Mother's Day

I had a delicious mothers' day dinner that my son-in-law (Donald) prepared.  I was at their house early enough to watch him make chocolate covered strawberries.  They fit 9 to a box, and he did 5 boxes:  one for Jeannie, one for his Mom and one for me, one for the next door neighbor, and the 5th one for their new neighbors at the end of the street.  The people who had lived in the house at the end of the street were definitely the "neighbors from hell!"  They did everything they could to make life miserable for the two other families on the lane.  Things will be much better now with the friendly couple who live there with their two children.

I visited my cardiologist today and I am always so grateful to have found such a great specialist.   I have yet to hear from the retinal group about setting a date for eye surgery, so maybe I'll call them tomorrow.  I'd like to have a bunch of little ends tied up before I leave.

I've started packing a few things and I don't think I'll have a problem just taking one suitcase (plus a small backpack to carry with me into the roomette on the train).  I will always pack more than I would have to, but being there for two months I don't want to have to do laundry so often.  Summer clothes take up less room than winter clothes, so I'm feeling pretty optimistic about getting everything packed efficiently.

I haven't had my hair cut since January, back before my cancer treatments.   I am going to get it cut this Thursday and can't wait, as it is constantly in my eyes and drives me crazy!

That's it for tonight!
 

Tying up loose ends

I am having such difficulty taking care of some important things, for one reason because my credit union has decided to change their credit and debit cards, one to a new format, and the other to a different company.  I've explained that I will be travelling across the country, and they assure me I will get my debit card in time, but I want the new credit card as well.  To make matters worse I am having extensive work done on my car next Tuesday that I'm not sure how I can cover if I don't get at least one of those cards.  I hate it when stumbling blocks like this come up.

The primary election in CA is set for June 5, so I will have to send in a ballot by mail.  I've been studying candidates for governor and senator, totaling approx 34 candidates in all, which I've narrowed down to 7 candidates.  I think now I've made one of the choices, and am waiting for email replies to my two possible choices for governor.  This is sort of exciting to me and surprising as well, as I've usually found the primaries to be fairly dull.  I remember years ago when there wasn't such drama in government and I really didn't want to bother with a primary vote.  Because two of my kids were in the car with me I decided to stop and vote on the way home so as to give them good example of civic responsibility.  I guess it worked as they have turned out very well in that arena.

I've been sneezing a lot lately and this morning read that this will be a very tough allergy season in most parts of the U.S.   I thought I was finished with that!   I'd better pack a few allergy tablets.

I hope you all have a great weekend, and stay safe!

OOPS!

I'm sorry about my mistake in when to watch Jupiter - the article, which was posted on Monday, mentioned that Jupiter would be a spectacular sight all night long on Tuesday, which I took to mean last night.  Unless it was covered by a big cloud all night long, it wasn't visible to me!  Maybe next Tuesday.

My son Steve came by yesterday morning and did all the necessary switch & dial adjustments to run my swamp cooler.  I ran it yesterday afternoon, and Just now (at 3pm) turned it on.  Feels wonderful!  The outdoor temp is at 73 right now and shouldn't go past 80, so I'll probably be able to turn it off by 6pm or so.  I am worried about how hot it is going to get in the worst of the summer, when I probably will not be here and the house will be shut.

I got my new suitcase out and it is in my bedroom waiting for me to pack.  I've started gathering items and really am anxious to start packing them, but as soon as I do I'll have to get something out for some reason, so I'd be better off to just try to have some patience.

I'd better get something done so this day isn't a total waste.   See you tomorrow.

Sill Watching the Skies

This  time it's not the moon but the planet Jupiter.  It is supposed to be at its biggest and brightest tonight, rising in the east and setting in the west.  That happens to be in  view out of my bedroom window facing south, so I am hoping to be rewarded with a beautiful sight!

I've been reading up on some of the literature given to me by the retinal specialists, as well as from a person who has gone through this same surgery.   I am not worried about having eye surgery.  But it is afterwards that is so strange as to almost be laughable, although I'm definitely not saying they are funny.  Weird is the only way I can describe them.

