The Story of Lori, Chapter 2

[Lori Dee ✅]

Sorry Lori, this is meant to be your blog!

It is never an issue with me. Conversations and discussions are always welcome.

Hugs!

[Lori Dee ✅]

I have a VA appointment this afternoon with the Audiology Clinic.

The audiologist wants to get me new hearing aids. To justify it, she will do my annual hearing test.

I have been practicing all morning for the test:

"Huh?"

"What did you say?"

"Could you repeat that?"

I think I have mastered it. We will see how it goes.

🤣

[Northern Star Girl ✅]

@Lori Dee
Dear Lori:
How does one "practice" for a hearing test? ?

... and why would one need to practice for the test?

A curious mind wants to know.

HUGS, Danielle [Northern Star Girl]
 

I have a VA appointment this afternoon with the Audiology Clinic.

The audiologist wants to get me new hearing aids. To justify it, she will do my annual hearing test.

I have been practicing all morning for the test:

"Huh?"

"What did you say?"

"Could you repeat that?"

I think I have mastered it. We will see how it goes.

🤣

[Lori Dee ✅]

@Lori Dee
Dear Lori:
How does one "practice" for a hearing test? ?

... and why would one need to practice for the test?

A curious mind wants to know.

HUGS, Danielle [Northern Star Girl]
 

🤣

Since she wants to use the hearing test to justify ordering new hearing aids, I am just practicing things that will improve my chances. Like, whenever she says something, I will respond with:

"Huh?"

"What did you say?"

"Could you repeat that?"

That should confirm hearing loss and a need for new hearing aids.

Is that cheating?

🤣

[Charlotte Kitty ✅]

Sounds like you're both on the same page with this one. New pair on their way hopefully.

So are the newer ones actually better?

Charlotte 😻

[Lori Dee ✅]

Sounds like you're both on the same page with this one. New pair on their way hopefully.

So are the newer ones actually better?

Charlotte 😻

I have no idea, honestly.

The ones I have are Starkey brand and pretty high-tech. I suspect there is a newer version now, or maybe the VA has a contract with a different supplier.

I won't know until after the test, and I will receive them in a few weeks. The audiologist downloads the program from my old ones, then uploads it to the new. She then makes adjustments to fit my current hearing profile. Then we do another test to make sure they sound right. Then they make another adjustment, which is designed to reduce tinnitus (ringing in my ears from 14 years of tank cannon fire).

We will see how that goes.

I am excited to get something that works better. But the annoyances are not from the hearing aid itself; they come from the onboard AI, which tries to figure out what I am listening to and makes adjustments. It is never correct, and I end up turning it off or just not wearing them. I appreciate that they want me to have the latest and greatest in current technology, but just dumb hearing aids would work better for me. I don't need apps or notifications chiming in my ears when I can hear them just fine in the room.

[Rochelle]

I've had mine for a couple of years from the VA.  They were issuing the Opticon Intent models.

Bluetooth connection to your phone for calls/audio.  No microphone so I ensure my phone is in my hand so callers can hear me when talking.  I use it during the day listening to music or podcasts without bothering other coworkers.  These don't do any AI, but I do hear the phone notifications.

Two years can make some difference between what I have and what they have now, so maybe some AI now.  They do use an app thats helpfull.  When I'm at a concert or other congested areas, I can change to them only listen from the front so I don't hear noise from the side or behind.

I got hearing loss from gun fire and alot of time on the flightline around aircraft.  Issued hearing protection can leak noise and cause damage.  And now that I think of it, I was working on a 400 server farm floor, which while not abrubtly loud, had a consistant higher than normal decibels level for hours on end.

When I first got them, I looked them up and they were currently top of the line ones.  The VA doesn't cheap on some things. 💚

[Lori Dee ✅]

When I'm at a concert or other congested areas, I can change to them only listen from the front so I don't hear noise from the side or behind.

That's what this is supposed to do. But if I am running water in the kitchen sink, it hears the sound from the water and the echo from behind, so it keeps shifting front and back trying to decide what I should hear. I don't need to hear any of it. It has a mode called Edge Mode that prioritizes sound from the front, so I mostly use that.

I found the app the most annoying, especially while driving. Every email, text, or app notification that I could normally ignore was now in my ears. Finally, I just uninstalled the app. However, the app is the only way to adjust the volume. < sigh >

I had sent them in to get the batteries replaced while they were still under warranty. When I got them back, I installed the app to adjust the volume. No luck. Now the app won't pair with the app. I tried to pair the hearing aids with my TV. They won't pair with anything.

When my audiologist said she would order new ones so they have a new warranty period, I said, " Sign me up!

[Rochelle]

Hopefully the new ones are a better/different brand.  💚

[Lori Dee ✅]

Hopefully the new ones are a better/different brand.  💚

The old ones are Starkey Evolve AI.

When I got there, she had the new ones all charged up and programmed. Ready to go. They are Starkey Omega AI. Basically the same, but she ordered them with a larger vent. That makes your own voice sound less like you are speaking in a tunnel.

