwhelming for me. GRR I hate to go through this phase again and again and again!! I cannot wait to get both on stable and used to the sounds. I have no idea how long it will takes but hopefully soon. My next appointment will be on December 4th. Groans. And the good news, the tingly hasn't come back since the appointment. Fingers cross. (Only tiny tingly but not awful annoying.)
A Concert
That's me. I'm in a concert. Annie and her sister, Katie loved the songs from Brandi Carlile. Annie found out that Brandi Carlile came back for another concert but that time in Baltimore. That was much closer than in Annapolis.
At first I was not sure if I wanted to go to the concert with them because I didn't enjoy much last time I went with them. That was when I got first cochlear implant. I didn't like the sounds of applauses, yelling whoo whoo, or guitar. It was too loud for me. I can't handle it and I thought the band was boring for me.
I was too nervous because now I'm bilateral and would it be worse for me? I took the risk and find it out by myself to see if it has improved or still the same. Before we left for the concert, I learned that there will not be any table or chair available. (The first concert was simpler and quiet. They had tables, chairs, and foods. Also there were no drums or bass.) Oh boy, let's go and have fun. Annie and Katie were nervous for me as well. They were hoping that I would enjoy the concert.
We left at around 6:30pm and the concert will not start until 8pm. We wanted to get there a bit early for parking. We found a spot without any problems. Thanks to Katie! She went that place before and knew where to park. We arrived and saw there were two LONGGG lines to get in. We got inside and it somehow surprised me the environment inside of the building. I was not excepting what it would be. Of course, there are no table or chair... means we have to stand near the stage. Yup. Near the stage and standing for about .... FOUR HOURS! Anyway, back to that.. There were several people already standing front of the stage. Obviously super fans of Brandi Carlile. We went to find a spot to stand and it was middle of place. Not too close to the stage. We just stand and waited for the concert started.
Suddenly I heard people started yelling, whoo, and applauses. Interesting, I didn't panic or squeeze my eyes for loud. Wow, I can handle that sounds. Let's see how it goes. Oh uh, there was a band and it was Amy Ray. She gave a opening for Brandi Carlile. Sheese, that band gave LOT of BASS and LOUD! I'm sure I do not need to wear my cochlear implants for this. I could feel the bass all over my body. Seriously, I can feel my pants vibration! Wow! Look at me... I can handle this LOUD music. While listening the song, I turned to Annie and Katie and told them that the band stinks. Annie and Katie laughed because they agreed with me. I don't know how to describe why this band was stink. I think it was too loud and too much bass. Too boring, blah.
Amy Ray and the band played for about 40 minutes. Finally Brandi came and the audience went crazy. Of course, I knew Brandi came to the stage that moment when the audience screaming for her. Amy Ray and the band finally left and let Brandi and the band start the show! Wow, it was MUCH better than Amy Ray! First few songs were not bad. I started to develop enjoyable to listen the songs and feel the bass. (NOT too loud or too MUCH bass as Amy Ray.) For some reasons, Brandi was more smoother than Amy. Okay, after few songs--I started following the rhythm by tapping my foot on the floor through the beats. It was so much fun. I was surprised at myself that I REALLY enjoyed the concert! Even my feet were killing me for standing FOUR hours.
The concert was over and we grabbed each other to escape the crazy audience who tried to escape as well. We were able to get out fast. I walked and tap Annie's shoulder. Annie turned to see what I wanted to say. I said, I REALLY enjoyed this concert! I wanted to go again.... Annie was shocked that I really enjoyed the concert. I bet Annie and Katie were relief that I did enjoyed this concert that time.
We left with hard of hearing. Yup, including me! That was so weird feeling. I started to understand why it was danger to be close to the speakers! :D The next morning, my sort of hearing got back normal. Whew. Well, I guess that's all and it was FUN time. I was happy that I did make the right decision by going to the concert with Annie and Katie. Thanks gals!
Oh Yeah!
I woke up and went to the bathroom. I came out of bathroom and saw Annie was about to wake up. I ran to jump on her bed and give her a hug. She got scared and pushed me.
Our conversation:
Me: Why you pushed me?
A: I got scared!
Me: You scared? Why?
A: I don't know you were there.
Me: But you knew I was in bathroom and you can hear the toilet flash, right?
A: Yeah, but I was stretching while you coming to me. Remember I'm hard of hearing at that moment.
Me: Uh? OHHHH! I totally forgot all about that. Using my cochlear implants and I don't have that problem.
End of our conversation... I thought it was funny because before get my cochlear implants, I remember I asked Annie one time when I was wearing my hearing aid. I noticed that when I was yawning or stretch my body, I can't hear any noise for a few second. Annie explained it to me why it happened.
I thought it was very interesting because now I have cochlear implants and it skipped that part. When I yawn or stretch, I still can hear.
I don't need to use the Tympanic Membrane (drum) or Eustachian Tube for the pressure air. I hear was straight from cochlea. That explains why Annie was not able to hear me coming to her while she was stretching her body.
This picture has animation. I don't know if this picture I put on this blog would work. If you want see the animation, click here.
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