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July 2012 Weddings
mekiakoo
member
Want to hear something funny?
So you all know FI and I are deaf?
Funny thing is that ever since we moved, we've had FMIL drop by and just barge into the house with FFIL and FI's younger brother. I am always caught off guard when they do that, but we don't have a doorbell (not that it matters). Obviously we cannot hear if somebody knocks the door either. I told FI it may be better if his parents send us a text message before they come so we know when to expect them.
Last week FI's grandparents stopped by and I had no idea until I saw his grandmother peeking into the window, waving at me. I was in the kitchen eating dinner. It was hilarious. No big deal.
Yesterday I decided to lock all of the doors and shut the blinds while I took a shower in our upstairs bathroom (the door has no lock) in case somebody decided to stop by and try to peek into the house or walk into the house.
Well today FI and I were on our couch in the living room upstairs (split level). FI was nodding off and my back was to the stairs leading to the front door. All of sudden FI's grandfather was standing right NEXT to me! FI stared at him, he actually thought he was imaging somebody. His grandparents decided to stop by on their way back home (2 hours away). He must have been knocking and staring into windows before just deciding to walk into the house. I just thought this was soooo funny. Totally caught off guard! Thank god this time I had clothes because on Saturday night I was annoyed by clothes and I stripped down to my underwear and watched TV.
We are thinking about setting up a doorbell that will flash lights whenever somebody rings it. It'll be much efficient. I don't mind his grandparents doing this- they're hilarious and very sweet. But FMIL? No thanks.
Funny thing is that ever since we moved, we've had FMIL drop by and just barge into the house with FFIL and FI's younger brother. I am always caught off guard when they do that, but we don't have a doorbell (not that it matters). Obviously we cannot hear if somebody knocks the door either. I told FI it may be better if his parents send us a text message before they come so we know when to expect them.
Last week FI's grandparents stopped by and I had no idea until I saw his grandmother peeking into the window, waving at me. I was in the kitchen eating dinner. It was hilarious. No big deal.
Yesterday I decided to lock all of the doors and shut the blinds while I took a shower in our upstairs bathroom (the door has no lock) in case somebody decided to stop by and try to peek into the house or walk into the house.
Well today FI and I were on our couch in the living room upstairs (split level). FI was nodding off and my back was to the stairs leading to the front door. All of sudden FI's grandfather was standing right NEXT to me! FI stared at him, he actually thought he was imaging somebody. His grandparents decided to stop by on their way back home (2 hours away). He must have been knocking and staring into windows before just deciding to walk into the house. I just thought this was soooo funny. Totally caught off guard! Thank god this time I had clothes because on Saturday night I was annoyed by clothes and I stripped down to my underwear and watched TV.
We are thinking about setting up a doorbell that will flash lights whenever somebody rings it. It'll be much efficient. I don't mind his grandparents doing this- they're hilarious and very sweet. But FMIL? No thanks.
This discussion has been closed.
Re: Want to hear something funny?
[QUOTE]So you all know FI and I are deaf? Funny thing is that ever since we moved, we've had FMIL drop by and just barge into the house with FFIL and FI's younger brother. I am always caught off guard when they do that, but we don't have a doorbell (not that it matters). Obviously we cannot hear if somebody knocks the door either. I told FI it may be better if his parents send us a text message before they come so we know when to expect them. Last week FI's grandparents stopped by and I had no idea until I saw his grandmother peeking into the window, waving at me. I was in the kitchen eating dinner. It was hilarious. No big deal. Yesterday I decided to lock all of the doors and shut the blinds while I took a shower in our upstairs bathroom (the door has no lock) in case somebody decided to stop by and try to peek into the house or walk into the house. Well today FI and I were on our couch in the living room upstairs (split level). FI was nodding off and my back was to the stairs leading to the front door. All of sudden FI's grandfather was standing right NEXT to me! FI stared at him, he actually thought he was imaging somebody. His grandparents decided to stop by on their way back home (2 hours away). He must have been knocking and staring into windows before just deciding to walk into the house. I just thought this was soooo funny. Totally caught off guard! Thank god this time I had clothes because on Saturday night I was annoyed by clothes and I stripped down to my underwear and watched TV.<strong>We are thinking about setting up a doorbell that will flash lights whenever somebody rings it. It'll be much efficient. I don't mind his grandparents doing this- they're hilarious and very sweet. But FMIL? No thanks</strong>.
Posted by mekiakoo[/QUOTE]
I was going to suggest getting this. I think I'd be constantly looking over my shoulder if that happened to me, wondering when the next person was just going to show up.
[QUOTE]In Response to Want to hear something funny? : I was going to suggest getting this. I think I'd be constantly looking over my shoulder if that happened to me, wondering when the next person was just going to show up.
