• Home
  • About Me
  • Life
  • Reading
  • Gardening
  • Subscribe by Email
  • Referral Codes

Kimberussell.com

a blog by Kim Russell

August 3, 2007

Hmm? What?

Permit me a moment or three to complain over what is most likely nothing.

I’m off from work today – I’ve taken the day off to see a hearing doctor. (Hence the weird timestamp on this post. I fell asleep on the sofa from about 8pm til about 1am. Now I’m perky.) I did this last year (wow, how the apartment has changed!) and they found minor loss in the left ear. Today’s test will be telling – I’ll be able to see if it’s deteriorating by comparing it to last year’s chart.

I can hear when it’s quiet. I have troubles hearing when there is background noise. And life is full of background noise. If the TV and air conditioner is on here, I can’t understand Wandering Minstrel when he speaks to me. I hear his voice, but the words all run together. When I go to Starbucks with Mom, the overhead music and other peoples’ conversations blend and I can’t understand what she’s saying. So I have to lean in and say a lot of “whats”. Noisy restaurants are the absolute worst. This isn’t me tuning people out because I’m really trying hard to hear these people – to the point of starting to watch peoples’ lips.

I especially notice this at work. I may have mentioned that I’m sitting in a cubicle in the middle of a bunch of sales reps.* Who talk all day. There are phones ringing all day. There are people yelling across the room all day. This is background noise. So when someone yells my name to get my attention – I can’t hear them. It all blends. So it looks like I’m ignoring them. Even when someone nearby is trying to have a conversation with me at work, I have to lean over the cube divider into their “space” to hear them. Rather, understand them.

The “Whats?” and “Hmmms?” are embarrassing. At work I wear my iPod to try and white-noise out the commotion. Plus, it gives me a reason to say I didn’t hear someone, other than “well, I think I can’t hear.” I’m tired of Hmmm-ing all the time. I don’t care if I have to end up wearing some crazy hearing aid contraption with visible antennae. (Example.) I just want to understand what people are saying.

Since I was off, I made an eye appointment too. So this time tomorrow night I’ll be sporting new glasses and maybe if I’m feeling jaunty, new sunglasses too. (Not at the same time, natch.)

Warning: I’m completely cool with needing hearing help sooner rather than later. But if I’m told tomorrow that I need bifocals, I will cry buckets.

*Because that’s the best place ever to put people who have to concentrate on code and being creative. The upside is that I’ve completely surrendered my naive idea of privacy and personal space at work. I’ve assimilated into the Collective. I am no longer One. Soylent Green is made of people…PEOPLE!!!

Posted In: Life · Tagged: aging, hearing loss

Comments

  1. dr. dave says

    August 3, 2007 at 6:50 am

    That seems really weird. I mean… I have a little high frequency loss, but I’m guessing that unlike me… YOU did not spend the bulk of your late teens and early 20’s in concrete basements playing music at 100+ dB. I was under the impression that most hearing loss this early can be traced to specific damage like that.

    Maybe you just need a good professional de-waxing!

  2. Ani says

    August 4, 2007 at 6:33 am

    Niel loves that movie.

    We als have a friend around your age who also has hearing loss. Hope the doctor says you just need a hearing aid and it won’t get any worse. Good luck!

    I know I just typed in “just need a hearing aid”. Don’t mean to put it lightly at all.

Previous Post Progress report
Next Post I'm okay, you're okay, Governor Corzine's okay! (long)

Hello!

About Me

I've been blogging for over twenty (2 decades! 2-0!) years and I'm apparently one of the few over-50 female bloggers who haven't sold out to THE MAN yet; hence this blog remains quirky, homespun, and unprofitable. No big. However, if you're from Disney, Doritos, or Dave Matthews Band, I'm open to talk about selling out.

I live in Southern New Jersey with my husband WM, and our dog Murphy. I'm an adult who likes Disney but not a Disney Adult. I used to work a fun (really!) office job in Philadelphia, but since March of 2020 I'm a work from home hermit. So if you're looking for a childless, slightly round, marginally boring GenX woman's blog to follow, you've come to the right place! :)

Subscribe to my posts via email

A weekly email that will contain links to that week's posts.

Archives

Goodreads

Kimberly's bookshelf: read

The Duke and I
liked it
The Duke and I
by Julia Quinn
Wherever You Go, There You Are: Mindfulness Meditation in Everyday Life
liked it
Wherever You Go, There You Are: Mindfulness Meditation in Everyday Life
by Jon Kabat-Zinn
Spare
really liked it
Spare
by Prince Harry
tagged: memoir, own-ebook, and nonfiction
Well-Read Black Girl: Finding Our Stories, Discovering Ourselves
really liked it
Well-Read Black Girl: Finding Our Stories, Discovering Ourselves
by Glory Edim
The Guest List
really liked it
The Guest List
by Lucy Foley

goodreads.com

Pinterest

Visit my profile on Pinterest.
Privacy Policy

“I am I because my little dog knows me.” – G. Stein

We are still in office once a month and although I We are still in office once a month and although I’ve become used to life in soft pants and slippers it’s still nice to see the coworkers in person.
When I was receiving the new Covid booster today I When I was receiving the new Covid booster today I happily told the pharmacist “shoot it into my veins!” and in the most pharmacist way ever, he replied, “well, it’s an intramuscular injection.” #boosted #thankyouscience
When not planted on a chia pet, chia seeds grow in When not planted on a chia pet, chia seeds grow into beautiful and lush little plants.
At the @phillies game — #ringthebell ! #phillies At the @phillies game — #ringthebell ! #phillies
The #garden is slowly starting to produce. Not the The #garden is slowly starting to produce. Not the best year but better than last year. Potatoes anyone?
I will not spend money to try and grab a plush Bob I will not spend money to try and grab a plush Bob Ross. I will not spend money to try and grab a plush Bob Ross. I will not …
Load More... Follow on Instagram

Copyright © 2023 Kimberussell.com · Theme by 17th Avenue