As it will be a long time before I can read anything, and since I am an avid reader, I am concocting what I think is an ingeneous plan to be read to and interact with my grandchildren as well.   I'm going to ask them to take turns coming over and reading to their poor old grandma!  I think it will be fun.  I will have to wait until my eyes clear up a bit so I don't scare them to pieces.  It doesn't sound like a pretty picture when reading the aftereffects of this surgery!   We'll figure it out as we go along. 

I'm also going to get over my preference for reading the book as opposed to listening to an audio version.  I much prefer reading to listening but in the immortal words of Mick Jagger (of  the Rolling Stones), "you can't always get what you want!"

Moon watching

I'm still looking at the moon before I go to bed, and several days after the full moon, it is still a gorgeous sight.   I wish I lived somewhere there is less light pollution so I could enjoy the stars.  I will never forget walking to the village when I lived in Ireland, in pitch dark, and looking up and seeing the Milky Way.  It was the most beautiful and indescribable thing I've seen!  

I read more of the material in the packet given to me by the eye surgeon, and wonder how I'm going to survive this!  I'm not worried about the surgery, but afterward for 2-5 days.  I have to keep my head facing downward (how will I eat or drink?), sleep on my stomach in a weird position (I normally can't sleep on my stomach), and I have to have an adult with me the first night.  I am not going to stay anywhere but in my own home and sleep in my own bed the first night or any other night.  I'll be fine.  I just hope my daughter keeps her mouth shut about it!

I'm starting to make little stacks on one side of my bed for things I will be packing.   I'm getting excited about it, but have a little dread at the same time as to whether I will be able to cope with my luggage, walk down the platform and climb on the train without tripping and falling.  I'm usually very careful and take my time, and I will accept a hand if it is offered to me.  I love the stage of life I'm in (it wouldn't do any good to feel otherwise), but when I think of when I was young and strong (and maybe even a little bit pretty) I could cry!

Eye surgery Ahead for Me

I am so glad I took my opthamologist's advice and saw a retinal specialist.  I had an 8:30 am appointment and it's a good thing I always leave early enough so that I have time to get lost and find my way again!   The building was very difficult to find, way in the back of a parking lot with lots of separate buildings and I drove past it, requiring me to turn around on a divided street, in rush hour traffic.  

I was there about three hours, had yellow dye injected into my veins that would spread throughout my system, including to the veins in my eye.  Nothing was difficult except all the waiting between things happening, and moving from one room to another several times.   I really like the doctor that I was referred to, as well as all the people who I had contact with throughout the visit.  I wore jeans and a tee shirt, and one of the young guys who injected the dye asked me if I worked out, and commented on my arms!  That was pretty unexpected, and I'll have to admit I enjoyed someone noticing.  I am not really muscular although I will have to say the exercises I do produce results!  Now I have to wait to hear from someone in the office who will schedule my surgery, probably around the latter part of July.

The doctor told me that my eyesight in the left eye should improve somewhat, but not an extraordinary amount, and that is something I can accept.   At my age and stage of life I'm just glad they can do something to make things better for me! 

Surprisingly I don't feel much anxiety about it, although that might come later.   I've been so tired this afternoon but that is probably due to getting up so early this morning!  The weather is getting warmer which doesn't help.

Enjoy the weekend.  I'm sure going to try!

Nothing New Under the Sun!

I'm doing just fine and hope you are all doing well too.  I hope everyone has been able to view the new moon this month, which occurred on May 1.   I've been looking at the moon every evening before turning in, and it is still a beautiful sight.  On Tuesday (the 1st) it was spectacular.  I don't know when it's been so beautiful, and I guess the sky in my area was just right for it  to appear at it's best.

I'm a little nervous as I'm visiting an eye specialist tomorrow, as recommended by my opthamologist, to see what can be done for my left eye.  Whatever it is that he recommends won't be done until after my New York vacation, but at least I'll know.  I haven't had too much of a problem with eye surgeries in the past, and lord knows I've had enough of them, from cataract removal to cornea transplants.   As of now it's just one eye that would require surgery.

I miss the cooler weather although it is nice to have the windows open in the afternoon.

I wish everyone a good weekend coming up!