Posted by Madisonpenny[/QUOTE]
Yeah, I grew up having that. The thing is our house doesn't have a doorbell at all. I wonder if it'd be difficult to set it up- does it need to be hardwired?
That's something we'll have to check on- flashing lights doorbell may obviously be different than a regular sounding one.
From now and on we should probably keep our doors locked all the time :)
I knew this was gonna be good when I saw the title LOL
Anxiously awaiting baby #1! Baby BOY Due: May 30, 2013!
[QUOTE]Omg I would be so startled if I turned around and someone was just standing there. Yes, to FMIL sending texts before coming over. And, I'd definitely look into a flashing doorbell. Just out of curiosity, <strong>what do you do for smoke alarms</strong>?
Posted by mbody[/QUOTE]
I think it's crazy bright flashing lights. I used to work with a man who was deaf (I think i was put in that particular position because I could sign) and if I remember correctly this is what he had told me.
[QUOTE]Omg I would be so startled if I turned around and someone was just standing there. Yes, to FMIL sending texts before coming over. And, I'd definitely look into a flashing doorbell. Just out of curiosity, what do you do for smoke alarms?
Posted by mbody[/QUOTE]
Yep we have strobe ones that blind you when it goes off. Kind of like the ones you see at stores or offices.
But I am not satisfied with the ones we have- they are not hardwired, so if there is a fire upstairs and we're asleep in our bedroom, downstairs, the one in our bedroom will not go off UNTIL it detects smoke. We are looking into buying hardwired ones so when one goes off- all others will go off.
Sometimes it feels vulnerable being deaf. We also have the fire/police department sending us alrets via text message if there is a bad storm or some kind of alert we need to know about. Nobody around here is able to hear the tornado sirens (even our neighbors because we live so far away from one).
[QUOTE]You are so much more understanding about this than I would be! I just know I would flip out if I was in your shoes. lol for some reason while I was reading this I started thinking it would <strong>end with one of them walking in on you and your FI doing it</strong>. Glad I was wrong, haha. Flashing doorbell sounds like a great idea!
Posted by MeaganR12[/QUOTE]
Now THAT would be mortifying, NOT funny! Haha. I was seriously laying naked on the couch on Saturday night. I just thank god that his grandparents didn't decide to stop by then.
[QUOTE]FI's sister has a flashing light doorbell. I think that's a good idea. It works well for her. I told FI your story. He goes, "Yikes! Keep the doors locked and your clothes on!" LOL!
Posted by BeabullMom[/QUOTE]
Your FI is smart.
Do you think you could see what your FI's sister has? I've been looking all over for one but I have no idea which one to get. Some are required to be plugged into an outlet. Not going to work for us- I want something that connects to our lamps OR be able to be mounted on the wall higher.
It would suck if you & FI were mid action! lol and I strip down to my undies most of the time, so people would get a great show! teehee!
Oh wow..I totally almost said "Same with land-line telephones..how would you know it's ringing"....but..I guess you don't really have a "normal" telephone..
I'd be so freaked out if people suddenly appeared.
[QUOTE]I honestly have never given ANY thought to how deaf people know that someone is at the door. Wow. People could be knocking away - and you'd never know. Oh wow..I totally almost said "Same with land-line telephones..how would you know it's ringing"....but..I guess you don't really have a "normal" telephone.. I'd be so freaked out if people suddenly appeared.
Posted by BrightFirefly[/QUOTE]
Nope, we have "special" telephones :) It's called a video phone and it is attached to our TV (we have a TV for this only). A person can either call me using their regular phone by dialing my number and they'll get connected with an interpreter who will relay the phone call (they will see me and speak for me and listen to you and sign for you) OR if a person has their own video phone, they can call me directly and it's like Skype- we sign to the screen and see the person on the other side.
Our video phone actually flashes strobe lights when somebody calls us. People also can leave messages. People (or interpreters) will be able to sign a message and just hang up and I can check the video whenever I can.
Isn't technology great?
[QUOTE]In Response to Re: Want to hear something funny? : Nope, we have "special" telephones :) It's called a video phone and it is attached to our TV (we have a TV for this only). A person can either call me using their regular phone by dialing my number and they'll get connected with an interpreter who will relay the phone call (they will see me and speak for me and listen to you and sign for you) OR if a person has their own video phone, they can call me directly and it's like Skype- we sign to the screen and see the person on the other side. Our video phone actually flashes strobe lights when somebody calls us. People also can leave messages. People (or interpreters) will be able to sign a message and just hang up and I can check the video whenever I can. Isn't technology great?
Posted by mekiakoo[/QUOTE]
Technology really is amazing. The telephone thing still blows my mind! I seriously think it's the coolest idea ever invented!
