Go Ahead

***Warning. This post ended up being pretty long. Be warned. ***
 
This post is gonna be a little tricky...with complicated deaf lingo. Don't worry. My vocabulary is very limited and so don't fret.

TTY Relay  This is the old way that deaf people would make calls. They would use equipment similar to a typwriter that can transmit the information through a phone line. Both deafie and operator had said TTYs and the operator would be connected to both the hearing person and the deafie. Thus relalying information to both parties.

Suppose my husband wants to order pizza. After about 4 minutes of waiting to get an operator on the line and the number etc, the call would proceed as follows:

Pizza Guy: "Hello! Domino's Pizza. Where our pizza isn't that great, but we are the closest pizza place to you and you have no other options. Is this carry or delivery?
Operator: (mono-tone voice) "This is TTY relay service, operator 666. You have a relay call that is going to take all night from a deaf caller . Are you familiar with this kind of call?"
Pizza guy: "Huh? A what? Are you trying to sell us something, because we sell crappy pizza, but we don't buy anything!"
Operator: "Your caller is calling through a typing device that is totally outdated and annoying for all of us and so I will be typing your conversation. You say 'Go Ahead' when you are done and the deaf caller will do the same."
Pizza Guy: "Uhhhmmm. Oookay?"
Operator: "Hold on one moment please." (Mad typing in the background can be heard.)
Long Silence..............................................................................
Pizza Guy: "Ummmm...Hello? Are you there."
Operator: "One moment sir." (Mad typing going on again.)
Long silence...............
Operator: "Your caller says 'Yes! Hi. My name is Hubs. This will be delivery. Go Ahead."
Pizza Guy: "Oh, what? What was that...?"
silence........................................................................
Pizza Guy: "Hello?!"
Operator: "Was that Go Ahead?"
Pizza Guy: " Yes. I guess so. Go ahead"
(mad typing)
silence..........................................................
Operator: "Delivery. I would like to order........"
Pizza Guy: "I need the phone number first.....Hello.?.."
Operator: "One moment sir that was not a go ahead. You need to wait your turn. One moment."
And so the call goes...On...for.. about 15 miutes. Can you imagine? 15 minutes to order pizza!?!?


Next word:
V.R.S. (No, it isn't some type of virus.) Video Relay Service. This is the service that deaf people throughout the modern world use to call hearing people. How does this work? Both the interpreter and the deafie have a video phone that allows them to see each other on t.v. Then the interpreter is able, again, to interpret and relay the conversation for both parties. This is really cool bacause it allows deaf people to communicate with others IN THEIR OWN LANGUAGE. Very cool! VERY!!

Time to order pizza: After about 10 seconds of connecting to video interpreter the call is placed.
(Ring Ring) Pizza Guy: "Hello! Domino's Pizza. Where sometimes our pizza is not recognizable, but we call it pizza. Is this carry or delivery?"
Operator: "Hi. You have a caller who uses sign language to communicate. I'm interpreter 007 so I will be interpreting your call. Your caller is saying 'Delivery please.'"
Pizza Guy: "Huh? Uh okay. Can I have your number please."
Operator; "Sure...it is....."

And so the call goes. So much faster so much easier. And a much more pleasant experience for all involved.

Who pays for this? The FCC. It allows deaf individuals to have equal access in their own language. It has made things so much better in my house and to deaf all over. The FCC pays VRS providers a certain amount of money per call. Up til now it has been the same rate no matter which company you are. The contract is now up for review and what the FCC is proposing could be devistating to both the deaf community and also to the many VRS companies nationwide.
Their proposal is a 3 tiered pay scale. Smaller companies are Tier I, medium companies Tier II and large companies (the ones who process the majority of the video relayed calls...the one that I work for and that hubs uses) are Tier III. The FCC is  proposing to pay Tier one $5.00/call, Tier II $6.00/call, and Tier III $3.40/call. Yes, that is right. I didn't make a mistake. It doesn't make sense! At least to not to me.

If this were to go through, the company that I work for and the company that most deaf callers use WILL GO BANKRUPT. We will. There is no way around it. This would leave the majority of deaf people scrounging around looking for VRS providers. No other company has the capability of supporting that many calls. And if any company did, they would be forced into a higher tier, which would, in turn, cause them to go bankrupt. And so the cycle would go. In the end, Deaf people are the ones who are really hurt. Sure, we interpreters will lose our jobs...so there is that...more unemployment. However, the real injustice is to the people we serve. People like my husband.

