tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-312803822009-11-21T21:31:44.555-08:00Musings by a feisty, opinionated Deaf gal who wants nothing but the best for her community and her peoplemoihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10817584645055759394noreply@blogger.comBlogger79125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31280382.post-62545553970372954902009-03-23T17:30:00.000-07:002009-03-23T18:19:09.052-07:00

Wow, it's been *ages* since I last blogged! Hi again... that is, if any of you are still around. *smile*Awhile ago, I went to my local drugstore and the clerk said something to me when I wasn't looking. When I realized what was happening, I signed, "I'm Deaf. What did you say?" with a smile on my face. This usually results in their repeating themselves or scrambling for a pen and paper. Not this

moihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10817584645055759394noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31280382.post-35418337060599127202008-10-07T07:55:00.000-07:002008-10-07T07:59:04.239-07:00

I’ve resisted the term CODA from the beginning, which is unlike me. I’m big on allowing members of a group to define their own identity and not to define them when I am not a member of the group. But the term that Americans have gleefully adopted to define those who are hearing with Deaf parents has always been jarring and wrong on some fundamental level for me. The first thing that I was able to

moihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10817584645055759394noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31280382.post-30384309247603802752008-08-07T13:35:00.000-07:002008-08-07T13:38:45.961-07:00

My family was at the pool this morning, when someone nudged me, chuckling, and asked me to look at the guy in the next lane. The guy had two tufts of hair near his temples and they were standing up on end, with a slight curve to each, resembling devil's horns. She said, "Doesn't he look like the devil?" He DID! He had a very dark complexion, dark hair, and a very intense look on his face.A bit

moihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10817584645055759394noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31280382.post-14383948379815699482008-08-05T22:50:00.000-07:002008-08-06T22:13:09.528-07:00

Raise your hand if you prefer being awakened by a light rather than being jarred awake by some shaky vibraty thingamajig. Me too, me too. I seem to be very hard on alarm clocks for some reason, and I suspect it's because I use the snooze button quite liberally. I am *not* a morning person, no matter how hard I try. This leads to replacement of alarm clocks every couple of/few years, unfortunately

moihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10817584645055759394noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31280382.post-10298424541115400832008-07-31T23:53:00.000-07:002008-08-01T03:58:45.235-07:00

I happened to notice this comment in Teri Sentelle's latest entry. The commenter's point was not contained in the portion I'm about to quote and it was more of a toss-away additional thought, but it felt like a slap in the face:I was shocked to see him on video signing beautifully. I thought he was not a fluent signer because he writes like Harvard scholars.The implication of this statement is

moihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10817584645055759394noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31280382.post-23739638348537612262008-07-27T14:40:00.000-07:002008-07-27T14:52:02.536-07:00

Last Sunday I was wandering around, exploring open houses in my neighborhood - it's a fun way to spend an afternoon. One house I went in was still cluttered, and it was very clear that the owner had recently passed away. There was a note on the doors admonishing everyone not to let Duncan, the cat, in. Duncan had been adopted by the neighbors but still sneaks in whenever possible. There were a

moihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10817584645055759394noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31280382.post-91919974984261132692008-07-17T10:28:00.000-07:002008-07-18T15:52:08.119-07:00

Irresponsible commentsHmm. In my most recent post, I've received generally polite comments, even from those who didn't agree, and I thank my commenters for that. However, I received one comment that just could not be allowed through because he called individuals or groups names. In the past, I simply didn't let this type of comment through without saying a word about it. But because of the

moihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10817584645055759394noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31280382.post-65381795717884345552008-07-17T00:13:00.000-07:002008-07-17T00:25:53.485-07:00

This is a comment I left on Joey Baer's blogsite in his follow-up post to leaving DeafRead.Joey,I have to concur with the premise that DeafRead is unsafe. I've all but stopped blogging publicly because the atmosphere is just too toxic.So yes, in a way, I'm one of those bloggers who left DeafRead too, even though I haven't asked for my feed to be removed from their roster.I've read Tayler's

moihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10817584645055759394noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31280382.post-41135486621086884262008-06-09T19:53:00.000-07:002008-06-09T21:59:43.993-07:00

