Random 5 for September 10, 2023 – Summer?, distracted, cooking, hearing, TV sound

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No pumpkins yet!

Why, hello summer? – We had oppressive heat and humidity this week. Not like our southern neighbors but a lot for us in September.

That was weird – I was in a hurry. I was shopping in a big box office store. When I came out, I walked up to a red car and opened the door. The person inside was shocked and so was I (for different reasons). It was the wrong red car. I’ve done this before (I zone in on the color) but no one was inside or the car was locked (or maybe I noticed a weird CD on the console). Fortunately, the woman and I had a good laugh about it. Maybe I need to book at room at the crazy lady home. I wonder if they have cats there.

Cooking – My mom, who was a fabulous cook, said that as you cook less, you lose your skills. Mom was right. I made some things this week that did not get quite as fabulous as they did when I made them 20 years ago. My cooking these days is simple but I don’t like it to be too plain. Maybe I should cook more. Nope, that’s not the answer!

What did you say? – I’m going for a hearing test this week and a probable fitting for hearing aids. If I am seated at a table, I can usually hear people around the table (if it’s not too big). If I’m in a noisy restaurant, I can’t. I’m not convinced the aids will help with that as it’s hard to block out the background noise. I did this several years back. I had the aids for a month before I decided that it was too much hassle. This time around, I’ll have to work on it harder or accept hearing less.

Speaking of hearing – TV has been the most challenging for hearing. If I’m watching the news or a talk show, I can hear just fine. People face the camera. If it’s a drama or comedy, it’s a lot harder to hear. I’m not sure why. Maybe the background music or sound effects interfere. Add an accent and I need to make up my own story for the plot!

So how was your week?

64 thoughts on “Random 5 for September 10, 2023 – Summer?, distracted, cooking, hearing, TV sound”

  1. Glad you and the lady in the red car had a laugh about it! When I lived in Allentown we had a couple situations where people just walked into our house, looked around and said something along the lines of – this isn’t my friend’s house! It happens. (We were in a row home.)

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  2. I know what you mean about how difficult it is to hear some shows on TV. It’s frustrating, rather like how dark some shows are now. The dreary sets and clothes mean I can’t see things clearly. Why, Hollywood, why?

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  3. I haven’t been able to speech if there is background noise for pretty much as long as I can remember. Maybe around college age or just a bit later. After that, I discovered that I must read lips to some degree as I need someone to be looking at me in order to hear them. And no way can I hear anyone who is behind me. Oh, and I’ve had tinnitus for probably the past 20 years. That has added a newish layer of challenge to understanding speech.

    Like you and some of your commenters, I use earbuds when I’m streaming on some sites, and/or CC, especially on YouTube. Accents definitely make it worse. I’ve never considered aids until recently considering I haven’t be able to get a doctor to take my hearing issues seriously. At this point since it’s mostly watching streaming shows where it’s an issue, I don’t think it is worth it. Sounds like it’s causing issues with your social group and that’s far more problematic than whether or not to use earbuds while watching tv.

    I joke about aids because I constantly get ads from Beltone and another hearing aid company for my parents, who are both deceased. I figure if they make a hearing aid that can get my parents to hear me (or hey, to allow me to hear them) it would be well worth the cost.

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    • I tried this several years ago and couldn’t stand the fussing. Change teeny tiny batteries frequently; hearing the background noise but not the conversation all made it not worth it. Now my hearing is worse. TV people mumble (I’m starting to sound like my mother!) and other than older folks (who know to look directly at you when they speak because they can’t hear either) I’m having issues with conversation. Cashiers or customer service reps all mumble. Grandkids mutter. Even the husband is sounding strange. We’ll see how it goes this time around. I’m going to Costco which has the best price in my area. Their staff are also trained ear people. Wish me luck.

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  4. Forgive me for getting a giggle out of your wrong-car mishap. LOL. I tried opening the door of a locked, empty wrong car once. I had a funny mishap this weekend, myself. I was going to put it in my blog for this week, but the post got too long so I left it out. If you comment when I post tomorrow, I’ll tell you in a comment.

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    • Quite a while back, I actually got in the driver’s seat of a car (same color as mine). I looked at the console and saw a Led Zeppelin cassette (or maybe 8 track?) It made me look around and I was in the wrong car! Fortunately, the owner didn’t come out of the store while I was in there. I’ll look forward to hearing your story!

