Signmark

Have you ever had to answer a survey or questionnaire that asks what your favorite music is or who your favorite artist is?  I have many times.  I never really answered that question.  I didn't know what to put down.  I could name a few well known popular artists like Michael Jackson or Britney Spears, but I really don't know if I like them as singers or artists.  It felt wrong writing something down that I felt didn't really apply to me.  It felt wrong to pretend that I liked a particular artist or music when I had no clue if I liked their message or not.  This past Thursday and Friday however, I figured out my answer to this question.


Signmark (Marko Vuoriheimo) is a Deaf Finnish man who has a passion for music.  He grew up surrounded by people that told him because he was Deaf he couldn't love music.  He decided to go out and prove them wrong.  Marko is the first Deaf person to sign an international music label.  He writes his own lyrics and signs his music.  He has someone (Brandon) who raps the music with his voice so both Deaf and hearing people can know Signmark's message.


I am part of the Deaf Ambassador program at the University of Minnesota.  We worked to bring Signmark to our campus for about a year and if finally happened.  I got to meet Signmark last Wednesday at the silent shout and then again on Thursday during the University of Minnesota Deaf/Hard of Hearing Day and during the concert later on Thursday night.  We were hoping that we could get 200 people to come to the concert.  Our numbers were WAY off... a whopping 700 people came to the concert!  It was awesome!  After the concert I went to Buffalo Wild Wings with many of the Deaf U of MN ambassadors, interpreters, Signmark, and other Deaf and hard of hearing people.  We all stayed late and chatted about anything and everything.  Our group at the restaurant was so huge!  It's not surprising though considering that this is how Deaf Culture is.


I am so glad that I had this experience.  The Deaf community (my community) extends all over the world.  It is wonderful to know that Signmark is connecting everyone together through music!  Below I uploaded some pictures and video so you can see a small portion of what I got to experience during the concert.

                                                             Marko, Me, and Brandon

                                                                 DJ Wierdness and Me

                                                                 Smells Like Victory

                                                                    Deaf Man's Blues

Hello!

Wow!  I haven't made a single comment on here for over a year!  Life has been busy!  I am going to try to make it on here more often.  I find that writing is very helpful for me to process things that have been going on in my life.  It allows me to share my successes and vent my frustrations. 


So, what has happened in my life since I last wrote?

• I had my 22nd birthday on April 28th.
• I graduated with my BS in Foundations in Elementary Education 
• I worked at a Girl Scout camp in New Hampshire.  That camp was THE best I have ever worked at!  I was the waterfront director.  The drive over was about 23 hours but well worth the drive!  I met amazing people that were so very willing to give me a chance to succeed!  None of the other staff members were concerned that I couldn't hear.  They were very excited instead!  I had so much fun managing the waterfront.  My organization and management made the waterfront so efficient and safe that the ACA (American Camp Association) representatives very impressed when they came for our camp accreditation. 
• I started my masters program in special education: deaf and hard of hearing at the University of Minnesota.
• I was a CA (also known as an RA) in Sanford and Wilkins halls.  
• I had surgery (dental cleaning) on April 20th
• I turned 23 on April 28th

Those bullet points were big highlights of what has happened in the past year.  Very short and sweet.  I hope from now on to write more often!  Enjoy the wonder May weather!

I Have to Make a Decision

Well for the past week or so I have been struggling with the decision to have more surgery or not.  I am so tired of being in pain all of the time and seeing no clear-cut solution.  I miss important classes and meetings, I can't sleep through the night, and I can't eat any of the hard foods I want.  Right now the only two ways that I can go from here is living with pain and trying to find a medication that might help or having another partial jaw joint surgery on my left joint.  
I hesitate to have surgery because of a few things.  First, I've already had to have 18 surgeries.  Having another surgery is not something I really jump at.  Also, what if the surgery does not work?  My last surgery on my right jaw joint hasn't really eased any pain.  If this surgery doesn't work, I'll have gone through another surgery and would still be in pain.


Any suggestions?  I would welcome any ideas, points of view, etc...

Hit the Ground Running

Well to be totally honest I wasn't running.  I participated in a 5K Fun Run/Walk this morning.  I haven't really done anything that requires a lot of strength or stamina since I had Gullian Barre and was in a wheelchair in 2004.  I decided to walk because my strength and stamina is so low.  This was my first attempt at a 5K.  I wasn't able to do the whole walk but I completed a 2.5K.  My time was 28:28.  I have plans for another 5K in two weeks so I am hoping to complete the 5K or improve my 2.5K time.  I have a goal to run a marathon someday.  It may not be for a while since I have a lot of strength to regain but making the decision is the first step right?  I am very excited to try to do this.  I am going to try to set up a training routine to gain some strength in between the events.  Hopefully I will be able to write in the future about actually running a 5K and eventually completing a marathon!

A Little Note to Pain

I wrote this note to pain on my Facebook page and I thought I would share it here as well since I haven't given much of an update on how my pain is.  I've decided to apply a bit of the relationship knowledge I have gleaned from some of my classes this semester to my note. 

Dear Pain:
Why must you increase so much at such inconvenient times? I need to sleep because I have class in the morning but you do not allow it. Don't you know I want to live my life untouched by you? Why can't you just leave me alone? I think our relationship is unhealthy and needs to be ended.  I promise I won't bother you so don't bother me.
Sincerely, Kathryn

It's short, sweet, and to the point.  I believe that I will be getting another surgery sometime soon.  Possibly in May.  It would be right after graduation and before I leave to work at summer camp.  We will see what happens.  For now I need to figure out how I am going to get all of my school assignments done without being about to concentrate for more than a few minutes at a time from pain.

Relay for Life

Hello!
Well I would ask if you were enjoying the nice spring weather but alas it has started to snow AGAIN here.  Well I am going to be a part of the University of Minnesota Relay for Life event again this year.  I am a team captain and we have 13 members so far!  We are going to try to raise as much money as we can!  I think we have about 2 1/2 weeks until the event.  If you can, please donate to our team!  Hopefully we will have warm weather as this is the first year it is being held outside because so many people are participating! 

Thank You So Much

Thank you for keeping my grandma and family in your prayers.  My grandma passed away March 5th, 2011 at  4:14pm.  She was comfortable and died very peacefully.  Please continue to keep my family in your prayers as we grieve her passing.