The saga du jour is the DeafRead-Cochlear Implant Online mêlée. Everybody and his brother has been blogging about this since the news broke midweek, with criticisms flying left and right.I’m saddened by the whole thing. There are hurt feelings everywhere and a lot of righteous indignation… some justified, some not. I can’t help but think that Tayler has been one of the staunchest defenders of

moihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10817584645055759394noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31280382.post-48865232958096050322008-05-12T19:12:00.000-07:002008-05-12T20:57:33.619-07:00

Many, many people have weighed in with their opinion on the controversy surrounding Matt Hamill's decision to have Eben Kostbar play him in Kostbar's movie, Hamill. However, there is one element that has yet to be blogged about that I'd like to touch upon.Hamill is a member of the Deaf community and does not deserve to be vilified for this decision. It is for this reason, and this reason alone,

moihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10817584645055759394noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31280382.post-9512926951543705252008-04-27T11:28:00.000-07:002008-04-27T21:59:01.833-07:00

The message at the DeafRead conference last winter, according to people who were there, was loud and clear - DeafRead was our home and now we don't have a safe harbor. Since then, DeafRead Custom has arrived. I see pros and cons to this approach, but I confess to having implemented it happily. And now we get DeafSide? Woo-hoo!!DeafRead Custom is an interesting creature. It's very difficult to

moihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10817584645055759394noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31280382.post-37709678115107895212008-04-05T18:43:00.000-07:002008-04-06T01:22:34.355-07:00

I've had a really, really rough 6 weeks, and there have been times when I've been ready to completely throw in the towel and just do nothing but my job, my family and friends, and my personal interests. No more community involvement. No more caring. I've had to deal with people who do not value the Deaf community, who are willing to tear down leaders to further their own selfish agendas, and with

moihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10817584645055759394noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31280382.post-82498145061520539462008-04-01T07:14:00.001-07:002008-04-04T20:26:58.055-07:00

I realize Amy Cohen Efron already submitted this link, but it doesn'twork. Here it is again:http://www.michaelchorost.com/blog/2008/03/26/we-all-sleep-in-silence/I'm heartened to read about how peaceful the DBC California rally wasand about how people are working to build bridges. This is the answer.It doesn't mean giving up our principles nor our Deaf center, butreaching out and showing the

moihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10817584645055759394noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31280382.post-91343861231123490092008-02-26T22:36:00.000-08:002008-02-27T11:01:57.809-08:00

What does it mean to live by your principles? Heartache and grief, I’ll tell ya. Seriously.Thanks to my principles, I’m in a fetal position more often than I care to be in.Thanks to my principles, I’m upset more often than I care to be feeling.Thanks to my principles, I’m aging myself more than I care to be due to stress.Thanks to my principles, I’m more stressed than I care to be feeling.Thanks

moihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10817584645055759394noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31280382.post-10391806757538298442008-02-10T01:04:00.000-08:002008-02-10T01:32:13.373-08:00

What do we do about DeafRead? A simple blog aggregator has become the topic of so much controversy, people cannot even agree on whether or not DeafRead is broken. Those who agree that it’s broken can say what’s wrong, but they can’t agree on how to fix it. At the crux of the issue is: what exactly is DeafRead supposed to be?I’m a mere sporadic blogger, but I’ve been part of DeafRead, both as a

moihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10817584645055759394noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31280382.post-36598850242854083542008-01-31T22:17:00.000-08:002008-01-31T22:22:05.111-08:00

I’m a WHOLE person!The message out in DeafBlogLand the past several weeks has changed significantly. It is trying more and more to tell me that I am not a whole person. I am lacking in family relationships, in opportunities, and many other things simply because I sign, prefer to be with other Deaf people most of the time, and have all but stopped using my voice in many situations.I can anticipate

moihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10817584645055759394noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31280382.post-48821769134519343062008-01-20T14:47:00.001-08:002008-01-20T14:47:41.365-08:00