It is outrageous. There is a reason why companies are successful. There are reasons why Deafies prefer one company over another. And to force that company by punishing them and rewarding another for mediocrity....it just doesn't make sense. Seriously. If this does happen, it will be back to the old, inefficient TTY relay. 

There is good news, however. At this point it is just a proposal. If enough people express concern over the matter, perhaps the FCC will reconsider. I tried to post the link here, but it doesn't seem to be working all that great. So here ((866) 756-6729)  is a number you can call, and when I get the right link I will post it here. 

Make a difference. Go Ahead!

How do I know?

I know my kids really love me because…

10- ...I am the one they choose to throw up on. I don't know about you, but there are only a few people who I would throw up on...and if I do it, I want it to be the right person...like my mom!

9- ...when they say things like, "You are a mean mommy!" or "You are a poopie mommy!" I know what they are trying to say is "You are awesome and I love you so much. Thanks for all you do." Perspective, people.

8-... they write it on their dressers with permanent marker. I love that!

7- ...nothing says I love you like, "Not this again! I hate green beans! Gross!!"

6- ...they lick my face from time to time. Wonderful.

5- ...they share their already chewed, licked, bitten out of gum/sucker/candy with me.

4- ...cuddling happens at all hours of the day.... and night.

3- ...headbutting equals love. Let's just say my boys love me a lot. And I have the bruises to prove it.

2 ...they draw pictures of me skinny. Oh, and apparently I have arms and legs that come out of my head. I love those pictures!!

1 ...because they tell me. They kiss me. They hug me. They run to me when they are hurt. They run to me when I am hurt. They sing their songs to me. They dance with me. I know they love me simply. Simply because I am who I am....

 I am Mom.

(Also posted at Mama's Losing It! for Writer's Workshop. She has a good post on there today. Made me cry!)

Need a little sunshine...

This is how I feel today.  It actually started last night. My body was aching. I had pregnant head. (You know how your stomach feels nauseous those first few months? Well I was feeling that in my head.) 

I swear I had a fever...but of course no-one else agreed with me. Not even the thermometer. 

I crashed on the couch waiting for hubs to come home. 

Finally at half past midnight, we wondered up to bed, only to have my 10 year old wake with a migraine. Poor kid. It is going on day 3 for him.

It took me about an hour and half to get to sleep. Then I had some crazy dreams. Why would my husband do that to me? Even if it is a dream, that is just mean!!

So today, I woke up feeling like this again. I called off work (whoot!!) and hung out with my aching son in my bed. 

But now it is time to get up, get dressed and tackle those dishes, laundry, little monkeys, etc. 

Wish me luck!

**You may be asking yourself, "Who does this to a flower?" I am sad to report that this isn't the first time something like this has happened. I am the flower killer! I never mean to do it, and yet this always seems to be the outcome. Potted plants are not my friends...or at least I am no friend to them. **

Childhood

Ahhh kids. They are smart little things, aren't they? The amount of information that they can learn in their first 2 years of life always amazes me. From merely crying to running, talking, eating soliod food, potty trained (Yeah right. At two??..not in my house.); it is all amazing.

So why, then, do they say some things that just don't make sense. There are too many to list, but I want to talk about the one that they say the most:

"First is the worst.

Second is the best

Third is the one with the hairy chest."

What can we learn from this little ditty?

We learn that striving for excellence is just plain wasteful. Who wants to be the worst? Yes, in our house we are perfectly fine with mediocre.

"Slow down, Johnny. You don't want to win. That would be horrible. Let that other kid pass you. Whoot. Way to go...or not go!"

Oh, yes. We love those RED ribbons. Silver is the new gold for us.  It has its advantages. No-one wants your autograph, no-one remembers you. And everyone tells you "Good try."

Now, it is the last line that is a little disturbing. I don't know about you, but if that line really is true, I would rather come in LAST PLACE than get bronze. Hairy chest? I can imagine how attractive that would look.

"Sally! Go! (oh drat...she's not going to be second). Let that other girl...the slow kid pass you. Slow down! SLOW DOWN! Argh! Third place. This is gonna get ugly."

Ahhhh, childhood.

What little ditties do your kids sing,chant, recite, etc.?

Honestly?!

