November 19, 2007

November 19, 2007 Word 2007 Inspiron
For almost 75 years I have trod this extraordinary planet and perceived its wonders and enjoyed its blessings, perceived through my senses. My vision is aided by corrective eyeglasses although I can do most tasks without them. I am not wearing them right now as a write this journal entry with Microsoft Word 2007 on the Dell Inspiron on my lap sitting in the blue recliner. My companion animal and lap warmer is outside sitting on the deck, waiting to be called in for a little snack. She gave up and came in without being called so she forfeits the getting called in snack.

This afternoon I have an appointment with Elizabeth, the audiologist, to check my adaptation to a hearing enhancement device. It greatly aides my hearing Barbara and understanding movies and the MacNeil/Lehrer News Hour on television. For most other televiewing I use earphones and my computer, without HEDs in place or with the volume level turned down all the way. I have this remote device that can adjust the volume of my hearing enhancement device. It is supposed to be used temporarily to adjust the volume during these getting started days. I am going to ask to keep it so I will have to pay for it. The total cost of my unit will be similar to a well equipped laptop computer, my other prosthetic communication device. My other well used devices are the iPhone and the Zire 71 PDA. I use both of these to keep journal items on, using Notes on the iPhone and Memo on the Zire 71. I also keep journal items on the Dell Inspiron (using Word 2007), the Alienware computer (using Word 2007), or the MacBook Pro (using Pages or Word for Mac). I have set up a blog on blogger.com, called iPhoneJournal, to share these notes with others, although there is no evidence that any one is viewing them.

The cat decided she needed to sit in my lap so I am continuing to write with the Inspiron perched on the left arm rest of the recliner. Its about 20 centimeters wide and thus holds the lap top nicely. I should have Barbara take a picture of me showing this arrangement of items (computer, chair, cat, and human).

In the afternoon I went in to the audiologist for a progress report on how I am adapting to the use of an HED (hearing enhancement device). After putting the device in my ear it was apparent that the right ear device was not functioning. It turns out it was blocked, something I had not considered and was soon restored to usefulness by the audiologitst.

In the evening brother Rud called to wish me a happy birthday, for tomorrow. He also reported that his neighbor would also be 75 tomorrow. How does the old saw go about how many people are needed in a room for two people to have the same birthdate? I don’t believe they had to be the same age though.