pecanpie, I love your story about informing the loud store you'd be taking your VISA elsewhere! My DD thinks she is the only teen suffering in this way..... This is her "favorite" embarrassment: I called ahead (hey, I'm not new to teen-shopping-heck) to ask if a certain huge sportings goods store had basketball shorts and shoes for my daughter with a size 8 foot (BTW, is this still THE most common woman's foot size???!!) at the start of basketball season. I was told, oh yes, lots. We walk in, ask for help, & the young man immediately explains that we really "want" men's clothing and shoes, all the "girls" do, and that's all they have. Well, I clarified: "So you only have clothing and shoes for people with penuses?" This is when my DD & gal pal disappeared in a puff of smoke, oddly. Yes, I complained to the manager -- a real woman (not a "girl," mind you) who was horrified at the young man's comments, and assured me that this would be addressed immediately and was wrong for oh-so-many reasons. So now my daughter reminds me "no penus comments" when I take her shopping and I remind her "well then they better have women's clothing and equipment when we get there..." So we have an understanding. And I can only imagine how riled up she'll get defending her own daughter's right to be clothed for sports in the future, should title nine remain viable..... Like pecanpie, I remind folks all the time when I'm out shopping that I want to see what I'm buying & I don't care to be insulted with music or anti-woman politics while spending large sums of cash. Or small sums, for that matter. I'm raising a woman here.

Hi sweeby - I lost total hearing in my left ear as the result of a brain tumor. It is a daily struggle to participate in conversations, but I work really hard at trying to listen when someone is speaking to me, I give them my undivided attention. I do have to ask people to repeat, and most of the time it isn't a problem. There are many times that I am not aware someone is talking to me, so they literally need to be in my face LOL It is obvious that you are really trying to work with your hubby, and I see your frustration. I know my hubby has to constantly be aware when he is speaking to me and it is alot of work for him as well. Sounds like maybe your hubby is in denial? Especially having profound hearing loss at only 50. Wish he would go to an audiologist because there are so many wonderful hearing devices available. Some so small that you can't see them in the ear. It has been 8 years since I lost my hearing and there has not been anything on the market that would help me. My hearing nerve was removed. Anyway, there is a brand new device that was just approved and I will be getting mine next week. I am very excited!! I know it will not replicate what I had pre-brain tumor, but it will sure make life easier for me and everyone around me. Hang in there!! matti

I have hearing aids now for quite a few years. I have moderate to severe hearing loss in both ears. I should have been wearing them my whole life, but kids can be real cruel in the first grade! Back in 2006 I finally broke down, got tested and went over the different kinds of hearing aids that were available. BTE, CIC, etc. I chose CIC and have not regretted it at all. I have both low and high frequency loss of different decibles. The brand I have now are Audibel, these are digital. The right one is red and the left is blue. I had mine fitted just for me with a substance that was poured into my ear to make a mold. I hardly know they are there. To avoid that stuffed up feeling, the tiny air vents needs to be cleaned at least once a week. I just went back to the specialist for a in depth hearing test. I have loss some more % of hearing in the past 6 years. I was given a phamplet of the brand Focus by Microtech. These are also digital. I can still hear the dog lapping out of the water bowl and the leaves crunch under my feet as I walk. I'm am still very happy with my Audibel brand and don't plan on getting any new ones just yet.

An elderly couple went to the doctor for a physical...after the exam the doctor was discussing the results with hubby and the doctor says.."We're gonna need a couple more tests, I will need a blood sample, urine specimen, semen specimen and a stool sample". Old man says,,"Eh, what thats doc, you gotta speak up a bit" The wife taps hubby up side his head and says,,,"Doc says he wants your underwear"