Far Guy has a bacterial eye infection, worse in one eye but starting in the other, an eye doctor was seen and antibiotic drops have been started. Far Guy's immune system is not what it used to be.
I had a small bigger than I thought surgery yesterday at the Dermatologists Office. The biopsy on my shoulder came back as atypical cells and the spot on my cheek came back as malignant melanoma. So both spots were taken care of. I have a considerable amount of discomfort but am glad to have it behind me....keeping fingers and toes crossed that these biopsies come back clear and the huge hole in my face heals well. They will do some kind of genetic testing on the first samples...some study to see if there is a genetic link to melanoma.
Hopefully I can cross this off the freaking list.
All my eye tests came back okay/normal for aging eyes...cross that off the list too.
Far Guy is taking good care of me.
Far Side
I had an eye appointment, it all went well and after some further testing that I do every year since I am a Glaucoma suspect, I am certain that I will get the all clear. My Ophthalmologist is retiring the end of September. So it is a good thing I am getting everything done before he retires. Six hours after the appointment I still have dilated pupils and can hardly wait for the sun to go down.
Look at the Yellow Pear tomato plant! Only a few tomatoes have ripened so far but there are many coming on.
The sheep water tank works great there are two plants that were planted, they had such intertwined roots that Far Guy planted them together. They are almost as tall as the garage.
Far Side
I had quite a time with the Baptismal gown. It had some difficult stains. Finally worked some magic with some bleach and gave it a good wash and rinse. I bought a steamer because my iron is so old it would have made yucky spots on it. ( I hardly ever use my iron...I think it is about 40 years old)
The gown is pressed good enough for now...I have had it hanging upstairs and will wrap it in white tissue paper and put it away in the box. Who knows when it will be used again.
Cross something off my list!
I mailed the Christmas Ornaments yesterday so I can cross that off my list too. The fellow in the Post Office was not real happy when I showed up with 20 packages to mail....he said "How many" "Today?" and looked at the clock. It took him about 25 minutes....I showed up well before it was time to close.
Had my last eye exam for awhile...I hope. Saw a specialist...yes I have secondary cataracts but she doesn't think they are bad enough to laser yet. My being suspect for glaucoma remains the same. Right now I am stable. Cross that off my list too.
A few Christmas ornaments were hand delivered. Yeah us!
Far Guy is working diligently on the Christmas card address list updating it and alphabetizing it! What a trooper...he spent so much time learning a new program on his computer. He cusses occasionally...
Far Side
A number of squirrels are back. The bums chase each other and the birds away.
His/her tail is just a nubbin. It will not grow back. Sometime squirrels are in a bad fight or they have been attacked by a predator and lose their tails. Their tails are useful for balance and for keeping them warm in the winter.
The Juncos are back as are the Blue Jays...all are hungry.
I had my eye appointment, he just wanted a second look at one eye. I walked around grocery shopping with my sunglasses on. I also got the RSV vaccination...so far so good.
Far Side
A very old friend stopped by on Wednesday morning for a visit. We lived next door to each other in 1972. We had a good visit. She is a talker!
I cooked up the tomatoes that I had frozen. I had a hunk of roast beef cooking all morning, I peeled and chopped...rutabaga, carrots, cabbage and potatoes and put them in the fridge.
I had an eye appointment in town. I will see a specialist....I may have a secondary cataract. Old eyes.
After the appointment we did some grocery shopping and stopped by and saw my Mom. She has been ill with pneumonia and still has a really bad cough.
Back at home I put the tomatoes through a strainer that captures seeds and skins. I chopped up the roast beef and added all my vegetables...it is soup! I had some for supper...Far Guy passed, I gave him fair warning so he stopped by Subway in town for a chicken sandwich. He will eat soup once a year and yesterday was not the day.
Far Side
Not much happening here. I did some laundry, rested and had a long nap.
Far Guy had an eye appointment, his vitreous detachment is still in the process of detaching....she said it should resolve within a year. Most people it takes a few weeks or a couple of months but some people up to a year. He first saw the Eye Doctor back in May for this problem.
Far Side
My baby brother has completed his cataract surgeries, one last week, one this week. He said yesterday his vision was fuzzy...he had the surgery in the morning.
Me too... I had my annual eye check up and the Dr always dilates my eyes...and it last for hours and hours...oh the light makes everything fuzzy and gives me a headache. I have to go back for a couple more tests in a couple of weeks. Nothing drastic with my eyesight anyways.
Far Guy did some errands in town, he picked up the grocery order and went by the bank and was still able to sit with me while I waited in the Doctors office.
Fun times.
