The 18 Year Long Day by Cindy Henrion

I submitted my resignation letter to my employer today, the State of FL Department of Revenue. Mind you this was just a required formality, and out of respect. The decision to retire from the state has been in progress almost two years now with actually starting the process ie paperwork, just last October. A mix of emotions is setting in. One is relief. Relief from the daily 8-5 grind, anjjjd a grind it has become. The daily constant shuffling of taxpayers forms and payments with no end in sight I finally have full appreciation of when Seinfeld’s Newman painstakingly yelled out, "The mail never stops!" I laugh to myself often referring to it as the 18 year long day at the office. Sure feels that way.

Deafness has never been an issue in my work, I can do my job fully deaf, if anything like in the real world it's created social barriers that 'late-deafness' presents and is an annoyance at times, but also a welcome blessing as I’ve escaped most of the office politics that abounds in every work place. The slow progressive hand loss, both hands now extremely affected, and walking issue is another story and my reason for this decision. On the flip side, I will miss the people who have become my friends especially these last few years. It wasn’t always that way as it took me well over 12 years and 4 Supervisors to feel any semblance of belonging to the group. Even now my once rigid authoritarian supervisor has become a friend which is maybe the biggest lesson this job has taught me, to show compassion and forgiveness even if you don't feel you should.

I'm just a tad fearful of having nothing to do, feeling useless, bored. Ok, I'll get over that in about 5 minutes ;) So its 13 days countdown to my last day. I've been sitting behind a desk for over 20 years, as my size 14 jeans prove. I'll probably sit at home on the couch watching THE OFFICE for a week, then let out a collective musing of, “Now what?” Then I’ll go outside in the day time breath in fresh air and feel the sun on my skin. I’ll walk my dog at noon, shop at 3 pm, I’ll continue to be grateful for all my blessings and spend more time with family and friends and supporting causes I care about. And never ever stress out about being late for work again (collective merriment) ;)

More thoughts as I blog my last 13 days to come....

I've stopped being mad at homeless people for being in better physical shape than a lot of us. Yes, they can hear, they can talk, they can walk, most of them appear physically fit in every way. In contrast we're deaf, a few have mobility and balance problems, we all seem to have other health issues. But when you think about it, if it wasn't for God's providence for us - in giving us family, a government that helps the disabled, friends - we could be in their second-hand shoes, in their cold tents, staring into their empty pots. They're taking on the homeless suffering that would have been our lot from being too disabled to work - from being cast off from families that would have been unable to shoulder the burden of caring for us. This year, when enjoying the warmth of the Christmas Season, let's not forget to share a little with our neighbors without a house.

Need to Over-turn Florida Governor's veto of the FCCDHH

On May 26, Governor Scott signed the state's 2011-2012 budget into law. He exercised his line item veto as he said he would. The Florida Coordinating Council for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (FCCDHH) was a direct casualty of that line item veto. As of midnight June 30, 2011, the Council will cease to exist.



Here is a link to the 2011 Report to the Governor: http://www.fccdhh.org/files/1/File/FCCDHH_2011Report_Final2.pdf Please look it over to educate yourself about this organization.



Some folks from the Clearwater HLA and the Orlando HLA are already starting a letter-writing campaign. I hope you will join them by writing a letter, including the FCCDHH 2011 Report, and then asking your friends to make their voice heard too. Here are some suggestions for sending messages:



House Speaker Dean Cannon

http://www.myfloridahouse.gov/Sections/Representatives/emailrepresentative.aspx?MemberId=4340&SessionId=66



Senate President Mike Haridopolos

haridopolos.mike.web@flsenate.gov



Please also write to your legislators. You can find them here.

http://www.flsenate.gov/Senators/Find

http://www.myfloridahouse.gov/ (Click on Find Your Representative.)

