Chit Chat and All That...

[Kriszti]

Thank you, @Shera. Even with ear protection gas ones spike you? That what I was afraid of. (My tinnitus gets louder after vacuuming, taking the bus, etc, so it doesn't like these kind of noises.)

So basically power ones are not worth it economically, the others are too noisy. We have a very old electronic one with wires, maybe I'll try that.

Or maybe, reel mowers will actually help me lose some weight.

On a positive note: I look damn funny with the Peltor muffs on. So hot. Maybe the tinnitus community should make wearing muffs a fashion trend.

 

[OnceUponaTime]

On a positive note: I look damn funny with the Peltor muffs on. So hot. Maybe the tinnitus community should make wearing muffs a fashion trend.

I have quite a few pictures wearing them... haha. I even bought different colors to match my outfits! LOL... But I really never used them. On a rare occasion only.

I can only imagine the new trend for us.... muffs, masks and goggles!

I would never cut the grass. I actually leave the house when its getting cut.
I rather live in a jungle... bahahaha

 

[all to gain]

@aot @Shera Well I read my first two books today since July... Little Miss Trouble and Little Miss Birthday!
I must admit, I felt great reading them out loud to my son. It's a start... even though they are books for 3-6 year olds

On a positive note: I look damn funny with the Peltor muffs on. So hot. Maybe the tinnitus community should make wearing muffs a fashion trend.

Your question on protection when mowing was quite timely for me as i've been thinking about it lately. We have a big grass area at the country place, and my mother-in-law bought an electric mower to mow it. I've never used it, but am now thinking a reel mower would be best. In fact, I suggested a reel mower last year, but it fell on deaf ears. Can't see me mowing nowadays though, not worth the risk.

 

[Shera]

Of course @Kriszti ! Yeah, it can spike it. Though it rarely lasts long and lately it's hit or miss whether it makes my tinnitus better or worse. Mine does what it wants, but ear protection is something I've always done. So . . . Yeah, mine can too with Vacuuming. I never protected my ears before when I vacuumed. Which seems silly now because it's load. That and some other household appliances.

Exactly. Unless you can get an electric that plugs in and you have a long cord(s) it's not good. I also suggest never getting a battery powered chainsaw, just get the plug in kind.

The summer I reel mowed I had the best body of my life! We had about 5 acres of grass I reel mowed. Crop top season for me! It can just be time consuming depending on how much land you have to cover.

 

[Elmer B Fuddled]

Here's the solution to mowing lawns in pure silence. It's not expensive, no electric cords, no starter rope. Two goats, they will keep the place mowed and fertilised all in one sweep, plus they will keep your flowers and veg garden in great condition no weeds.
Now they make a mower that runs by itself, like those carpet hoovers, seen one mowing a man's lawn while he sat on a chair drinking.

 

[Kriszti]

@Shera

5 acres?! That's definitely a huge lawn to mow. We have nowhere near that. So no bikini body for me.
I never used ear protection while mowing and I've never seen a person in my life who has. Tbh I listened to music while mowing. In hindsight, that could be one thing that screwed me over...

 

[Shera]

@Kriszti Yeah, I'm glad I don't have to cover that much ground anymore. Phew!

Everyone around here either wears ear protection, or head phones. I use listen to music when I was younger on head phones while mowing. My mom had T and was going to the hearing doctor so I picked up fast that this was a terrible idea. So just ear protection.

I've thought about goats @Elmer B Fuddled but I don't think they just leave your veggies and flowers alone? I've thought about borrowing the neighbors every now and then.

 

[Kriszti]

@Elmer B Fuddled
Both great ideas, but one is quite pricey, so I need to save a bit more money for that. I told my family about the goats, but they were not very enthusiastic.
(Goats also freak me out, they seem so evil.)

@Shera
I was not aware that loud music can cause this much suffering. I thought that maybe in my 60s, I'll be hard of hearing, but other than mowing and studying with earplugs and headphones because of very noisy and annoying neighbours I really didn't abuse my ears that much. Well, that's history anyway, nothing can ne done now.

Thanks everybody for the suggestions.

 

[Labyrinthine]

@Labyrinthine I ended up doing physical therapy and massage for my neck and jaw injury. Did most of the physical therapy at home using online resources. Sorry to hear you're doing bad.

@OnceUponaTime Ouch! Your poor finger!! Makes mine ache just thinking about it!

That's so nice of you! I love that mask. But we made some and I'm making some more cause I use masks anyway when I'm doing the chicken cage or burning. I'm gonna try and make some so my glasses don't fog up.

Thanks Shera. I'm basically doing the same thing. Might take a while. How's life?

It took months and months but it did go back to baseline. I took the muscle relaxer Flexeril. It helped me to sleep and it helped with the pain. It didn't increase my tinnitus.

I am glad your hyperacusis is getting better!!!!

Ufff. Let's hope for the best then... I'm glad it went back to baseline for you! May we never have to suffer through a neck injury again.