Far Side
Thursday is Far Guy's Infusion Day. It was a three stick day...I think he was a little dehydrated and that makes it tough to get an IV.
I got groceries and we delivered them back at home and then took off to an eye appointment. Far Guy is in the end stages of his Vitreous Detachment from last Spring...nothing to worry about right now and he feels better knowing what is causing the flashes of light...just a normal part of aging. To celebrate not going blind we went by O'Reilly Auto Parts and DQ.
A long time friend of Far Guy's was at the car show on Wednesday with his 1979 MG.
Far Side
My eye did not improve...but it did not get worse. It still felt like something was in there. A trip to the Eye Doctor revealed that the Medical Doctor ( who I said was incompetent) left debris in my eye. The Eye Doctor removed the chunk of stuff that she called a rock. I have to do special eye drops for a week now.
Maybe now my eye can finally get better. One can hope.
It has been raining here. Not much else is new.
Far Side
June melted away in the rain on Saturday night or early Sunday.
My scoop shovel and rake are there waiting to clean up the last of June's debris.
The grass is starting to turn green.
In the distance you can see the area I mowed on Friday.
My eye is less irritated...more anesthetic and antibiotic ointment and I put the patch back on...another afternoon on the couch and it seems much better!
Far Side
Friday I mowed a spot in the wild gardens, it was supposed to rain...and it did rain on Saturday. When I was done I was covered in dirt...even Far Guy said you need a bath! FYI I was wearing my safety glasses...I do not mow or trim without them. However I was so dirty that some dirt on my face or in my hair got into my eye after I took my safety glasses off. AND then I rubbed my eye.
I was on the couch much of yesterday...sinking my patched eye into a pillow with a finger pressed onto the eye patch keeping the eye closed and the eyelid from fluttering around. I watched the Coronation and lots of cooking shows and had many naps.
I should be right as rain in a couple of days...and all rested up.
Far Side
Corneal abrasion...and I sought medical treatment. Anesthetic drops, ointment and an eye patch. Lots of naps are in my future for the next 48 hours.
Far Side
Found the first of the smallest yellow Lady Slippers in our area. This very nice clump is on one of the roads we take in the evenings.
Yesterday I had an Eye Doctor appointment. He loves to dilate my eyes, so much so that it takes the rest of the day to get back to normal. My eyesight has changed a bit but not much, 20 20 and 20 15. I have to go back for some more tests....field of vision and another one that I cannot recall the name of. My "night driving glasses" need to be updated. I do not use them often but when I do I want to be able to see through them!
I will take the reading glasses script to Wally World and get some new reading glasses. It has been several years since they have been updated.
Cross something off my list and add a few more appointments...
My shoulder is still sore, but I was able to mow the lawn again and help with supper. I partially watched Dark Shadows on Netflix , I give the music a 10 and what I saw of the show a 2. I slept through most of it.
Far Side
I needed a project on Friday morning. So I washed those blue dishes in the open cupboards. That was the end of the Spring Cleaning in the kitchen. Far Guy helped! Somehow we drag each other into some projects.
We finished just in time to head for town for my last eye test. I have looked at the green star twice now ...they told me they were two different tests and the test for macular degeneration where there are lights that move around and you have to press the button. Old people tests. I would guess I passed the tests..the Doctor will send out a written report after he has reviewed everything.
It rained most of the afternoon and the temps were in the 40's. A chilly Spring day in Minnesota.
Far Side
Finally after a year and numerous visits to the eye doctor I have prescription glasses that I can read with. It was a struggle. You probably cannot tell but the metal frames are charcoal and torquoise.
I am happy to put that all behind me, Miss “B” was not working when I picked them up…Far Guys favorite eye glass gal was working…we will call her Miss “M” for Minnesota Nice…
Far Guy had surgery yesterday. He had a very suspicious growth and the last time I went with him to the Doctor I mentioned it and the Doctor and I agreed that the growth needed to go…basal cell carcinoma, we hope the margins are good and it doesn’t grow back. The Doctor took out quite a chunk, I was surprised at the amount of blood and tissue that was removed…in small towns you can go in the procedure room. Far Guy was certain that they would take half of his nose off…but 4 stitches later he looks pretty good. I am glad he had it done…waiting would have just made it grow and be more difficult to remove. FYI…Compound W didn’t work and neither did honey as those were the treatments that Far Guy has been farting around with for a long time. Enough is enough!
I am happy to spend a few days at home whilst he recouperates…quiet days…he had me so stressed out yesterday my only recourse was to have a really long nap.