No News is Good News

You know it's hot out when you envy dogs getting hosed down and bathed in their front yard. Our much awaited summer is bearing down on us now in its full glory. When I walked out to my car at 7:15 this morning and my glasses steamed up I just shook my head. 'Tis the season of $350+ power bills, flip flops, pony tails, fungal infections, and afternoon thunder showers. You don't need me to tell you this of course.

So what's ALDA Suncoast up to? Like the summer heat we are moving in slow motion. Join us next Sunday August 22nd , 4 pm, at Captain Al's Waterfront Grill & Bar, The Pier, St. Pete “Where the whole family dines by the water without breaking the budget!” Looks great guys, come on down at the base of the Pier all the way back by the water’s edge. An insanely gorgeous view and hope to see many friends there.

Our coffee nights every 4th Wednesday at Starbucks Pinellas Park mall continues to be a major hit. Especially with the local SP College ASL I and II students who continually show up for practice and contact hours.

A picnic is on the agenda, but not until the mercury dips to 80, at least :) Perhaps another post Thanksgiving picnic complete with roast turkey and mashed potatoes on the grill like we did in '07. Suc h a good time. What do you think of that?

Don't forget the OC and RV captioned movies that were for years actively advocated for. Full listings at http://www.captionfish.com . A rare treat BEACH THEATER lists 3 foreign films showing --

Micmacs (Not Rated)
French with English subtitles
Thursday:
3:40pm

The Girl Who Played With Fire (Not Rated)
Swedish with English subtitles
TODAY:
3:20pm, 8:30pm
TOMORROW:
3:20pm, 8:00pm
Wednesday:
8:00pm
Thursday:
6:00pm


The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo (Not Rated)
Swedish with English subtitles
Wednesday:
5:00pm

NIH NF2 STUDY

i AM SET TOI GO UP FOR THIS IN jULY. cAN THOSE THAT HAVE GONR GIVE ME SOME INCITE?

IS THIS OK TO POST ON THE BLOG?
JIM

Movie Theater Captioning

Sunday night I went with my sister to AMC Woodlands to see Alice in Wonderland. I looked up the movie on CaptionFish. I guess I should have paid closer attention to the icons. Being an “inexperienced” deaf person, I assumed that the movie would be open captioned with the text on the screen.

When we purchased our tickets at the window, my sister told the guy that I needed the theater with captions. He did not say anything, just handed her the tickets. When the movie started, we were both confused when we did not see captions…were we in the wrong theater? My sister went into the lobby, found an employee and told him the problem. His response was, “Oh, the captioning is not working, they are fixing it.” My sister came back and sat down.

Fifteen minutes later, we were still wondering what was going on. My sister went back into the lobby and found another employee (my sister thinks he was a manager). She said he snapped at her, “What is the problem?!” My sister again asked why the captions were not working. She told me that he rudely explained that the movie was Rear Window Captioned and handed her an acrylic panel.

On the way out, I went to the desk and politely said, “May I make a suggestion? Maybe the theater could figure out a way to let hearing impaired people know that they need to ask for the acrylic panel in order to be able to see the captions.” I explained that I had not been deaf that long and didn’t know better. I said, “There are many hearing impaired people and you can’t assume that they know what to do in order to see the captions”. The man told me that since they can’t tell who needs the captions, there is no way to direct people. I suggested putting a sign on the door of the captioned theater or training the ticket sales people – when someone requests tickets for the captioned movie – to ask if they know how rear window captioning works. The man replied that they would look into it, but his tone of voice did not convince me that he was being sincere.

Is it enough that a theater offers captioning? Or should they make sure people know how to take advantage of it?

What upsets me is that the first employee my sister went to for help obviously had no clue how the captioning worked. If he had, he would have been able to inform my sister and I would not have missed the first 25 minutes of dialogue. And the second employee, who may have been a manager, was rude about explaining the captioning!

-- Cindy R.

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What Would You Do?

