1. no, i can't say that i've experienced either of the guys you've mentioned. if anything, the guys i've met (mind you, this is pre-ci), would have rather dated someone other than me. i know that sounds cruel, but it's the way i was treated.
2. i've always thought of my parents as "parents." i'm not sure why. perhaps it's because i was adopted immediately after leaving the neonatal icu.
3. hearing with my ci's is 1,000 times better than when i was hoh. i'm able to hear more detail. sounds are clearer, crisper and can be heard from a greater distance. i'm also able to hear the nuances of speech -- something i've been unable to hear since 1985. i can hear the clarity and intonation of each instrument as it is being played in a band or orchestra and whether it is being played alone or in unison. i'm also able to hear the vibrato of people's voices as they sing which is something i've been unable to hear since 1989. and music? what can i say about music? where do i even begin? it's wonderful! 
