A quarterback on the line of scrimmage calls an audible to change the next play on the fly before the ball is snapped. Hopefully, the rest of his team is on the same page, otherwise the play will fall apart.
Questionable hearing can have some serious implications. Communication is very important to our daily lives and essential to how our interactions proceed with others, and how we are perceived by others. Any slight misunderstanding can lead us down a different path. Since the surgery in March, there have been instances where I thought I heard a piece of a conversation one way, only to find out later that I heard it completely wrong. The end result is not being on the same page with the rest of the folks on the field.
It's good to laugh at these sometimes! I will be trying my best to keep track of these moments and share them with you.
Scenario #1 - South Pearl Farmers Market
Walking by a vendor tent on crowded South Pearl Street, a woman vendor selling tea approaches a passerby:
Vendor: Hello sir, would you like to try some locally grown tea?
Man: Sure.
Vendor: What flavors do you prefer?
Man: Uhhhh-
Vendor: Do you like women?
Me: (whoa...that was awkward- his wife is right there...)
Man: No.
Vendor: Ok, what about black tea? (Ahhh- the vendor was probably asking if the man likes lemon, not women)
Scenario #2 - Whole Foods Checkout
Amanda and I were at Whole Foods today, getting ready for a Memorial Day gathering in the park tomorrow. I had just a few things (namely raw meat and an ear of corn) for the cashier to scan. Whole Foods was loud, I wasn't quite tuned in yet...
Cashier: Hello, how are you today?
Me: Good thanks, how are you?
Cashier: Great, are you having a cookutnight?
Me: Trying to think quickly on my feet saying to myself what the heck is a cookutnight??....ahh a cook out tonight....A cook out tonight? (I get out the answer just before 3 seconds go by)
Cashier: Yea? Looks like you are cooking out tonight.
Me: Ah no, (trying to save face)...the cookout is actually tomorrow night. (It's actually tomorrow around noon, but I wasn't going to get into that with her.)
Sunday, May 26, 2013
Downtime Musings - Volume 1
One outlet for so much downtime is writing and thinking, and listening to the Bruins games on the radio.
It's exciting to listen to these games on the radio. I've been lucky to catch most of the games on the internet by streaming the audio from my cell phone signal, which is them pumped via bluetooth technology into a portable speaker! I can bring it anywhere. I brought it outside for yard work, inside for laying on the couch, even into the bathroom for showering! I like radio, and think the commentators are much more imaginative and exciting. They make you really think about what is going on, and to pay close attention to the game.
I remember going to our family camp in Maine and listening to the radio a lot. Most of the time, all we could pull were the French stations from Montreal. Once in a while we got lucky and could catch the Sox or Bruins and listen to the game out on the porch while we got eaten alive by mosquitoes. Our radio at the camp had one speaker....not initially two speakers, down to one...no - it was purchased new with only one speaker. It had a single tape deck, with buttons each the size of a deck of playing cards. This thing was a machine.
Another good place for listening to the radio is on a boat. Radios on boats are great especially on a nice cool summer evening fishing for chub. Music is okay in this instance, but again, the creme de la creme is listening to a sports game. Give the anchor a good heave, prop up the life jackets in the bow, sit back, close your eyes, and relax. Disposable radios are great for canoes, and unregistered aluminum boats. If you are listening a shitty radio on a shitty piece of watercraft, there is a good possibility you may be shitty as well.
You young whippersnappers might not be in tune with the joys of listening to the radio, or "boom box" as we called them. Most models had one tape deck, others had two (for creating mix tapes). It was not uncool to prop it up on one shoulder with the speakers positioned approximately 3 inches from your ear and walk about town (or the woods of Maine and New Hampshire). One note about the over the shoulder carry were the 8 D-Cell batteries required, so the boom box could get heavy depending on how far your travels took you.
Teens across the land rejoiced when the walkman was unveiled. Gone were the days of walking about town with a boom box. "There has to be a better way..." was the driving force behind this technology. It was the original hands free device. I remember thinking how cool it was to be somewhere with my walkman and headphones (with the puffy earpieces) on. It really was liberating to take your music anywhere.
In my opinion, the discman was just a pain in the ass. It was a so high maintenance. Everyone was so impressed with this new technology..."oh my god, a laser reads this silver disc with rainbow reflections?" The discman required so much care. DONT scratch the discs. DONT bump the disc man. DONT get the discman wet. The best uses for a discman were in the car or in the library studying.