I cannot remain silent any longer. I want to scream, "SHUT UP! STOP!!!," then in the shocked silence that follows, say my piece. I want to cry. I really do. It's painful for me to go to DeafRead now for so many reasons. As I write this, I am extremely mindful of the fact that current/future hearing parents of Deaf children may find this post and of the fact that my own people may find this post.

moihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10817584645055759394noreply@blogger.com31tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31280382.post-74854131181917995782007-10-08T18:58:00.001-07:002007-10-08T21:12:32.123-07:00

Rant alert: Today we were treated (sarcasm intended) to a technology training workshop en masse. As if that weren't irritating enough, knowing that no one's needs were being met that way, the presenters, while well-meaning, were not prepared at all, screwing things up and not having what they needed prepared. That'd fry me all by itself, but something happened that had me absolutely, positively

moihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10817584645055759394noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31280382.post-46701623790476983382007-07-24T21:44:00.000-07:002007-07-24T22:29:58.737-07:00

Wow. I am blown away by the response to both of my recent posts discussing thoughts for all hearing parents. Both Amys continue to weigh in and other people continue to add their thoughts.It's clear that we are far from being on the same page here and we need to continue this dialogue in order to consider and understand varying perspectives. That said, here's *mine*: the most important thing, to

moihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10817584645055759394noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31280382.post-44625526749745925052007-07-22T11:59:00.000-07:002007-07-22T19:34:38.405-07:00

I've been so torn up about Amy insisting that her children are fine the way they are. I've been thinking a lot about this whole thing, because it *is* much bigger than one mom and two deaf children.Before I go on, I do appreciate Amy's willingness to continue to talk with us. She clearly wants us to understand her choices. While we may strongly disagree and continue to worry about her children,

moihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10817584645055759394noreply@blogger.com19tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31280382.post-58242769893115292382007-07-20T00:21:00.000-07:002007-07-20T04:20:43.053-07:00

This is a message directly addressed to Amy and other parents of deaf children who do not support sign language. Amy, I've read your comments on Barb DiGi's entry that responds to your comments on John Egbert's site. I know you love your sons dearly and would do anything for them. I believe that you weighed everything very carefully before making your decision and that you truly believe you did

moihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10817584645055759394noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31280382.post-42725635383886890072007-07-13T20:14:00.000-07:002007-07-20T01:52:24.741-07:00

I just got in and am about to go out again, but I just had to take a bit of time to bang out some thoughts on the ongoing two-part saga at DeafDC.com. As of this writing, both entries have 100-plus comments and I've been following them avidly with great interest.One thing that absolutely *fries* me is that every time someone pro-ASL or pro-bilingualism speaks up, invectives such as "ASL extremist

moihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10817584645055759394noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31280382.post-8255778485034971992007-07-09T10:43:00.001-07:002007-07-27T01:53:01.669-07:00

I'm sitting in a doctor's office right now waiting for an anaesthetic to kick in, but I'm seething because a mediocre signer was nearly foisted upon me as my interpreter.**doctoruption**OK, now I'm home, ready to continue my tale. I was in to see a doctor I'd never seen before due to this odd lump in my throat (apparently an infected lymph node, a byproduct of a cold. And they say colds are mild

moihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10817584645055759394noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31280382.post-14092452103195100582007-06-23T17:07:00.000-07:002007-06-23T17:17:21.507-07:00

I know I've been AWOL for a long time and I apologize to any of my readers who have been wondering where I went. Nowhere. I'm still here.I've been mulling something over for the past week - should deaf women keep their maiden names or not in order to show family affiliation? I met two women this week, one of which kept her maiden name. Soon after we met, I was able to ask if she was any relation

moihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10817584645055759394noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31280382.post-5570603535164126362007-05-14T17:11:00.001-07:002007-05-14T17:11:37.677-07:00

I'll confess something that may get a lot of double-takes from people who know me well. I have native or native-like proficiency in English and in ASL. I love both languages and I always prefer the original language to a translation. I'd rather watch TV with CC than watch an interpreter signing the episode, and I'd rather watch signing in a vlog than read the subtitles (if any). By the same token

moihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10817584645055759394noreply@blogger.com1