I don't know whether to be livid or just dumbfounded that a postal worker would risk their job to park in a HC spot. This is the spot I park in at work. I took the picture and wrote down truck numberas waited for the mail carrier to come back to her truck. When she did, I said to her in a duh-fashion "you are in a hc space ! " since I'm total deaf I have no idea her response but her body .language and gesstures conveyed frustration, or maybe annoyance that I called her on it. I was going to report this but h ave since cooled down, think will let it pass and see if happens again, not likely. I really wouldn't want someone losing their job over it. Still, that takes nerve for a fed employee (postal workers are fed employees ?) . What would you do ?

Top 10 Responses to "I'm Deaf" or "I'm HOH" from hearing people

-- contributed by Chris Littlewood (Please comment or add your own best responses)

So we have all been in a situation with one or more hearing person that we have just met where it becomes necessary to explain that we are deaf/hoh. Some of these responses will never cease to amaze me. I keep a sense of humor about it, but these are the top ten responses I think I have had to telling someone I am deaf or hoh:

1. “Me too! I know I hear less out of my right ear than my left.” Or sometimes just “Me too” (and then they go on and on and on, and you’re smiling and thinking where’s the exit?).
2. “Oh really, my brother’s, cousin’s, sister’s, best friend’s, roommate’s accountant is hard of hearing.”
3. “I’m sorry, what?” (Sometimes they are trying to be funny, sometimes they’re not and sometimes they are funny and sometimes they’re NOT.).
4. “Arghh, Nevermind!” (You are now invisible, the person that said this will talk to the people around you, near you, and sometimes through you, but may never again talk to you. Hey, it is that person’s loss.)
5. “SO CAN YOU UNDERSTAND ME NOW !!?”
6. “Ha ha, no your not!” (This is not Seinfeld!)
7. “Well why don’t you wear (or turn up) your hearing aid?”
8. “Well just look at me and read my lips then!” (Said the guy with the bushy mustache and goatee)
9. “I’ll say it one more time!!”
10. “Oh, that’s O.K”…….(“Geee thanks!” Is what your thinking and you were not apologizing).
    

Welcome Matthew Howard Thorton Baxter

It' s so hot don't feel much like doing anything. But have a houseful of boxes that need unpacked, have to crawl out of bed 6:15 am most days, meals to cook, menus to plan. blah blah blah, who cares!

So what' s new ? My baby brother welcomed his first child into the world – born on the 4th of July! Thought so cool to be born on such a festive day. It's my favorite holiday with no stress inducing demands like gift buying (which I do enjoy). just lax around, maybe bbq or cook up a nice summer dinner than go watch fireworks if inclined. This year we went to Coachman park, and personally, was impressed. Love the view of Clearwater harbor right there and the FW were as good as they come. It was packed with families and people milling about the vendors, watching the concert on stage (nice to watch but makes me miss hearing). But sweet silence soon filled the air when the FW started and it was like hearing perfectly again as can feel each BOOM as anyone. Now back to the new baby. I went up Natures Food Patch in the morning on the 4th to get last minute munchies and a few baby gifts, a card for the new mom. As I was walking out Hulk Hogan walked! We’ve seen him there before so wasn’t exactly star struck. But this time a light bulb flicked on, as walked to my car – eureka! My sis-in-law Danielle is a huge wrestling fan, whether she likes HH or not I could not let this opportunity pass. With card in hand I ventured back into the store, I located him sitting in the café and apologetically approached as blabbled out something like “sis new baby, one hour ago, loves wrestling, sign for her pls?”. He pleasantly smiled and signed a nice congrats on the card I just bought. How cool is that? few pics below. One is 20 seconds old and while I think beautiful maybe not for everyone.

Happy Easter!

Well it's Easter morning, a beautiful day! Just got done preparing a boneless New Zealand leg of lamb and its roasting nice0ly in oven. Was fun preparing. Pureed in the vitamix bunch of rosemary, thyme, marjoram, garlic, olive oil, and a touch of maple syrup. Will be off to spend the day with family, that is with those who show up :0) I try not to miss family gatherings say even if have an injured knee, busy with 'other things', etc. It will be a fun day.

