stuff

Still waiting on SSI. My friend and former interpreter for so many years at school, she also received paperwork to fill out on my behalf from SSI (as did my grandmother, and perhaps some other people as well). She told me she read on the paperwork that once the office got her paperwork back, that they would expediate the process. Hopefully, this means something! We never got all this extra paperwork the first time I tried to apply (shortly after graduating high school). I just did the initial applying, sent in a few of my paycheck stubs and that was it. Denial letter came several weeks later. But this time around, everyone is having to fill out some paperwork for me. I really do hope this does mean something. But we will find out soon enough I suppose.

Today, I think my ear is plugged. I put my hearing aid on and didn't really notice anything sounding funny at first. But when I put the ipod on and start playing some music, it sounded different and odd. Checked the hearing aid and earmold and tubing, no blockage or moisture. So there's something funny going on with my ear. Experiencing tinnitus today too. Sucks! But since I'm at work right now, I can't do anything. Ipod and hearing aid both sitting on the desk, I'll just suffer through the tinnitus as I get my work done.

Chat at HearingJourney.com tonight. Yay! I completely forgot the chat last week, as I was still in shock over the news of Michael Jackson's death. Yes, his death has affected me. I've loved his music since I was a little kid. He was the first real musician I started to listen to and really got into (long before the days of Hanson). I used to sneak into my parents' room just so I could borrow my dad's copy of the Bad album and listen to it for a while. My sister and I used to watch his Moonwalker video quite a bit. I remember just watching Moonwalker and being really fascinated with his dance moves, wondered how the heck he could do the leaning dance moves in Smooth Criminal without falling onto his face, the bizarre video he had for Leave Me Alone and loving the fact he had a pet monkey! Even today I still enjoy his music and videos and dance moves. Michael Jackson was a music genius, that's for sure. I will definitely appreciate his music more now than I ever have.

SSI, Airport, etc

Last Thursday, my aunt and I flew out to Mississippi. Flying out, I had no problem. On Monday as we were going through security check at the Gulfport airport, I had my hearing aid hanging in front of my ear instead of resting behind my ear. Some of the security personnel noticed this and pointed it out to me, wondering if it was a bluetooth device. "No, it's my hearing aid." "Oh, ok, come on through then." That's the first time I ever encountered security questioning whether I had a bluetooth device or a hearing aid on. It kind of made me laugh.


As for SSI, well, we got more paperwork to fill out! I myself have to fill some out, my mom does.. As do my counselor. So I'm sure Dr. Kelsall and the audiologist at Rocky Mountain Ear Center are having to fill out some paperwork as well too. Fun stuff, all this paperwork to do. And my mom's been trying to get a hold of a local disabilities lawyer who specializes in SSI/SSDI processes or whatever. It's possible that he just may be out of office for a while, who knows. Mom's left a message on his machine though, so hopefully we'll hear something from him.

WSD Archive Website

All right! I managed to find a version of CuteSite Builder to use to make the Wyoming School for the Deaf Archives website. I started the website oh 2 or so years ago, and for a while I did actually focus on it and work on it. But since then, I've seriously have gotten sidetracked, it's not even funny! But now, I'm getting back on track. Afterall, I did pay for the web domain and for the hosting (which I'll have to renew this coming November I believe...). Anyway, now that I have the site builder, well it'll be smoother and easier on me. Doing a website in full fledged HTML is time consuming, and well, my HTML knowledge isn't as good as it used to be. And there's also the fact that webpage design seems to be changing constantly, with XHTML, flash, java scripting, CSS and all that jazz. Say what? Um... pft how about I just use a site builder? Yeah. And with 1 GB USB jump drives, I could possibly save the entire site on 1 (the current site is saved on a 256mb jump drive with no more room for additional files).

So the current website will definitely be renovated. I'll even play around with the Coppermine gallery and change the layout for it. I may even create a youtube account specifically for this website, as I do have a bunch of footage of random events in relation to the Wyoming School for the Deaf. I'll attempt getting in contact with those who have attended the School for the Deaf and see if they have anything they want to contribute (info, articles, photos, etc.) and go from there. As for news articles, I have plenty! I'll double-check with the current Star Tribune editor and make sure it's ok I use their articles. I'm sure it'll be no problem, as long as I credit the Tribune, which is easy. Any articles that are already on the Star Tribune website, I just link to those. Anything older, I publish onto the website with a link to trib.com since the Tribune is the source.

Now if I can just remember the plan I originally had for this website. Well... I'm not even sure where the original jump drive is. Oh that's not good, I better find it! All of the photos are on it. Hopefully it's been in my desk drawer all this time, but only time will tell.

SSI

Had my appointment today to apply for SSI. I showed up, and sat while waiting for my name to be called. Of course, I never did hear my name being called, another woman thatw as also waiting asked me if I was Meghan, then told me I had been called. Oh! Made my way over to the desk and sat down. From there, the SSA person proceeded to ask various questions and getting information and stuff off his computer. Back and forth, questions and answers (and having him repeat what he said a few times as he was quiet and I had a hard time hearing. At one point, he had to turn the computer screen so I could see a doctor's name as I thought he was saying Dr. Grit or Grint or something when really it was Green). Gave him my hearing test results (copies, of course) to be included in the file and all that stuff. He said as long as I don't make over $980 a month, I could qualify. I'm at about $850 average on a monthly basis, as long as I don't actually work up to 29 hours a week (I was approved to work up to 29 hours a week in January, but I have never made it to the full 29 hours yet as I run out of things to do at work, so I average 25-26 hours per week). He says he'll get everything sent off to the Cheyenne office, and they'll make their decision within the next 60-90 days.

