Tag: health

TBI Challenge n+1

On By JohnIn health, psychology, tbiLeave a comment

Here I am, nearly eight years post-TBI. I’m still alive.

There are still two long-lived (heh) symptoms related to the TBI that I still struggle with regularly.

One of them is visual. Corrective lenses help to a point. And it’s exacerbated by simply aging — yay, presbyopia! I can cope with it to a degree.

But the other is just frustrating and leaves me feeling isolated from the world around me and yet bombarded by sounds. All sounds.

Let me explain.

After my TBI, I’ve come to describe my auditory system works more like a damaged signal-processing pipeline than a damaged microphone. The hardware (ears, cochleas, nerves) is intact, but the software stack that filters, routes, and prioritizes sound took a hit.

Normally the brain runs an automatic ‘noise gate’ of sorts that suppresses irrelevant audio, boosts meaningful signals (like speech), and manages bandwidth. Mine doesn’t always do that reliably. Under certain conditions—especially in noisy environments, multitasking, stress, or fast speech—the gating process struggles.

And when gating struggles:

  • Background noise and foreground speech come in at equal priority. I’m overwhelmed with “noise”.
  • I may hear a sound but not decode it. This one is difficult to put into words as human cognition is complex.
  • Some voices break through (especially familiar ones), yet others drop out.
  • Complex or rapid speech becomes garbled or unintelligible.
  • The whole system can overload and temporarily stop parsing input correctly.
  • It’s not hearing loss; it’s processing loss.

I do better with: slower speech, with one speaker at a time, quieter environments, visual cues, and a little extra processing time. Sometimes I’ll interrupt and ask, “Hold on a moment please while my brain processes this…”

Sometimes, it’s not possible nor realistic to ask for a moment to absorb or comprehend, yet I do my best to muddle through.

Pondering, Still

On By JohnIn human conditionLeave a comment

Here we are in the midst of something of an unknown for the future of society, and yet I find that I’m pondering, again, buying another bicycle.

My list has evolved a bit from what it was. Previously, I had considered:

  • Salsa Journeyman Apex
  • Aventon Pace 500
  • Rad Runner

I’ve disregarded two of them because one was somewhat impractical for my current locale and lifestyle. I’d end up adding racks and baskets front and rear and likely go as far as to attach a pair of my ammo cans. Yes, it would look cool — but it’s just not going to be meaningful for me presently.

Another wasn’t quite what I’d prefer. Sure, I could swap out the Café bars for flat or drops, but the cost would become somewhat limiting. Off they’d go.

A straightforward and seemingly obvious answer: Salsa Journeyman Apex — to which I’d upgrade to tubeless, add pedals of choice and Bob’s your uncle.

Seemingly.

But I find that I rather like the idea of an eBike.

Why?

Because I’m not going to live forever. And having a bit of extra power for the lengthy uphill climbs seems like it could be quite helpful.

A gravel bike, yes. I mean, I already have a touring-class bike. Quite heavy for casual riding and rather purpose-made for carrying substantial loads long distances.

Right, so I removed two, then added two alternates. Both additions are eBikes. Of course, one holdover from the previous list. So, now it’s changed to:

*Why the holdover? Alternative question: won’t an eBike just make you lazy?

For my needs, a 650B is more agreeable — not “balloon” tires, so to speak, but certainly more comfortable.

…

Complete…enough.

On By JohnIn radioLeave a comment

Nothing is ever truly complete. But, this is complete enough for now:

DSC00163

Had to power it on and work through an alignment procedure and make sure it works.

DSC00164

This does explain that 50Ω dummy load a bit as well.

It’s complete enough: It works, so I’d call that successful. If I get really obsessive (I’m not), I could rework a few components and install it in a suitable enclosure and fabricate a suitable battery to keep it portable enough for lightweight QRP work. Maybe I’ll attach the already-mentioned GPS receiver and convert it into a WSPR node when I’m not using it.

Maybe I’ll build another for a 40 or 80-meter band.

All of that, of course, will need to wait. I’ve a few simple projects that I’ll be taking on, and, quite importantly, improving my morse-code comprehension and speed.

For now, I’d like to thank QRP Labs and designers of the kit that was originally intended for Britain’s RSGB Youths On the Air Summer Camp of 2017. This was great fun and was hugely beneficial for me, not only for learning, but also to improve some manual dexterity and mental focus during this extended TBI recovery.

Mission Accomplished

On By JohnIn family, travelLeave a comment

Primary objective achieved. Cleared to proceed to secondary objectives.

What’s the primary objective? Deliver Daisy to see her little brother before it’s too late.

Secondary objectives? We’ll do a run down to Oregon on Sunday, then back up toward Eastern Washington on Wednesday.

Urgent Care

On By JohnIn health, tiny house, travelLeave a comment

Had to stop at urgent care on Wednesday–sinus and ear pressure reached unbearable levels.

As I suspected: sinusitis secondary to the downhill from the flu.

Prescription filled, fluids added to both me and the tow vehicle, and back on the road toward the primary objective.

On the plus side, we’re now down at sea level and the pressure is quite high, but tolerable.

As an aside, the wind in eastern Washington today was so bad that we only made 160 miles on the tank; we usually make 275.

Also, I’d completely forgotten how astounding it is to see Mt. Rainer from waaay out on I-90 just outside of Spokane on a day as clear as this. Wish I’d had my faculties about me to have captured a vid or pic.