A Word from your President

My fellow Americans ...

Let me just say that to do what we have to do is the honorable thing and the honorable thing to do is always right.

I bought new underwear. It was the right thing to do. Men understand that, women understand that. It's a universal constant. When a prince from Saudi Arabia was asked 35 years ago what he wore under his robe, he replied "BVD's", a popular brand of underwear at the time.

How's this relate to deafness? You may recall that many hearing folk think that sign language is universal - like undies. It's not. We use ASL as do the Canadians outside Quebec, the British use BSL, Germans use DGS, French and Swiss use LSF, Norwegians - NTS.

The world is rich in sign language diversity. There are over 100 different signed languages used throughout the world today and 60 of them have their own written component, as evidenced here:
http://www.signbank.org/signpuddle/

What's this mean for us? More fun! Here's a great page to look at:
Cat in the Hat video
It includes a sign video in ASL of the last few paragraphs of The Cat in the Hat, an English translation, and SignWriting.

You can check out a few of the other languages and read their signs. Some only have a few as of yet, others, like the German site, have many.

Enjoy! :-)

Bill

Was Helen Keller right?

As a deaf person I don't think so. I'm referring to Helen Keller's well known quote about how with blindness you lose things, with deafness you lose people. I wouldn't dare negate her views - a woman who accomplished so much. But I'd debate that quote. Imagine going to the grocery store totally blind, you would need someone with you EVERY TIME to tell you whats on the shelves. Or never seeing a sunset, a pretty tree, the ocean. Imagine having a toddler to keep track of.

Sure blind people have equipment to help like the deaf do, but still , every time this debate is brought up as was mentioned at last nights ALDA meeting, I can't help but think deafness pales compared to the limitations blindness woul d bring. what do you think?

Here's a HK quote I like

Never bend your head. Hold it high. Look the world straight in the eye.

and here's some more of her quotes http://www.quotationspage.com/quotes/Helen_Keller

Who Knew

Decided to stroll Sam's on my lunch hour today since it's a minute away and haven't been there in a long time. I pull in the parking lot and nearly rear end a van who stopped fast in front of me narrowly missing the people off to side as I werved a bit to avoid it. Still can't believe I DIDN'T hit them, whew. Of course ALL the handicap spaces are taken. It's mind boggling. Is every driver on the road handicapped? Sure seems that way with rarely a space open anywhere. There are 3 aisles with geez 10 (estimate) spaces each, if not more. Yet at noon on a Tuesday all are full. Retirees ? So what the bleep I think, need exercise anyway and park way out yonder. So I grab the triple sized cart and off I go. Make note of the 3 inch memory foam topper at a good price. Add to wish list. Glance at TV's and think when time comes for new TV would shop here rather than Best Buy. Semi-ogle the jewelry. Reminds me of Service Merchandise who had a huge discounted jewelry section among other household things. I miss that store. Grab a gallon of Simple Green then search for to-go paper coffee cups. They have nice sturdy non foam ones by Dixie, 168 cups for 10 bucks. Sounds good to me (this is my way to get back at Starbucks high prices, make own lattes). But of course no lids!! Target sells the exact cups with lids but in 12 packs. Moving on I am in love with a pallet of Majestic Palms. The look healthy and vibrant, you might say, majestic :) and huge, taller than me. Only $10.88. I attempted to lift, no-go. And no time to find help. Theres no such thing as a leisure lunch hour on the clock. On to browse food. I'm starving too. It was hard to find something without tons of msg, preservatives and/or hydrogenated oils but narrowed it down to chicken quesdillas and chicken salad. Grabbed the salad. Grabbed a bag of wild cod. Looked longingly down the candy aisle. Time is up. Got in long line. This place is ALWAYS busy. Finally I'm up and cashier takes the member card then asks me if my other card is credit or debit. Credit I say. Did not have debit card on me. We only take cash or debit card he says. I'm stunned. Guess live in a hole as this was news to me. Then guess I can't pay I say back thinking I actually lip read a cashier for once in my life. He swipes away my cod, Simple Green, and chicken salad (as if I'm going to make a run for it I laugh) . Still hungry I make the long walk back to car thinking about the Majestic Palm.