This past week, I was emailing a deaf friend who had been through the SSI process. Was nice to hear from her and get some feedback. Hopefully things will work out. I'm just not going to think too much about this, I'll just stay focused on other things, keeping busy.

Sidekick LX 2009

I got my brand new Sidekick LX 2009 from T-Mobile yesterday. I was at work when I got the email from UPS stating they had delivered my package. After receiving that email, I was motivated to get my work done as quickly as possible so I could run home and play with my new "toy". I was so excited when I opened up the packaging, really truly excited. I have never upgraded to a new device through a mobile company before, ever. I opened up the box, and took the LX out of the plastic coverings and basically dumped everything else out of the box. Wow! It's a really nice, slick device. A definite improvement over the Sidekick 3, which I've used for over 2 years.

(click on the photos to see them in full)


I noticed there wasn't a new SIM card, so I wasn't too sure if I was supposed to use the old one from the SK3 or not. I got onto my desktop computer and logged into my.t-mobile.com and used the chat support to get that question answered. "You just use the old SIM card from the old device and it'll work!" Awesome! Transfered the SIM card, installed the battery and the new teeny tiny micro SD card, plugged the LX into an outlet and powered it up. Got the LX registered under my T-mobile account name and all that jazz, and I just played with it for a while. Man it was one noisy device for a while, as I went through the settings to turn off the sounds and use the "subtle" alerts (where the trackball flickers for new messages, etc.).




the micro sd card and a nickel, so you can get an idea of the sizing of the card, in case you've never seen a micro (I was shocked to see how tiny it was!).


difference in battery sizes, and the new battery is supposed to last longer.

I'm really impressed with the new LX! A huge improvement over the 3, that's for sure. The LX has Facebook, Myspace and Twitter applications, all which you can use for free now. On the 3, you could download the Myspace application (it didn't have Facebook or Twitter so you'd have to go onto the internet to use those) and pay a monthly fee. The instant messengers are all upgraded/updated on the LX. I can now see and use all of the standard smilies on MSN now (before, my mom would use a random smilie on her side on the computer, but it'd show up as symbols on the SK3 for me). There is 3G capabilities on the LX, but of course Wyoming doesn't have the 3G coverage so I'm still using the same networks as before, but that's fine with me. Changing of text sizes on the LX now, small, medium and large. Mine's on the medium setting. Camera has been updated, and you can now take short videos with it. Hey, you can even view videos on Youtube on the LX! Wow! I'm still using the exact same plan on the LX that I was using on the 3, the Sidekick unlimited plan.

Only downside is that there's no Relay applications on the new LX's just yet. I did shoot off an email to i711.com about this and asked if they were going to have the application available soon enough. I never did use the relay on the SK 3 really, but sometimes you just never know when you're going to need the relay, so it'll be nice to have i711 on the new LX (the previous Sidekicks all should have IP-Relay and i711 applications, it's just the newest versions that don't have them just yet).

Looks like I can now text photos from the LX as well. Hm! I haven't tried this out yet, but I will someday.

Overall, I'm really impressed with the new LX 2009.

SSI stuff

I'm still amazed that there's no ossification at all in my cochleas. Still. I just can't get over the fact!

Anyway, I basically ramsacked the computer room downstairs looking for the SSI stuff that I had gotten in the mail a couple months back. I did fill out the disability report stuff at the Social Security website in February and sent it in, and they sent back a notice with an appointment time. Of course, then, I didn't take up on the appointment and had it canceled. But today, I got online and looked real quick for a phone number, then started up a i711 relay call online. The automated stuff took a while to get through, then finally the relay operator got a hold of a live representative, and went from there. Appointment has been set for May 22 at 12:45 p.m. to fill out an SSI application, to go over the disability report that I sent in, and to go over the stuff they are asking me to bring in. We'll see how this works out. I'm going to do as much research as I can, and try to find people that have been through the process so I can get feedback from them, so that I'm not all completely clueless of what I'm doing with the process.

More stuff

Leave it to me to forget stuff, ha. :)

I'd still rather have the left ear done though, just so there's sund
coming into that ear. If it takes a while to make sense of anything, so
be it, I'll work at it.

Now, just need to figure out insurance and such. He's surprised I'm not
on any medical assistance program of any sort from Wyoming already with
the very profound loss in the left and severe to profound in the right,
and encouraged me to check SSI again. Now, if we know of anyone that
could help walk me through the SSI steps, great. I'm not even going to
ask vocational rehab, again and again Amy has not been of any help. if I
could afford the $360+ a month for the BCBS Wyoming health insurance
pool, I would have definitely gone that route. But since I can't, will
definitely look into SSI some more. He says he'll be more than happy to
provide the proof of my deafness to them. He also says the CNI can get
the implant device donated, and he himself would charge me for his part
as the surgeon, and would work with the hospital on bringing their costs
down if I still can't get the insurance.
--Meghan