GETTING IT DONE (June 16)

                                    

COUNTDOWN Trying to get all the big chores out of the way before I am laid up again. Painted the deck a brighter shade than the "peanut butter/baby poop" color we had before. I'm sorry. Sherwin Williams called it "Smoky Topaz". Though both colors match the auxiliary deck which is odd. Paint has gone up, a lot, in the four years since we painted last. How do I know when we last did it? As I was perusing good old Facebook at the end of the day pictures popped up from four years ago celebrating the painting of the deck! Cue the spooky music. Pic 1-2019  Pic 2-2024

Which brings up a construction joke. Do not eat aluminum you will sheet metal

NEXT ADVENTURE Had my pre-anesthesia appointment last week. This is the one where they lay out the doom and gloom and the odds of you surviving intact. 6% chance of a whoops compared to a 3% for the knee. This way they are covered if you wake up dead, I guess. Which is about as silly as the dude on Family Feud the other night. Yes, we watch cable and don't pay for any streaming services. When asked "When should a woman not get a haircut?" The guy says, "before her funeral". Right up there with the question "If your wife was gone, on a scale of one to ten, how much would you miss her" The two answers were 5 and 1. Neither guy was married. 

The medical staff are so nonchalant about the possible ugly scenarios. I asked if I would be enjoying an ensemble like last September for my knockout shot. She looked puzzled and said we don't have any resident anesthesiologists. Ok-who were all those people and who popped the shot last September? Maybe I should just call Sam, but we were all having such a good time, what the hey. Actually, it's general anesthesia this time with a breathing tube as I will be on my stomach, no doubt on a massage table with the face part cut out. Don't ask me, I will be asleep. As I am required to drink 20 oz of Gatorade before the procedure, I hope they will be wearing their splash goggles. 

Of course, they weigh you (they are obsessed) fully clothed and after breakfast-not fair. However, my BMI was in the good girl range as she put my height down as 5'5" ??? Only 2 1/2 inches off. Hopefully they will be weighing and measuring several times before zero hour. They ask your name, birthdate and procedure about fifty times and then magic mark the surgical area. I won't be able to participate in the paint by number exercise this time as it's behind me. No doubt mistakes have been made in the past; hence the eagerness to make the patient part of any possible faux pas. My fear with the knee was I would wake up with the wrong knee bandaged. As this spot is right above the buttocks, location should be pretty much nailed. 

Pre-op is fun until you lose consciousness; an assembly line of naked bodies wrapped in back opening matching gowns in various stages of prep. After a week of special soap and two showers with antiseptic soap the morning of, the victim er patient is given five pre-moistened and thankfully, warm cleaning strips that are very specifically to be used in a specific order on various body parts. If a germ escapes it was meant to be. The area is rather busy actually so I can see why they ask you so many times if you are really you. I'm looking for the day we all have our micro-chips installed which should eliminate some of the guesswork, apparently, on the surgeon's part. 

AND THEN All this wandering downtown Lansing has let me enjoy the absolutely horrible roads around the Capitol. I'm kind of torn. Should the capital of Michigan have the best roads, or should they be the last to be repaired and the road money be used where it's needed the most. Working for government for many years it seemed we were always the last to get updated materials, training or technology. Working as a public servant certainly emphasizes the servant part. Again torn, as we are working off taxpayer money, but we could be so much more efficient (even less employees) if we had better tools. 

AND FURTHER There is something so decadent about working on a laptop at the lake with the water as your backdrop. I attended a ZOOM meeting for the Conference last week from the lake. I was also sipping a beer. But as I am not technically working for anyone but myself bring on the adult beverages. I am much more relaxed working while retired "WWR". Speaking of water, does anyone else have bathroom dreams? I often dream about looking for a bathroom and when I find one for some reason it is not private and I move on to the next chapter which is usually trying to leave a large City, but I keep missing the entrance to the expressway. I mean I always need to go when I get up from bed, and I know where the bathroom is, but are the two things related? Our psyche is such an interesting place. 

