Sam Spritzer

An interesting CI "WOW" moment!

BEA/Hearing Journey, Cochlear Implant 3 Responses »
Sep 012010

A couple of nights ago, I watching tv in the family room when I noticed a rather annoying generator like sound. You know, the rhythmic kind of tapping sound. For some reason, I was really fixated on it to a point where it was annoying!

I went outside and it got louder. I walked around the backyard trying to find the source. I got close to my neighbor’s garage which borders the backyard…it got quieter. I walked towards my next door neighbor’s property where there is a shed; still quieter. I walked towards the other side where that neighbor has a window air conditioner; nope, quieter.

I started towards my garage and it started getting louder! Ahhh….I am getting there but what is in the garage other than Steph’s car??? And surely, my yard equipment does not even come close to sounding like what I was hearing. Still no source! FRUSTRATING!

I went back in the house, upstairs….and I kind of like said to Steph…”what is that $#$#@%@$#@% generator like sounds I am hearing in the backyard??????” Steph is like “whoa Nelly…calm down!”

She went into Mike’s room, looked out the window that borders the backyard, turned around and in a rather educational lecture way, proclaimed to explain to me what I was hearing are summer crickets and they are louder in the summer especially when it’s hot.

D’uh!!!! Ah….and the wonders of my CI and what I have waited 50-something years to hear……*shaking head*

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Posted by Sam Spritzer at 7:46 am

The family room project....and the results are in!

Family room 1 Response »
Aug 032010

And here we are…..
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the final results are in…..
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now please make yourself comfortable…..
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now come on, stop complaining about wasted bandwidth…..
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its only a few dots…..
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why don’t you set your computer on auto-scroll …..
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visit the bathroom
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get a glass of water
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come on….stop complaining!…..
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alright….
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scroll down slowly…..
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very slowly…..
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and be ready for the moment you have been waiting for…..
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(drumroll)…..
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all humor set aside……
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and here she isssssssssssssssssssssssssss……………….
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(don’t forget to click on the picture to make it beautifully big…..
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THE NEW SPRITZER FAMILY ROOM!

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Posted by Sam Spritzer at 7:28 pm

The family room project...keeping everyone in suspense

Family room No Responses »
Aug 022010

Miss Moosie watching over the mess in the Living Room.

Putting the couch together is definitely a man's job...

Clif and Angel of La-Z-Boy

Making sure all the sections line up perfectly

All done put together!

View from the other side

Miss Moosie claiming her territory like 5 minutes after the installers left

The tv nice and neatly packed

Trying out the napping features for me

Miss Moosie watching over the tv console

Carefully laying out all pieces to make sure each and every one of them is accounted for...and they were

Cutest couple who didn't help...well, he did

Mike and Erin

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Posted by Sam Spritzer at 8:15 pm

The family room project...all done! And now a word from our sponsors.....

Family room No Responses »
Aug 012010

As much as it is important to recognize my heroic efforts in completing the family room project, credit must be given to those whose contributions made this project possible. Seven weeks later and $6,000 poorer thanks to many of those below, this project has finally reached its conclusion..

The official home decor center of the Spritzer Family Room project (tv console).

The official tv of the Spritzer Family Room project.

The official pizza of the Spritzer Family Room project. For seventeen years, we have been eating that stuff they call pizza until we found Zetti's...home of the true and real pizza - NY style!

The official carpet store of the Spritzer Family Room project.

The official aspirin of the Spritzer Family Room project.

The official home improvement store of the Spritzer Family Room project (lamps, lightbulbs, blinds).

The official sons of the Spritzer Family Room project.

The official camera of the Spritzer Family Room project. For more on my adventures with the D3000, check out Welcome to Sam Spritzer's Picture Site.


The official furniture store of the Spritzer Family Room project.

The official Steph is too tired to cook so we are going to out eat of the Spritzer Family Room project.

Another official home improvement store of the Spritzer Family Room project. Sometimes it pays to shop and compare!

The official paint and paint supplies and emergency hardware store of the Spritzer Family Room project. When your local hardware store is less than five minutes away, you never have to worry about forgetting something!

The official tv store of the Spritzer Family Room project. Special thanks go out to my sons who helped me pick out the tv and pestered me it was the best one around! Honorable mention goes to wife who agreed that the flat screen they threw in, looks great in the bedroom!

The official vehicle of the Spritzer Family Room project.

The official paint of the Spritzer Family Room project

The official credit card and cash back program of the Spritzer Family Room project.

The official ear protection of the Spritzer Family Room project. (Don't try this at home especially if your spouse is trying to get your attention)

The official prayer line of the Spritzer Family Room project.

And most importantly, I want to thank all of you for your valuable comments, suggestions and prayers. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any questions……and of course, if you think I am going to help you with your family room project….you are gravely mistaken!

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Posted by Sam Spritzer at 9:58 pm

The family room project...the mess!

