I found this on another page that had the video:

"My whole life I've been complimented on how well I speak. I don't really have an answer for you other than I have always had a passion for reading, grammar, and English. My hearing loss was/is considered severe to profound. I've worked very hard to be able to interact and blend in."

I'm still pretty puzzled at her being able to understand words, though. I watched a few other videos of CI activation on adults who'd been deaf since birth, and with most of them, just being able to tell the difference between when someone was talking and when no one was talking was a big thing.

Oh Brenda, that is too much to handle. Can you compartmentalize the work stuff and just take it moment by moment until y can get through it all? Not a great coping strategy, but one that might allow y to just get through.

Hi everyone!!!!

My new ship is so much bigger than the last one, it's been really overwhelming. And I may have lost my mind for a hot second and yelled back at a passenger (who totally deserved it, but still) and then got told by the HR Mananger that I should reconsider both my career and my personality (she's not a fan of me), but things are getting better steadily. I'm parked in a Starbucks in San Fransisco today trying (largely unsuccessfully) to download some episodes of Doctor Who and Fringe. We're off to Hawaii next week!!

I hope everyone is doing fabulously!

Good god, brenda, that is a whole lot to deal with, I can't imagine not being stressed out by it.

Oof, Brenda. I hope that things work out and get easier for you.

Ugh, Brenda. That is a lot! Can you find someone to talk to? Not that it will really help all of the Actual Suck, but it might help in the dealing.

You can't go wrong with a black T-shirt, or turtleneck. Or jeans.

I vote no on the turtleneck for myself, but otherwise, yes. I was buying a black and brown skirt with my mother the other day (at Goodwill!) and she said it was a tricky color or something. I was like, ???? Black sweater, black tights, black shoes, done!

zuisa! I ran past your ship today! She's biiiiiiiiiiiiiiig.

Brenda, hon, I'm so sorry you've got so much crap to deal with.

I'm sure by the time I log back in buffistas will have good answers for you!

If only!

Really, there's not a lot that's fixable, I just have to muddle through, and not do myself any more damage.

Can you compartmentalize the work stuff and just take it moment by moment until y can get through it all? Not a great coping strategy, but one that might allow y to just get through.

Or, what Kat said.

But it helps to put it out there.

What I really need right now is my mom.

(Her birthday was last week. So, yeah, not helping.)

Yikes, brenda, that is a giant pile of stress. I wish I had some helpful advice to give, but the only practical suggestion I can think of is to give Darby a hug, or if she's not into hugs, take her for a long walk and see if you can clear your mind a bit. Can you put off a couple of things (like working on the refi, or maybe talking to your brother) until after the presentation tomorrow morning?

zuisa! I ran past your ship today! She's biiiiiiiiiiiiiiig.

IT IS!!

I love your city though! This is the second time I've been able to get off the ship in San Francisco and I love it!!!