I can't sleep in my undies.... Let me rephrase that. I can't sleep in ONLY my undies. I am afraid that if there was a fire I would simply grab my kids and run out the door...only to look down and see that I am in my skivies. Silly, I know, but it is true.

I once accidentally pushed a piano onto my 14 month old child. Not many people can say that....Not many people SHOULD say that. Don't worry, I will share that post on another day.

Out of the 11 years I have been married, I have been pregnant or nursing for 7.6 of them.

I hear that most men pee in the shower. My hubby does....Does yours?

I hate grocery shopping. Really, Really hate it! Such a huge undertaking. I have to make a menu, then the ingredients list, then check to see what I need, then go to the store and spend my life's savings, then load it into the car which happens to hold a few bikes, water bottles, not quite sure what that thing is. Then I have to take it home and unload it, clean out my fridge (because I never do that BEFORE I go to the store), unpack it. Then I have to defend my food so kids and hubby don't eat what is needed for the menu. Sigh. I hate grocery shopping.

I LOVE the High School Musical Trilogy. Did I just say that out loud? Heck yes!!

I have to sleep with something on my body (like a sheet or blanket), and nothing on my feet. Unless it is really cold, then I just put socks on.

My hubby and I dated 2 weeks before we got engaged. Two months later we were married. Booyah!

My dog thinks that my flower bed is his designated digging area.

Why so random, you ask? That's just how I roll. That and I got another award. Yippie!!  And it is the much coveted:

Thanks Nolie!! Whoever made up this award, should totally win this award. Who comes up with a name like that? Too funny! So above were the 10 random things about me. Probably more than you ever wanted to know.

Now for the awards...

Seeking the Sunlight (My college roomie...lots of good stuff here!)
Earth Mother  (Always get a good laugh here.)
Aging Mommy (Good read!)
From 3-5 (Just found this blog that makes me smile.)
Life is a phoenix (Love reading her blogs...chuckle chuckle)
The Girl Next Door Grow Up (Always a fun read here.)
My Little Miracles (Great blog)
A Stone's Throw From Insanity (Enjoy her humor!)

I know, there is only 8 links there...instead of 10. Again, my counting abilities were lost after the first 3 children. So sorry. Enjoy visiting these sites. They are great!

While you are here, tell me 10 random things about you. That way I can know who my stalkers are...or at least a little more about the people that I stalk!!

What. The. HECK!!!!!!

Ahhh, nothing like a little global warming....

to cover your vulnerable flower buds...

to threaten the life of almost the only living plants you own...

and to totally destroy any hopes of having plenty of zucchini squash this summer.

Humph! Nothing like global warming.

On a totally unrelated note, here is a random baby rabbit that we saw in our yard the other morning. Take notice, snow/frost/hail/all things cold. Scamper like this little rabbit did when my kids tried to make it their pet.

Someone likes me.... Really!

I blog for two reason. It beats reading books in the bathroom...did I just say that out loud.

Okay, let's start over.. There are 3 reasons I blog. The first, I just mentioned.

Secondly, I love my family and the crazy things that happen around here. Because someday, when my kids are all grown, they are going to say, "Mom, do you remember when...what was that, Mom?  Yes, I am your son. Your third son. The one that you pushed the piano on. Yes, its me, Mom."

You see, by the time I reach that age (whatever age that is), I will have forgotten all the funny stories, all the funny things that they did, what our life was like. This blog gives me an outlet for later embarrassing my children journaling our lives together.

I also enjoy blogging because it is fun. I get to put my silly, twisted humor out there...and I can laugh at myself. When I decided to go public, I wasn't sure anyone would like reading my story, much less think that I was funny. I blog, I laugh, my hubby laughs, my kids laugh...and that was the extent of my expectations.

Now, I have received another Sunshine award and I really do feel honored. Heidi over at  With Thankful Hearts thinks I am funny. No, I didn't give her any money yet. On her own accord while I was twisting her arm!! You should visit her blog. She is very inspiring and is just a good person. Thanks, Heidi, for being my friend.

So, now for the confessions. I stalk people. A lot of people.  Here is the list from a couple weeks ago. And here are a few more people that I stalk, and who I believe are definitely deserving of this award. So consider yourselves Sunshined.

This Blessed Life
Happy...Most of the Time
Cowboy Botts & Baby Booties

Good Day, Regular People
Life with a LIttle One and More

Pass on the Sunshine, peeps. Thanks again Heidi!!