Happy Father's Day to all the male influencers out there. But the OH is not getting out of grilling my steak later tonight as the daughter already took him golfing. We miss you Dad.  Peace out..💚 💙💛

I HAVE NO WORDS (June 10)

 

ONLY WORDS Placeholder words. I have been noticing the variety of them. You know the acknowledgement one gives when the speaker is confirming or looking for feedback. To pick on millennials, they seem to prefer got'cha or fine-fine; boomers are ok with ok and the eye doctor's tech prefers "perfect" every time I noted the correct letter or pretty much anything I said. I felt like a little kid bubbling over with confirmation every time I said anything. Apparently, it was not an actual conversation, and I am not special. It's like we have to fill every empty conversational space with something. Then I really love the "thank you" no "thank YOU", well then "thank you". You're welcome works or just a pleasant head nod to end the endless litany of euphemisms. Taken to the extreme, I envision a war for the last word or, to be named most polite person on the planet, descending into fist fights and choke holds until someone cries. Fun times. Retirees have time on their hands for observations and are eager to talk.

In retrospect my, what I thought was polite, eye contact and silence seem to make people nervous. Not technically my intent, however, sometimes there is just nothing to excuse or add to statements and actions that are either self-evident or beyond belief. It also acts as a deterrent to mere bluster when a "player" has nothing to back up their claim besides their "opinion". Though in these days of silent but deadly I do understand the need for us to be a bit more verbal to diffuse possible misunderstandings. On the other hand sometimes, we get so busy talking we don't realize the lack of reaction could be dangerous. Nobody is shy anymore; they could actually be plotting something evil....

Not having any more to say was another reason I was rather quiet (I know hard to believe). When I was collecting on the paper route as a teenager I would be asked to come back later, run to the bank for them and literally screamed at-anything to avoid paying. As I had no other arrows in my quiver, I would just stand there silently until they miraculously came up with the money. Also worked with higher-ups who did not like the message I was delivering or Union folks who did not believe me. Again, standing patiently with no expression until they wound themselves down was usually effective. Hate to gender slash, but it was usually men who would pitch a fit including foot stamping. My not backing away also appeared powerful as personal space is a real thing. Moving into mine won't make me back up. My mindset was merely to accomplish whatever needed to be done. I hate unfinished tasks and indecision makes me nuts. I get an idea and I move-drives the OH crazy.

MINI RANT Speaking of blaming, got to love when your significant other throws you under the bus instead of taking responsibility, a learned trait from the current world where -it's not my fault; it's a conspiracy; I never did what I just showed you I did. I'm talking to you Justices Thomas and Alito. If it was a liberal Justice, they would have been hung in effigy (or literally) by now. Though it is possible Alito did not understand the significance of the flags they were flying...And why is a person who thinks Jewish space lasers start forest fires and shouldn't we feel the earth move if we're traveling at 1,000 miles an hour questioning a scientific scholar who has dedicated his life to this country? Trying to explain how science works to the uneducated reminds me of how hard it is to explain industrial hygiene hazards to folks. 

For example. Construction workers performing demolition. So much fun and chaos crashing and banging, ripping and tearing. But all those chemical and biological agents we release when material integrity is breached do damage. Dust, asbestos, lead, aggregate, ceramics, metals, etc. The health hazard of demo is at least as serious as burying someone in the debris and possibly worse as you can at least see the material that will crush you. Always told workers, as professionals you wear the safety gear just like suiting up to play football. Then we all had a good laugh. You suppose the linebackers complain about the weight and discomfort of the gear they have to wear? Probably. I'm not naive. 

On the other hand, proud of the way our country honored the men and women of WWII at Normandy last week. Like the Grand Canyon there is no way to describe the feeling you get when you view the cliffs and the multitude of crosses standing among the beautiful green fields lovingly cared for by the French people.  Peace out....💚...💙💛

Constant activity at the hummer bar today,

       

 

WHERE'S THE RHUBARB? (June 3)

 

SUMMERTIME The pontoon 2024 maiden voyage was accomplished on a perfect weather day. It is the only time I get color (tan) and I commandeer the seat right against the captain's console as it supports my back when I sit lengthwise. Who needs no stinking canopy which is where most guests scramble to take ownership of the seats under the shade. Speaking of backs, my fourth surgery since last September takes place on June 28 - whoopee. PT, chiropractic, grinning and bearing it have run their course. We go for the knife. The scheduler says I shouldn't expect Wonder Woman healing the first week so ok - two weeks. Good thing as the annual cook-out/birthday party takes place about two weeks later. One must have a goal. My sister has already "gifted" me about 45 new paperbacks in anticipation.