Cochlear Implant, Family room, Uncategorized 1 Response »
Jul 312010

As we come down the home stretch, its very important to know that there is the huge mess. Seriously, as much as you would think we could do it in a half hour like those home improvement tv shows, do you think the displaced stuff magically disappears? No….and you’ve only seen half the story of stuff piled up in the living room in the last post. Here is the rest…plus some added bonuses…..

View from the basement including the new Dan's man-cave. Notice the old couch and tv got a new life rather than be banished to couch and tv heaven.

Better uses for a ping pong table...all the junk from the family room.

Mike is moving into an apartment with his truly and decided his bedroom AKA mommy and daddy's house is safer than a department layaway bin.

More useless junk...well, its Mike's money so I can't complain!

See the boxes piled up neatly in front of the bike? Mike's! See the bedboard on my old barcolounger? Mike's!

And now for a couple of teaser shots…

A closeup shot of the new carpet

It pays to keep a few AB CI brochures around. The carpet installer was absolutely fascinated by my CIs and wanted to know how they work. So, I gave him these

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Posted by Sam Spritzer at 10:57 pm

The family room project....down the home stretch!

Family room 1 Response »
Jul 262010

Click on the photos to enlarge….

Half of the family room is in the living room

Half of the family room is in the living room

Painting is all done

Painting is all done view from the other side

Room is ready for the new carpet

Room is ready for the new carpet

The original tile in the dining room...looks like its still from the 40s

Closeup of the tile in the dining room...so 40s-ish!

Padding is getting laid down

Family room fully padded

Family room fully padded

Half the dining room is in the kitchen

Mike found some rather impromptu use for our old furniture...staining his bedroom furniture

If Steph saw this and this was our new furniture...OY!

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Posted by Sam Spritzer at 12:27 pm

Family room project update

Family room No Responses »
Jul 172010

Ok folks…time for an update on that family room project. Here are some pictures…

Family room

Family room

Family room

Family room

As you can see, the room is totally empty saved for a couple of pieces of furniture and the TV. The painting is progressing very nicely. The color you see is Benjamin Moore rattan in semi-gloss. We are using their Regal line of paints and have used it before with complete satisfaction. This particular product goes on very smoothly and shows very little brush strokes. And the rolled version almost looks like the paint was sprayed on. Two coats is what it will take and it cleans up very easily.

The carpet is scheduled for installation Monday, July 26th. The furniture will arrive the following Saturday. And the ultimate creme de coope…a 46″ flat screen HDTV, 1080p, 120 hz complete with surround sound will arrive sometime the first two weeks in August.

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Posted by Sam Spritzer at 8:40 pm

George Steinbrenner 1930 - 2010

Sports, Yankees No Responses »
Jul 142010


“Winning is the most important thing in my life, after breathing…Breathing first, winning next.”

“Lead, follow, or get the hell out of the way.”

“I’m really 95 percent Mr. Rogers, and only 5 percent Oscar the Grouch.”

“I don’t have heart attacks, “I give them.”

Seven World Series championships, 11 American League pennants and 16 AL East titles…
Thanks for the memories!

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Posted by Sam Spritzer at 7:41 am

My audiologist rocks!

Cochlear Implant 1 Response »
Jul 082010

Yesterday, I had a mapping session for the first time in six months with Michelle at Buffalo Hearing and Speech Center. As we found out, my left side was woefully in need of adjustment. At the same time, we were concerned about a phenomenal known as “twitching”. This is where the electrical current is so strong it actually leaks through the cochlear and hits the facial nerve. This is a very dangerous condition because there have been cases where an over-stimulated facial nerve will continue to go “ballistic” long after one takes their “ears” off.

My CI’s strategy includes two options for programming called P (paired) and S (sequential). The former is where the electrodes fire in pairs whereas the latter is as indicated…sequential. P is generally more powerful and creates very strong impact sounds. S is much more softer and forgiven. It feels like it is capped to eliminate any spikes caused by the impact sounds.

My right side has always been S because of the twitching issue. The left side wasn’t experiencing any twitching but we knew we were maxed out and any adjustments we tried would bring this on. In order to overcome this, we switched my left side’s strategy from P to S. This resulted in a softer and somewhat muffled sound but eliminated a lot of the spikes caused by impact sounds. To compensate, my IDR was boosted from 60 to 65 and the levels raises across the board. As a result, my stimulation rate was lowered from 55000 PPS to 44000 PPS which means my brain isn’t subjected to as much stimulation as before.

I would never have known that we could reduce the power but at the same time improve the quality of the sound. I should know at the end of the day if this will affect my awareness or not. Overall, I am finding this to be much more comfortable than before because it has eliminated the twitching completely without compromising the quality.

So, whenever you are in doubt about what you are hearing…always trust your audie! At least I know mine ROCKS!

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Posted by Sam Spritzer at 7:57 am

One year ago today...

Uncategorized 1 Response »
Jul 012010

Dead Rabbits and Pixie Dust…need I say more?

    And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world. – 1 John 4:14
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Posted by Sam Spritzer at 5:34 am
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