No good news..

Well we had the annual condo association election last night..
I am sorry to report I was not elected.. There are 5 positions on the board.. Three people from last years board were re-elected and two new members.. I was actually tied for the #5 spot but lost in a "run-off" vote by the residents who were at last nights meeting..

Here is the scary part... I was defeated by an 80-something year old woman with the beginning symptoms of Alzheimer's. Oh well, life goes on..

Tim

Maybe Tim Kimball.. President..

I live in a condominium. I have lived here for 5 years. In those 5 years I have not felt the need to get involved in the Association "politics".. This past year changed all that.. Just some really dumb decisions were made concerning the way MY money was being spent.. So I decided to "throw my hat into the ring" and run for a position on the "Association Board"... Well, tomorrow night is the vote count..
From what I have heard ( you know.. "yenta talk"..) I may be the next President of our complex... And I am saying to myself "Go figure !! A HoH guy on a condo board" ... What a country !!!!!!
I am excited because I have a list of priorities that I feel will make where I live better..

I will keep you posted on the outcome..

Tim Kimball

New Years Resolutions

Its the 17th of January and still mulling over NY resolutions. I like to keep them small ie doable! One I just remembered was to not buy lunch out every day thus save $$, and its probably, no it IS a lot healthier to pack own. This is a common dilemma for people who work in offices such as myself. The hurdle is it takes planning and preparing. Time. I find it hard to wake up at 6:15, shower, get ready and out door by 7:30. But you know this shouldn't be hard. I estimate I spend easy $150 on lunches a month. This doesn't include my $4 starbucks coffee addiction. That is another resolution. Going to stop spending so many Cindybucks at Starbucks. Anyway, back to packing lunches. Now that it's in writing here maybe I'll be more motivated to follow through. I'd love some ideas for easy to pack but satisfying brown bag lunches. The catch is I do not use microwaves anymore, ok, very very seldom. I got rid of mine at home 2 years ago and don't miss it all. So that elimates frozen meals which is ok. (disclaimor: I don't judge people who do, nor do I know for fact microwaves are harmful. I just don't. Please respect my views and I will respect yours). So I'm thinking the usual cold sandwiches, soup in thermos options. Wonder what other people do?

Let's Blog -- by Cindy

I just created this blog on a whim, put about 30 seconds of thought into it. Yet it seems like a good idea. A blog is simply a web-log. Usually people write short essays, daily thoughts, or whatever is on their minds. With a blog anyone on planet Earth (and possibly even Mars) - with internet - can read and comment on a blog. It's fun. So let's blog.


I will start. Last night we had the monthly ALDA meeting at our new and probably permanent location. Everything was swell from attendees to the new location itself. Yet I came away feeling a bit disgruntled. Pure honest here, hey its a blog. Ok disgruntled is not the exact word but for me, it was like going 12 years back in time when I am going forward. I lost my total hearing in one day 15 years ago. I went through all the grief and glory for years and it was exhausting. And while it doesn't consume my days its still an ever present annoyance to say the least. Just didn't feel like rehashing it last night but then when reminded myself everyone is at different places and that was ok.

It was asked if anyone made new years resolutions , in regards to deafness. Hmmmmmmm. No. :) But did make a few of the standard ones - spend less, save more, exercise more. Hey I've been to Bally 3 (or 4?) times in less than 2 weeks. That alone is an accomplishment considering my real day or as many women call it, my ME time, doesn't start until 5:30 pm on weekdays. That said, I like the meeting place, it's going to work out nice.