I've wanted to ask for a while too, how do you usually handle communication with others when you're running errands for example? Like going to the bank, at cahiers when shopping etc. I always try to picture FI's daughter's day to day life when she's older and independent. :)
[QUOTE]I honestly have never given ANY thought to how deaf people know that someone is at the door. Wow. People could be knocking away - and you'd never know. Oh wow..I totally almost said "Same with land-line telephones..how would you know it's ringing"....but..I guess you don't really have a "normal" telephone.. I'd be so freaked out if people suddenly appeared.
Posted by BrightFirefly[/QUOTE]
I am hearing impaired as well and I can't hear the doorbell. However, I have dogs so they gladly let me know when people come by!
[QUOTE]In Response to Re: Want to hear something funny? : Technology really is amazing. The telephone thing still blows my mind! I seriously think it's the coolest idea ever invented! I've wanted to ask for a while too, <strong>how do you usually handle communication with others when you're running errands for example</strong>? Like going to the bank, at cahiers when shopping etc. I always try to picture FI's daughter's day to day life when she's older and independent. :)
Posted by Nati05[/QUOTE]
Oh I just pretend to not hear them :) Just kidding. I usually inform people that I cannot hear before I ask them questions or if they start talking to me. I usually can read lips pretty well and I have no problem understanding people. But I can't talk for the life of me. I usually write down things or type it out on my phone. It usually goes smoothly. I can mouth words pretty good, but not a lot of people are able to read lips. At restaurants I usually can point at the menu or write things down. Or I use gestures- it's quite easy for simple things.
Sometimes I wish I could just strike a conversation with strangers, but I don't do that. There are days when I wish I am able to speak/hear. I am not a shy person, but I think I appear very shy to people because I don't talk, obviously.
I live in a small town and ever since moving here about 3 years ago, I think people are getting accustomed having a deaf person around and they're not as stumped as they used to be when I first moved here.
[QUOTE]I thought your story was going to end up with grandpa catching you naked after the shower. Do his grandparents know how to sign? Do both of your families and extended families know sign language? <strong>I really find your life fascinating how you live. I think hearing people take things for granted and don't even realize it.</strong>
Posted by LADY324[/QUOTE]
This is exactly what I was thinking. I know that I'm a heavy sleeper and flashing lights would not wake me if the smoke dectector was going off. I would need my bed to start vibrating or something. My FI was shocked that I slept through the last hurricane we had. He was up making sure the house was okay, and I was sleeping like a baby.
[QUOTE]I thought your story was going to end up with grandpa catching you naked after the shower. Do his grandparents know how to sign? Do both of your families and extended families know sign language? I really find your life fascinating how you live. I think hearing people take things for granted and don't even realize it.
Posted by LADY324[/QUOTE]
Haha! Doors are going to be locked from now and on whenever I shower.
None of our grandparents know how to sign except for my grandmother. All of mine have passed away though, but my grandfather only knew the sign for "ILY" and I looovveedd it when he would say it to me while growing up. Only one aunt (mine) used to be an interpreter and she still can sign.
My grandmother (dad's mom) lived in Florida and when she found out I was deaf (one year old), she drove 2 hours one way every week to learn how to sign even though I'd only see her once a year. She passed away last year December and she was still signing until the day she died at the age of 91. She had tubes down her throat and was not able to talk so she signed to the nurses at the hospital. It was so sweet. I flew to Florida to say goodbye to her after not seeing her for six years and she was STILL signing.
Both of our immediate family know how to sign, including our brothers (we have no sisters). We are very lucky, there are so many deaf people whose parents don't know how to sign. I have a friend who had to write back and forth with his own father when he was three years old. THREE!
[QUOTE]In Response to Re: Want to hear something funny? : Haha! Doors are going to be locked from now and on whenever I shower. None of our grandparents know how to sign except for my grandmother. All of mine have passed away though, but my grandfather only knew the sign for "ILY" and I looovveedd it when he would say it to me while growing up. Only one aunt (mine) used to be an interpreter and she still can sign. My grandmother (dad's mom) lived in Florida and when she found out I was deaf (one year old), she drove 2 hours one way every week to learn how to sign even though I'd only see her once a year. She passed away last year December and she was still signing until the day she died at the age of 91. She had tubes down her throat and was not able to talk so she signed to the nurses at the hospital. It was so sweet. I flew to Florida to say goodbye to her after not seeing her for six years and she was STILL signing. Both of our immediate family know how to sign, including our brothers (we have no sisters). <strong>We are very lucky, there are so many deaf people whose parents don't know how to sign. I have a friend who had to write back and forth with his own father when he was three years old. THREE!
</strong>Posted by mekiakoo[/QUOTE]
That part bothers me if I ever had a child who was deaf the first thing I would do is learn sign language so I could communicate with them.