When I left home for my Eye Doctor appointment Far Guy said “If I hear of a ruckas in town I will know it was you.” (There were no offers to come bail me out)
They made me wait a long time. Finally they checked my vision with a machine. No huge changes. As they walked me into the exam room the “B” gal (you can guess what B stands for)…stood at the counter with a smirk on her face.
My Eye Doctor is a really nice guy …we discussed the problem and he knew what was wrong. He wanted to double check so we went out to the waiting room where there are computers…he asked the “B” gal to find something on the computer so he could test my reading…well she picked the Mpls St Paul Obituaries. ha ha
The Doctor changed my reading glasses prescription back to the old prescription…finally. “B” gal took the order and said she would call when the glasses came in…not a thank you or have a nice day. I wondered later if she wrote down the correct prescription…we will see or not see.
I would just as soon never darken their door again…it takes many great employees to make up for one bad employee…and she is a doozy.
You know those new reading glasses that I have had for a year…never been able to wear them because the prescription is off…they are on their third set of lenses.
I had hoped they would be fixed this time. Things are still blurry.
I hate blurry. I like things crisp and clean and easy without a struggle.
The ever so helpful gal at the eye doctors office said “You should wear them as much as possible and then you will get used to them.” I asked politely how do you wear a pair of reading glasses that you cannot read with? I had to bite my quivering lip. “Well you will have to see the Doctor again.” Fine.
Far Guy says just give up already. But I am tired of looking through the scratches of my old readers that I can see quite clearly and crisply with. Right now it is the principal of the thing…why can’t they make the new glasses with the price approaching $1,000 just like my old ones that I can see with?
I have an appointment soon. Time will tell if I will be able to ever read with the new pair of glasses.
Customer Service is most likely non existant at the new eye clinic.
I called that gal every bad name I could think of in my mind. I even photographed a flower that made me feel better.
Up yours Coneflower
For the record. Far Guy tried on my old readers from 2011, and then the new readers and he says they are not the same glasses.
My Blepharitis is much better, the eye wash cloths seem to be taking care of the problem, my eyes are much improved.
That is short for what I have. Blepharitis. When your eye feels like it has something in it, it is sore, scratchy, itchy and will drive you half nuts. It is an inflamation of the eyelids, often the tiny oil glands near your eyelashes become plugged. People with psoriasis often have problems…well guess who has psoriasis.
I finally called the eye clinic and insisted I have the old eye Doctor and not the new one fresh out of school. I explained my symptoms and told him that he has seen many more eye balls than the new eye Doctor and he just laughed. I am to discontinue the antibiotic drops…and have special wipes to cleanse my eyes twice a day…and they are already better. I also got my year old reading glasses straightened around so maybe I can see the computer with them. I have a pair of prescription reading glasses from 2010 that work great…another pair from 2012 but the new ones from 2017 were a complete failure. ( One of the gals at the Vision Ordering Area told me to wear them all the time and my eyes would get used to them??? I said “They are just reading glasses should I wear them even if I cannot see?” She was obviously a idiot…I finally said very sweetly alrighty then I will talk to the Dr.)
It has been a week and it is not over yet.
We attended the visitation/wake for our long time friend (since 1975) who died. Jim was 71 years old. We enjoyed the slide show and the rock n roll music at the visitation. We got to hug family members and give them our sympathy. We attended the visitation instead of the funeral…during the visitation you can move around and away from people who are coughing and avoid those dipped in perfume/aftershave. I shared a story with Jim’s son Tori. When Tori was about two years old we adults (Jim, Lynne, Far Guy and me) were playing cards…Tori was being a turd acting up, he was being a real pill…Jim went to swat him on the bottom and our very protective little Scottie Mutt named Snuffer bit Jim. Jim had a look of amazement on his face……he didn’t know if he should be mad at the dog or praise her. Jim was the only guy we ever knew who used WD40 on his fish hooks…he said it made the fish bite…we were never convinced. He was “a classic.”
I mowed the lawn yesterday, dead headed and pinched back some of my flowers and sprayed poison ivy and thistle and worked on leveling the dirt in the driveway. I was busy all day long.
We have two Humming Birds as far as I can tell. I still have the little feeder out, I will replace it with the larger feeder soon.
Can you see the Hummer in this photo?
Resting on a branch, making sure the coast is clear.
At the feeder
Bluebird passing through I hope he stays. Not a great photo I took it out the kitchen window.
Chance and I sit outside after supper, there are just a few bees and no skeeters yet.
Far Guy had a crawling wood tick and we heard the first Loon May 16 2018.
Only two Doctors appointments this past week, I have an infection in my eye and it is much better after antibiotic drops. Far Guy has been woodcarving outside just about every day the weather has been fantastic.