The iPod generation is lucky. Or are they? This technology is the end result of older generations experimenting and refining personal audio. We have worked out the kinks for these people. Remember when your walkman ate your Metallica tape how crushed you were? Pulling, pulling, and more pulling of tape out of the innards of your walkman. Trying like hell to recoil the tape back into the cassette with a pencil. The new generation will never experience that.
Either way, no matter the new audio technology, I will need to have it! With a little more downtime ahead, I'm glad the B's have taken out the Rangers and there will be a few more games to listen to:)
It's exciting to listen to these games on the radio. I've been lucky to catch most of the games on the internet by streaming the audio from my cell phone signal, which is them pumped via bluetooth technology into a portable speaker! I can bring it anywhere. I brought it outside for yard work, inside for laying on the couch, even into the bathroom for showering! I like radio, and think the commentators are much more imaginative and exciting. They make you really think about what is going on, and to pay close attention to the game.
I remember going to our family camp in Maine and listening to the radio a lot. Most of the time, all we could pull were the French stations from Montreal. Once in a while we got lucky and could catch the Sox or Bruins and listen to the game out on the porch while we got eaten alive by mosquitoes. Our radio at the camp had one speaker....not initially two speakers, down to one...no - it was purchased new with only one speaker. It had a single tape deck, with buttons each the size of a deck of playing cards. This thing was a machine.
Another good place for listening to the radio is on a boat. Radios on boats are great especially on a nice cool summer evening fishing for chub. Music is okay in this instance, but again, the creme de la creme is listening to a sports game. Give the anchor a good heave, prop up the life jackets in the bow, sit back, close your eyes, and relax. Disposable radios are great for canoes, and unregistered aluminum boats. If you are listening a shitty radio on a shitty piece of watercraft, there is a good possibility you may be shitty as well.
You young whippersnappers might not be in tune with the joys of listening to the radio, or "boom box" as we called them. Most models had one tape deck, others had two (for creating mix tapes). It was not uncool to prop it up on one shoulder with the speakers positioned approximately 3 inches from your ear and walk about town (or the woods of Maine and New Hampshire). One note about the over the shoulder carry were the 8 D-Cell batteries required, so the boom box could get heavy depending on how far your travels took you.
 |
| Probably listening to Poison |
In my opinion, the discman was just a pain in the ass. It was a so high maintenance. Everyone was so impressed with this new technology..."oh my god, a laser reads this silver disc with rainbow reflections?" The discman required so much care. DONT scratch the discs. DONT bump the disc man. DONT get the discman wet. The best uses for a discman were in the car or in the library studying.
 |
| Loser. |
Either way, no matter the new audio technology, I will need to have it! With a little more downtime ahead, I'm glad the B's have taken out the Rangers and there will be a few more games to listen to:)
Monday, May 13, 2013
Doctor's Orders
Opening up Microsoft Word to a blank page reflects my activities for the next 30 days.
A few weeks ago, our Prospective Member class at Alpine completed our 24 hour overnight training, which consisted of navigation, multiple patient packages, evacuations, rappelling , medical assessments, radio communication work, and an overnight in some frigid temps without a sleeping bag or tent. It was awesome to be a part of this experience with a team of others all working towards a common goal. I realized I was allowed to do this by my doctor, and that a follow up visit with her loomed.
I was able to see her today. The doctor has ordered no running or activities at altitude (including hiking or flying) for 30 days. This may be easier to cope with if my leg was broken, or I was otherwise incapacitated. The thing is, every part of my body works fine, and every part of my body wants to go- none more than my wandering mind.
It has only been about an hour since hearing the news, and already I have passed countless runners on the road, realized that activity on Alpine will be cut back, flights to New York and Phoenix are no longer a go, no more Tough Mudder. No Bolder Boulder, no Colfax Marathon relay. I would kick and scream about it not being fair, but really, it could be a lot worse. I am extremely thankful for all of the positives in my life! There are countless other people who:
a) Would not have the opportunity to be a part of these activities in the first place;
b) Are not surrounded by great family and friends for support in a time like this;
I don’t want to dwell in it, but right now, it just feels good to let it all go on to the page. It’s just 30 days.