We spent the time making adjustments to the program, then setting up the tinnitus masking, which was fun. The options are white noise, pink noise, red noise, purple noise, and ocean sounds. None of them were high enough frequency. We ended up going with ocean sounds, turning off modulation, and boosting the high-frequency end. That got close.

Then downloaded the new app, adjusted those settings, and tested everything. All good to go. She said she will plan on seeing me in four years for a re-evaluation, and if anything comes up, they have a walk-in service in the mornings.

I left the audio lab, and there was no one at the reception desks. No one anywhere. And the doors were locked. Everyone left early for the weekend. So I am wandering around the halls yelling, "Hello?"

I went back to the audio lab, and that door was locked. So I started to head upstairs to the Mental Health clinic to see if anyone was still there. The audiologist came out of the lab. I told her we were locked in. She couldn't believe it. Everyone was gone.

I told her we could raid the lunchroom fridge and survive until Monday. I thought she was going to vomit. Then a cleaning lady poked her head out of one of the offices and showed us to the only unlocked door (the emergency exit).

So that was fun.

😁

[Lori Dee ✅]

The Property Manager said the new owners will be touring the communities this weekend. I assume that means the sale of the properties is officially "pending".

It is warm out, but overcast, so everyone seems to be busy pulling weeds and straightening things up. Spring is getting very close.

The back of my lot is lined with irises, and they are starting to bloom. The Texas Red Yucca plants have buds as big around as golf balls. I didn't get to see them bloom last year, as it happened before I moved in. That will be a sight. I also have several small Barrel Cacti that are flowering, and one is already blooming. The Oleander is budding. The roses are looking good, but no buds yet.

In another month or so, it should look amazing.

[Charlotte Kitty ✅]

Those plants look very beautiful Lori. I really love it when the flowers are out. Even the 3 cacti on my windowsill have all flowered simultaneously. So very pretty.

Charlotte 😻

[Lori Dee ✅]

I love flowering cacti.

I grew up in the desert in California, so people often think the desert is lifeless. But in Spring, it comes alive. The cactus and wildflowers, the rabbits, birds, and so much more come out to celebrate. I love it.

[Dawn Kellie]

The life that comes out in spring is beautiful

[Stottie Girl]

The Property Manager said the new owners will be touring the communities this weekend. I assume that means the sale of the properties is officially "pending".

It is warm out, but overcast, so everyone seems to be busy pulling weeds and straightening things up. Spring is getting very close.

The back of my lot is lined with irises, and they are starting to bloom. The Texas Red Yucca plants have buds as big around as golf balls. I didn't get to see them bloom last year, as it happened before I moved in. That will be a sight. I also have several small Barrel Cacti that are flowering, and one is already blooming. The Oleander is budding. The roses are looking good, but no buds yet.

In another month or so, it should look amazing.

I've bought the exact same iris twice as I love it but they have both died after two years, I think they struggle with the winters here or something. Lovely things though. Can't grow cacti outdoors here so it's very interesting to see a desert garden for a change. I would take pics of my garden but I've kind of decimated it a bit pulling plants out to save them for my new garden.

Had a good display from my magnolia and Korean Cherry this year until Storm Dave decided to show up and smashed all the blossom off them!

[Lori Dee ✅]

Those are beautiful, Sarah!

It's raining now, so everyone gets a drink. Good thing I got the weeds out beforehand.

[Lori Dee ✅]

I just watched an oldie but goodie:  Wag the Dog. (1997)

I thought it was appropriate for today's political climate. It has all the trimmings:

Presidential scandal (underage girl), a "war" for a distraction because re-election is coming up, lots of Hollywood effects, and they even mention nominating the President for a "Peace Prize" after the "war" is over.

Kind of prophetic for an older movie.

[Stottie Girl]

I just watched an oldie but goodie:  Wag the Dog. (1997)

I thought it was appropriate for today's political climate. It has all the trimmings:

Presidential scandal (underage girl), a "war" for a distraction because re-election is coming up, lots of Hollywood effects, and they even mention nominating the President for a "Peace Prize" after the "war" is over.

Kind of prophetic for an older movie.

Is that the one with De Niro in?

[Lori Dee ✅]

Is that the one with De Niro in?

Yes. Star-studded cast. DeNiro, Dustin Hoffman, Ann Heche, Woody Harrelson, Dennis Leary, William H Macy.

[Lori Dee ✅]

The outdoors is coming alive now. I did a quick walk around the property. The irises are about half of all in bloom. My Orange rose bush has buds, and the oleanders have large buds that will open soon. The mini yellow roses by my mailbox have their first blooms. My Barrel Cactus Garden is flowering nicely. The Yucca plant has huge buds, as does the Texas Red Yucca. I found another plant flowering, but I didn't recognize it. Google says it is a Red Hot Poker Flower, aka a Torch Flower. My neighbor assures me it is beautiful when it opens up.