I'm overjoyed that my H has finally made significant improvements. Unfortunately, in my case, my H is accurately described by building a house of cards; it takes forever to build (improve) & a light breeze can knock it down (severe setback). Oh well...

I'm glad your hyperacusis has eased up. I feel you one those ear muffs. I like them more than plugs, except for the severe neck aches!!

I feel you. I just hoed the garden a bit and my neck got so ticked off!

It's nice not having something stuck in your ear canal but after two neck injuries I don't really feel like ever using the muffs again. Don't think I have a choice, though, when the situation will allow me to enter the world of uncontrolled sound (outside) again--I will really need to use them.

 

[all to gain]

@Labyrinthine

Have you been doing strengthening exercises for your neck?

I never thought about muffs giving neck problems, but then I have a tree trunk for a neck.

 

[Labyrinthine]

@Labyrinthine

Have you been doing strengthening exercises for your neck?

I never thought about muffs giving neck problems, but then I have a tree trunk for a neck.

Yup. Started doing so-called isometric exercises (leaning against a wall with your head and keeping the neck straight). I intend to gradually build up strength thusly. I've always suffered from neck problems which, in all likelihood, came about after years of weight lifting--oftentimes with incorrect posture.

Ear muffs can be a health hazard; especially with neck issues already present.

 

[Labyrinthine]

Last one is clearly not an animal but wow! Opals look like cracks into another dimension. Incredible.

 

[all to gain]

Yup. Started doing so-called isometric exercises (leaning against a wall with your head and keeping the neck straight). I intend to gradually build up strength thusly. I've always suffered from neck problems which, in all likelihood, came about after years of weight lifting--oftentimes with incorrect posture.

Ear muffs can be a health hazard; especially with neck issues already been present.

Good stuff.

Be careful doing neck exercises though. You could do simple shrugs, too. They won't directly work the next too much, but will give a good basis for support.

Whatever you do don't start doing wrestler's bridges and so on...

 

[Shera]

@Labyrinthine Ease in to the neck exercises. Maybe put some shrugs (like @all to gain said) and more stretching ones in. I know everyone says it, but Yoga is great.

Some days a pony makes my neck get ticked. I hate having to put earplugs in because I have to cut them down 4 ways before they fit comfortably in my ears. Though the severe neck aches make the muffs a poor choice. I should get some custom ear plugs. Cause T is clearly here to stay.

Doing good. Coming up with new plans for my raised garden. I did an experiment last year and this year I want to make it more permanent! Trying to keep myself active again. I kind of got fuddy so I just need to keep going.

How about you? How's your painting going. My niece wants me to make her some Frozen art for her walls!

 

[aot]

(Also, @Ed209, can you pm me?)

 

[Labyrinthine]

@Labyrinthine Ease in to the neck exercises. Maybe put some shrugs (like @all to gain said) and more stretching ones in. I know everyone says it, but Yoga is great.

Some days a pony makes my neck get ticked. I hate having to put earplugs in because I have to cut them down 4 ways before they fit comfortably in my ears. Though the severe neck aches make the muffs a poor choice. I should get some custom ear plugs. Cause T is clearly here to stay.

Doing good. Coming up with new plans for my raised garden. I did an experiment last year and this year I want to make it more permanent! Trying to keep myself active again. I kind of got fuddy so I just need to keep going.

How about you? How's your painting going. My niece wants me to make her some Frozen art for her walls!

Ofc! I would not dare going too fast with the exercises. I have also been doing shrugs, rolling shoulders, etc. Thanks

I've had custom earplugs for years and would not use anything else. Foam earplugs have really decent sound attenuation but regardless of brand or shape, they always hurt my ears. Then again, the general nerve irritability in the head region accompanying H doesn't really help. Only downside of custom plugs is the production process. It has been years, but I do recall it being pretty loud... They use this gun shaped thing that shoots right into your ear with foam so they have a mold. I reckon that without H you should be fine, however.

Drawing has been on hold for some time. All the cramps in my neck and head were irritating my eye muscles. Looking up close was quite painful for a while. Getting better now. Any ideas for her wall? That is going to be an entire project, hehe.

 

[Shera]

@Labyrinthine That's good. I know a lot of people get impatient and over do it. Then you're back at square one.

Ah. I'm not sure what the ones I'd be getting are made from. The said it would be $60 for them. My audiologist is at the college and I go to them for free for my hearing tests and stuff. He suggest the plugs.

Oh, bummer. I get you. For a while everything ticked my neck off. Besides the T I think my insomnia was my neck causing my entire body/spine to just vibrate all night. Once the pain started to ease up the neck pain that ticks your eyes off kind of got tiring. Maybe cause I could focus on it more. I"ve been reading more and I know I have to be very aware of how I hold the book and what it does to my neck. I prop my arms with pillows and take breaks and stretch.

Then there's days you realize that the hairband you're using is giving you a neck ache and it's all over!