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  5. I’ve never commented before but did want to add that I am 71 yrs. old, no problems with hearing. Started using CC a few months ago when I read that almost 80% of younger people use it all the time. It’s just a common thing for them to do. So I tried it and will never go back to not using it. No more struggling to understand anything, it’s all there 🙂

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    • I tried it last night on a show we were watching on Netflix. It said it was unavailable. We will keep trying it though. I feel like I am sometimes missing an important point in the dialog.

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  6. Cooking — it occurred to me after 24 hours that my cooking isn’t as good now, either. Then I had a revelation. I don’t think my cooking has changed, but my taste buds certainly have. I’ve been commenting endlessly about how I don’t taste things the way I used to. Grandson David has sharp taste buds, and he tells me if there is too much onion or not enough sugar. It’s usually my tasting ability that has gone downhill, not my cooking skills. Hope this will bring you some comfort, unless you’d be horrified to realize your tasting may have slipped.

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  7. Love the “red car” story…..I’m sure something like that is in my future as I tend to be pretty distracted when I leave a store…..”did I forget something?”…..etc. Hearing aids probably are in my future but not quite yet – I wish my husband would consider them but he won’t. Fine – I’ll just continue to YELL! LOL

    Hugs, Pam

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  8. I’m with Autumn. When I’m watching a drama, I like to hear every word. I don’t like to miss anything. So I turn on the captions for the British shows and anything where people mumble.

    My main concern when I’m cooking is to make something that’s healthy, not too fattening, not too time consuming, and tasty enough so I’ll enjoy eating it. But these days I seldom cook for a party, and that’s something totally different. So, yes, I’ve forgotten how to cook.

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    • I made steak and oven potatoes yesterday with corn on the cob. It all turned out wonderful. We rarely have steak. I use a sous vide for a lot of meats (especially the ones that get tough when overcooked like chicken breasts) so they don’t get overdone. I think my taste buds have changed too.

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  10. I opened the passenger door on the wrong vehicle once and was lucky the lady laughed as she had done it before too. We are lucky we are not in Texas or we would probably be shot. 🙂

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    • I jerked the driver’s side door open and the woman was startled. She was on her cell phone and didn’t see me approach. Fortunately she saw my shock and I started to apologize profusely. People get shot for a lot less but not around here.

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  11. We are unusually cool this weekend and thru next week after sweltering over Labor Day weekend and earlier in the week. It has been nice not having the A/C on for a few days … gives it a break and my pocketbook a break too.

    I can see that happening … most cars and/or SUVs look alike these days. When Fairlane Town Center, a huge multi-level shopping mall, opened in the mid-70s, it was down the street from where I went to school at that time (a community college). I had watched them building it for two years and the day it opened, I headed there to check it out after my last class. I had never been in a mall that large, nor a parking lot that large. Other than noting what parking lot area letter/number I parked in, I just headed inside. When it came time to leave I was on the opposite side of the mall and clueless where I left my car. I went to a security guard to tell him where I entered and asked how to find that door … he walked me down there. As I was telling him how dumb I felt, he laughed and said he had already helped out countless people since they opened up. Most malls at that time were on one level and you could see the entire mall at a glance. 🙂

    I know they have state-of-the-art hearing aids now. Much more comfortable in your ear, discreet and Bluetooth to pair with devices.

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    • Send some of your cool weather east! It’s been really humid here with a lot of rain. I came out the wrong door at our local “big” mall here and couldn’t find my car. The security guy took me directly to the area where my car was parked. I told him that was the wrong spot but there was my car waiting for me! Felt like a fool. At least I was younger so I didn’t feel like an old fool! 🙂 Fingers crossed on the hearing aids. Mostly I like the quiet of not hearing stuff (background noises) and that is what makes me pause. Lately I’ve been having issues with the TV (it mumbles!) and when my granddaughters came east this summer I could hardly understand them. It was a combination of them talking while walking away and they have a low tone. Sure hope they didn’t ask for money because I did a lot of head bobbing!

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      • Glad these lost car occurrences were in our youth. My friend’s husband works at home so after she retired she watched TV or listened to music thru Bluetooth so she didn’t disturb him and it worked well for her – I’d say get a soundproof room like your husband has (but then again I’m not married). 🙂 I know a neighbor had the older hearing aids and the noises were so magnified, he chose to leave the hearing aids in a drawer. Kids talk fast these days too – I have to listen closely and if it’s a techy thing, I’m in big trouble. Good luck! with them.

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  12. We watch most show with subtitles. I read recently that lots of people use CC and not just older people. The sound quality on TV shows ain’t what it used to be. I also have over-the-ear wireless headphones which really help with the dialog.

