The Night Shift... Continues!

[WildcatOne]

Good news and not-so-good news. The good news first. My boss called me over today and told me that since my original 8-day gig there had stretched into 10, and we're about to wrap up a big project tomorrow morning, that Xavier across the street in the production building just got a gigantic oversize scan job in from a major oil company...as soon as I finish up on the current project tomorrow morning, I am to report to production and begin that big scan job with X. My fill-in job is turning into full-time employment at the same company. The bad news, is that at this point in my life, I have found myself almost totally deaf. BP was here this weekend...he and I are both soft-spoken guys. I heard some of what he said, but only if he repeated it. It's embarrassing and difficult, but the folks that know me know why this is happening..I used to call myself living proof that prolonged exposure to loud rock n' roll music is harmless...can't do that anymore. I do plug up my ears when nitro cars race in front of me, but my hearing is too far gone now to try to save. I have to get a hearing aid. Maybe I oughta take up singing torch ballads like Johnnie Ray did? Cheers, WC1

[bojangies46]

I hear that,same boat, too many nitro nights--hay that would make a great song--

[draglist]

Sorry to hear that, John. I did notice that in Houston, but I was happy to repeat. I am low on hearing in a few ranges... likely the result of 4 years on an aircraft carrier and 15 in the announcer's booth. I need to be less macho. I still do not take enough care at the drag strip... bp

[WildcatOne]

Thanks, BP and Bo. I did the same thing at drag races; I enjoyed having my eardrums rattle till it hurt...well, so much for being young and indestructible. Being deaf makes you a child of a lesser god, just like the movie showed. Most people get angry at you, and they automatically treat you like you're mentally deficient...that happens all the time with me. I'll figure out a way to get by, but it won't be to wear earplugs at band shows. The Ciykings tried that but it made us play louder...I guess I'll just go on with life, which is good!

Right before I got called back to work, I put an email out as a musician for hire. The phone rang. I got booked way up. This coming week, in addition to working the day job, I will be playing Tuesday through Sunday in 4 bands. It's too much. I'm going to have to cut back on the music. We played to over a thousand people this weekend (2 bands), the exposure and so forth is good, but if I don't slow this deal down I'm going to run headlong into a wall and I want to be around to hang out with my grandchildren some day. This week I'm going to have a meeting with my boss at work and we're going to figure out what to do with me from that point on. I want back full-time, and I'll work towards that goal. About half of the music will have to go. I'll stay with Pee Wee over everything else and then Texas Coast, but the other gigs will stop if I get hired back permanently. I've prayed for that to happen. Cheers, WC1

[draglist]

Good plan, John. Best of luck. bp

[pro70z28]

Sounds like a goog' plan WC. My grandson just left, Grand-kids are sooo cool.

[Novel-T]

I can sure relate with the hearing thing.I went through school feeling like the class dummy.I was in my 30's, the first time I had a hearing test.It sure explained my poor performance in a classroom enviroment.When the ringing started I don't know.It seems like it's always been there.Hearing aids with just amplify the ringing.
I'm sorry you are going through this,John

[pro70z28]

wut?.........

I joined the "ringin' in the ears" club a decade or so ago. It's always the loudest thing in the room. I usta' go to doctors/ear specialists, etc. to try & figure it out. ''I once had a doctor ask how I stood it, I've heard of people committing suicide because it drove them nuts''. THANKS DOC. That was the last time I bothered trying to figure it out.

[WildcatOne]

I had a deaf friend who committed suicide. He was a brilliant guy and a true friend, but his deafness drove him mad. What the doctor said was true...I hear phones ringing and there are no phones ringing...like ProZ said, the ringing is the loudest thing in the room...I've been to the doctor for my hearing 6 times beginning in my mid-20s, they all said the same thing..."Hearing Loss." Heck, I already knew that! I was hoping they could fix it or something, but they all told me no, can't fix it. Get earplugs or a hearing aid, and 23t said it right, it just amplifies the ringing. And by the way, t, you are anything BUT a dummy. That's what hearing loss does to people...me included...Last time I went in for treatment was in the late 80s and the doctor shot me up with an anabolic steroid. About 18 hours after I got the shot, I heard a loud BOOM and I could hear again. This is disgusting and pretty unbelievable, but later that day I peed the blockage out. I had to take a psychological exam before they gave me the shot. They had to make sure I didn't want to kill anybody including myself before they'd do it. I was kind of tense but I ended up feeling better after a while. I decided after that ordeal to just ride it out from then on...and yes, Wheelz, headphones do damage, big-time...Cheers, WC1