 

[Shera]

I just realized I've never shared my chickens in this thread! Despite all of you bird fans. Well here a the Ladies!

The last few days have been so lovely. Sadly no more free ranging for them, the predators I think they need to eat them.

Sunny is in front, the gray/lavender is Belle, and the white hen behind her is Snow. The white on the left is Lightning. Ash refuses to take group picks so I didn't snap one of her.

 

[aot]

Ash refuses to take group picks so I didn't snap one of her.

Why is Ash so camera shy?

 

[Shera]

Why is Ash so camera shy?

This lady who moved away gave Ash to me (Ashe's name use to be Shera, but I don't do that!). Despite having her since 2018 she still gets nervous. Poor baby. She would have been a fantastic hand chicken if she would have been raised that way. Blizzard (my favorite chicken) kept her calm and Ash would come up to me then. Sadly Blizzard passed suddenly in 2019. Broke my heart and Ash's. Also, Belle's. The Ladies haven't been the same with out her. Sunny is the new Queen. She's a terror.

 

[aot]

 

[Shera]

How is everyone doing?

 

[aot]

How is everyone doing?

Alive, busy with work. Overall, could be worse.

 

[all to gain]

I've been reading some of the thread from weeks past.

(I actually wanted to be a private investigator for a while, but you can't be licensed in Florida if you have a history of mental illness.

As in any mental illness? I would have thought some so-called mental illnesses would have been an advantage in that profession, ie OCD.

What makes it funny is that we atually have sociopaths/psychopaths running our countries... but some people can't become PIs.

So, I just finished reading this great comic called Low, written by Rick Remender.

I really needed this right now. It shows how hope can keep you going, even in the darkest, most depraved circumstances. Fear and distress are okay and natural, but letting them overtake and control you will mean that you'll be blinded to chances to fix things.

The comic expresses it better than I can, but it really spoke to me.

I have to wait untill next year for the next volume though, and it's killing me. They seem to be setting up a romance that I really don't like and my fave character seems to have just dissapeard from the plot, but I can't wait to see how it all ends. (Forwarned, very nsfw.)

Up next is The Master and Margarita.

Did you read The Master and Margarita? I never have, but considering where I live I should really.

I've never really read comics, but Low sounds interesting. I would buy it, but can't get it here . I could get it on Kindle though, but I like real books.

And @Shera Do you read everything and anything? Are you any good at breaking books down to see how they are put together? I want to start doing it if I can.

At the same time though you have Mercedes Lackey who wrote both compelling females and males, and wasn't afraid to represent EVERYONE. Or you reread an old favorite and love them even more than before!

I've never heard of her but took a look at her wiki entry. She writes 5.5 books per year. Holy crap!

Shera, if not a secret how old are you?

 

[aot]

As in any mental illness? I would have thought some so-called mental illnesses would have been an advantage in that profession, ie OCD.

As in any mental illness, yes. As far as I know anyway.

Did you read The Master and Margarita? I never have, but considering where I live I should really.

I made it like 30 pages in, but I was super stressed during that time, and couldn't focus properly. It's on my shelf, though. I plan to revisit it one day.

 

[Shera]

Alive, busy with work. Overall, could be worse.

What makes it funny is that we atually have sociopaths/psychopaths running our countries... but some people can't become PIs.

Totally agree. It's interesting the laws states can have to become a PI. After @aot said that and I looked into a few other states.

I could get it on Kindle though, but I like real books.

I love, love, love my comics on tablets. I made the switch to digital for my comic reading and love it to death! (Though I should have apparently kept a hold of some of my older copies as the value of them went up. Who new!) I still love real books, but I've totally embraced ebooks as well. The best of both.

And @Shera Do you read everything and anything? Are you any good at breaking books down to see how they are put together? I want to start doing it if I can.

Yeah, I do. But I still tend to read a lot more fantasy/fiction. I do like to break books down or discuss them. Some I don't simply because it's for pleasure. Others I do love heated debates. Or in depth looks. It's fun if your view is different from what other's picked up on or you missed something. tess of the d'urbervilles will break you and then digging down into a break down of that or discussing it with others can be intense.

I've never heard of her but took a look at her wiki entry. She writes 5.5 books per year. Holy crap!

She is a beast! I don't think I"ve read any of her newer stuff. But if I recall her goal is to hold the record for most full books published.

Shera, if not a secret how old are you?

Think I've posted it before. Just turned 30. See @aot I'm getting long in the tooth!

 

[all to gain]

Just turned 30. See @aot I'm getting long in the tooth!

I beg to differ... i'm as old as you and @aot put together

 

[Ed209]

 

[Shera]

View attachment 38446

This is brilliant!

 

[Bob90]

@Shera What titles have you read in comics and books?

Was very briefly into comics years ago; basic DC stuff mostly but a couple indies. Just finished re-reading The Neverending Story for the 3rd time and trying to decide which of the /unread/ books on my shelf I should read next lol.