    I once started to open the back door of a car that I thought was my friends’ (they had dropped me off to quickly use the ATM), but nope. The couple in the car were very nice about it (they were Canadian 🙂 ) but I felt pretty stupid.

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  13. Hearing aids are a real challenge-not sure the technology is quite up to snuff-they are either too sensitive and you’re bombarded with noise or you can’t hear unless you turn them up till just before you reach that “bombarding” level. Sigh. Good luck, maybe they’ve improved 🤞🏼

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    • Probably not. Last time I tried them, it also amplified the background noise which is most of the problem. I’ll give it a try though. At least now they are rechargeable. Fussing with the batteries every two days or so was a pain too.

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  15. I received a good scolding from my MIL’s audiologist when I mentioned that I wish I didn’t hear as well as I do. I said I hear all and it would be a blessing to not have such great hearing. I think I just must be sensitive to noise. I told her I was sorry. SSNS needs to take a hearing test but nope he doesn’t think he needs to. I hope your appointment goes well.

    As I have gotten older, I could totally see myself going to the wrong car. We have always driven white vehicles so our latest vehicle color is dark olive metallic and I never miss it in a parking lot! I did once lose my car in a parking garage. I was in my thirties and my Mom was with me. We both freaked out, I thought it had been stolen. We were on the wrong level!

    I am thrilled that SSNS loves to cook! We have been married 50 years and I cooked for 40 of those years and now he does most of the cooking.

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  16. Maybe I am a candidate for the crazy lady house too as I have tried to get in the wrong black car. It is still hot here but we are out of 100 degrees most days now. I don’t cook as much as I used to and sometimes a dish doesn’t turn out just the way it used to. Oh, well. Husband and I have trouble with British accents even with the volume turned up full. Oh, well. Have a good week, Kate!

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  17. I can’t say cooking is my passion. I like baking but cooking is more like a household chore that needs to be done on a regular basis. 🙂 My hearing was always amazing, but I developed Tinnitus a few years back, and it has definitely taken a toll on my hearing. I got hearing aids about two years ago. I wear them all the time except for when I’m outside gardening. Even with aids, I have a trouble with British accents. Good luck.

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    • I’m going to Costco which is considerably less than other places. Our local one is staffed with trained professionals. I was impressed last time I tried them. I just wasn’t ready to put up with the fussing then. Now I’m missing so much that I have to.

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  21. My hearing is declining as well. The biggest challenge is my husband is a slow low talker from another room, or while the microwave is on in the kitchen, or water running. . . just saying. I’ve heard that hearing aids need to be wore all the time or they don’t work. Good luck.

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    • Both of us have learned how to face each other when we talk (his hearing isn’t any better than mine). Other people don’t know that or even if we say something, they don’t remember. People also drop off at the end of the sentence so you don’t hear the last part. When you ask them to repeat they do the front end louder (which you already heard) but again drop off at the end. 😦

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  22. Well, we seem to be a closed captioning gang here…add me to the group. Especially when I started watching things on Britbox…the accents alone sometimes did me in. And I am great cooking crockpot stuff that will last a few days in the cooler months, but have trouble with all that in the summer. Partly because the meals feel too heavy for summer, and partly because with pet sitting and rescue work I’m too dang busy. Looking forward to some cooler and quieter days.

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    • Looking like I’m the only one who hasn’t switched to CC. Part of the issue with summer cooking is that it all seems so heavy (except for chips and soda). I do a lot of light meals in the summer. We used to grill a lot but cooking in the hot sun just doesn’t hold the appeal anymore.

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  23. We watch everything with subtitles . . . if subtitles are available.

    Haha about trying to get in the wrong car ~ down here, you’d be safe. All the cars are white, gray, black, tan, taupe with almost nothing that isn’t neutral.

    My mom was a fabulous cook . . . until she wasn’t. She and dad ended up having sandwiches for lunch most days and cold cereal for dinner most nights. I still like to cook, but NOT every night. I usually cook enough for 4 meals so that we have planned leftovers OR frozen portions to enjoy down the road.

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    • I cook like you do. I always make at least 2 meals at a time. For soups and chili, I make bigger batches. Nothing better than pulling something out of the freezer when you are not in a cooking mood.

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  24. I started using the closed captioning years ago when I was watching British shows and got tired of my husband asking me what they characters were saying. It’s also handy when dogs bark. I still hear better than most people (especially my husband!), but the subtitles remain!

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