(trying to) Sacrifice the Fatted Calves

The baby llamas hugging: one of the sights seen in the semi-fog of this week. The calves ballooned, the sleepiness returned, and has just left for a blessed respite. The legs are resuming somewhat human proportions. As at least one loyal reader emailed to see if I were still upright, I decided I'd better make a blog entry.

I received my "hearing aid" in the mail. I have been noticing what I am sure others have noticed, that my hearing is fading and at one recent social occasion I was missing nearly all the conversation. So I did Internet research. Remembering my disastrous adventure with contact lenses, I am loathe to spend big bucks until I have some inkling that I would benefit, use, enjoy, an aid. A printed t-shirt: SPEAK UP! might be a less costly remedy. I found a broad spectrum of opinion, one of which was Mead Killion's, that hearing aids are controlled by a closed shop. He has petitioned the FDA to open the shop. As he invented the damping circuit that is used in most hearing aids, he has some credibility. So I am starting at the low end. My $40 ampli-ear does make things clearer. Cosmetically it kind of sticks out but it might be a welcome distraction from the usual deformities people discern in my presence. Maybe a dab of fluorescent paint would help. Killion maintains that 'hunter hearing aids" sold in sporting goods stores at a reasonable price would meet the needs of millions and be one tenth the cost of fitted aids. So this journey will have chapters.