The doc says walking is just about the extent of activity for now - maybe another procedure down the road. The dogs were very happy to hear this exciting new! Thank goodness at least it’s grilling season:)
Thursday, May 2, 2013
Playing It By Ear
I know that there hasn’t been an entry on this blog for quite some time, and that’s not to say that there has been a lack of things to write about. There have been many things to write about and reflect upon in the last few months. There has been training for and completing the Canyonlands Half Marathon in Moab, Utah. I’m also working towards becoming a field active member of Alpine Rescue Team in Evergreen. The job, the life, everything! Why the delay in writing? I’m not so sure I can explain it.
About a month ago, I underwent a surgery to repair problems with my inner ear. The surgery itself was a piece of cake as far as I know. They removed a cyst, and made me a new ear drum. I just thought the biggest deal would be going in and getting my IV installed, and I’d wake up and it’d be all over. It was true. I did wake up. Job done. Let the anesthesia wear off and it’d be back to normal life.
I must write that the last month or so has been one of the most difficult recoveries, mentally. I’ve been in great hands with Amanda! Everything was great from that standpoint.
My doc said the key is to do as much as you can during the recovery, and try to regain sense of balance. By sitting and passive, mind and body won’t learn to work together, and so she encouraged activity. At first, the focus was on walking a straight line. It’s really strange, like being at happy hour 24-hours a day! Thought that hiking would help, especially practicing on the uneven terrain. Then I added some running to the mix. One block to start, and trying to build on that every day. Before I knew it, I ran 1, then 2, and finally 4.5 miles at home in New Hampshire! After so many weeks of not doing much exercising, it felt great to finally breathe hard and sweat!
On Monday, with one week to go before my overnight mock mission, the culmination of months of training for a spot on the Alpine Rescue Team, some funny things started happening. My ears started to ring so loud. After nearly a week, the ringing is there all of the time and sounds like a fire alarm. My hearing test revealed mid 70% hearing loss in the left. Dizziness returned and with vengeance. My steps cross sometimes, weaving on the sidewalk. Yesterday, walking to the train, I became so light headed, and sweating profusely, and felt nauseated. Once on the train, it was all I could do to make it to the next stop. Once off the train, I stripped off my wool overcoat in the middle of the May snow storm, and sat outside and let the freezing temps cool me off. What the hell is happening?
I talked to my doctor again, and she believes it is a perilymph fistula. Basically, fluid draining into the balance mechanism in my inner ear. The only way to fix it is by doing nothing. No activity other than going to work.
I’m not sure how long I will be able to sit still-this is going to be a prison of sorts. We'll just play it by ear...man I'm sick of hearing and saying that!
About a month ago, I underwent a surgery to repair problems with my inner ear. The surgery itself was a piece of cake as far as I know. They removed a cyst, and made me a new ear drum. I just thought the biggest deal would be going in and getting my IV installed, and I’d wake up and it’d be all over. It was true. I did wake up. Job done. Let the anesthesia wear off and it’d be back to normal life.
I must write that the last month or so has been one of the most difficult recoveries, mentally. I’ve been in great hands with Amanda! Everything was great from that standpoint.
My doc said the key is to do as much as you can during the recovery, and try to regain sense of balance. By sitting and passive, mind and body won’t learn to work together, and so she encouraged activity. At first, the focus was on walking a straight line. It’s really strange, like being at happy hour 24-hours a day! Thought that hiking would help, especially practicing on the uneven terrain. Then I added some running to the mix. One block to start, and trying to build on that every day. Before I knew it, I ran 1, then 2, and finally 4.5 miles at home in New Hampshire! After so many weeks of not doing much exercising, it felt great to finally breathe hard and sweat!
On Monday, with one week to go before my overnight mock mission, the culmination of months of training for a spot on the Alpine Rescue Team, some funny things started happening. My ears started to ring so loud. After nearly a week, the ringing is there all of the time and sounds like a fire alarm. My hearing test revealed mid 70% hearing loss in the left. Dizziness returned and with vengeance. My steps cross sometimes, weaving on the sidewalk. Yesterday, walking to the train, I became so light headed, and sweating profusely, and felt nauseated. Once on the train, it was all I could do to make it to the next stop. Once off the train, I stripped off my wool overcoat in the middle of the May snow storm, and sat outside and let the freezing temps cool me off. What the hell is happening?
I talked to my doctor again, and she believes it is a perilymph fistula. Basically, fluid draining into the balance mechanism in my inner ear. The only way to fix it is by doing nothing. No activity other than going to work.
I’m not sure how long I will be able to sit still-this is going to be a prison of sorts. We'll just play it by ear...man I'm sick of hearing and saying that!
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