IN OTHER NEWS As we all face varying degrees of emotions after the latest conviction, should I remind that this is the THIRD trial he has lost? And we haven't got to the big ones yet. Remembering how folks lost their shi--- when Clinton got caught in an intern, character used to be important. Technically these are convictions for lying, cheating (real estate), sexual assault and political manipulation. Now it's whining that it's rigged, it's a conspiracy, it's political, nobody loves me-bingo. At what point does one realize the dude is being held accountable for his actions, new territory indeed. If the current President had so much power to manipulate the courts, don't you think he would have helped his son out by now? You know like the trump put tariffs on every item out of China except Ivanka's crap?  Yep-character is still important...for some. 

In other good news, the public has spoken, and prices are coming down. Can we now admit, although inflation played a role, a lot of the increases were due to obscene vendor and manufacturing profits? Hence room to charge a little less perhaps? Even new cars may be a better deal as inventory has caught up with demand. High prices cannot stand if folks will not pay $8 for a Big Mac or $60,000 for a sedan. The system works. Other good news: the cost of inhalers is capped at $35 along with insulin for Medicare participants. Darn that Biden keeping campaign promises that benefit the people. 

HUNTING FOR... Speaking of groceries (buy store brands!) I was on a hunt for rhubarb last week. After enjoying the delicious rhubarb/strawberry sauce at a friend's house the other day I was determined to replicate it for guests at the lake. At Meijers I addressed the guys loading the produce "Hey salad people any rhubarb?" Nothing on the truck they unloaded. Ok-google says Kroger's has it-nope. Finally admitting defeat, I tried the usually more expensive garden, fruit and veggie store (and liquor and popcorn and ice cream and soup and salad and music venue store). Success! A few stalks however looking a little worse for wear as their once proud green leaves were limp and squishy. But I only need the stalks. That store's salad dude said let me get you a fresh bunch which was much firmer and more beautiful. After unloading groceries at home, I took a quick bite of a loose piece of "rhubarb". Do you know what it tastes like when you wrap your produce in an old newspaper and leave it in the compost pile for three days? Well kind of like that because it was SWISS CHARD! Why did they have acres of swiss chard where my delightful rhubarb should have been residing?  Well for $3.99 I took it back so I could grab the sad-looking rhubarb. 

Side note: a lady nearby said "you want rhubarb, come to my house! It's taking over!" So obviously it's in season.

 Should have taken her up on it as when I returned to the store, the salad dude had thrown out my sad rhubarb. argghh.  However, the original friend kindly let me have some he had done up and frozen. I owe him big time though we did gift him some of the OH's potato salad. 

BIRD NEWS Hummer wars have started up. Our annual hummingbird freeloader has returned. As usual if another bird tries to enjoy some free sweets, bird number one immediately shows him/her the door. The aggression and kung fu moves are way out of proportion considering the size of the combatants. I mime in bird language that there is enough for all, but he's not buying it. He's also picky about the television being on which he assumes to be another interloper and possible sugar water thief. He hovers until I close the curtain or shut the TV down and his table for one is duly defended.

Speaking of birds, our first broods of the season have been launched at the lake - robins and ducks. After the guys do their bit, the rest is up to Mom as the mallards congregate and chill like teen-age boys everywhere.   Peace out --- 💚  💛💙

THIS AND THAT (May 27)

BACK TO BUSINESS More physician evals last week. Back surgeon came in with a little model of a backbone held together with rods and screws and no doubt gorilla glue. Whoah - I think you got the wrong model here. What was especially interesting is I waited in what must have been a pediatric exam room as it held a creepy Minnie Mouse doll -no doubt a P.A., baby shoes attached to a rod (another torture device) and a sign admonishing one not to put dirty diapers in the garbage pail. Though on second thought there are a lot of, ahem, older patients visiting here so diapers or depends-it's all relative. 

I am open to the less invasive laminectomy with an abbreviated recovery time so I can again stand in lines and walk the malls. Come to think of it, that doesn't sound like much of a trade. May be simpler to tattoo a sign to my forehead "invisibly disabled, so me first". Face tatts are all the rage, so I fit in plus positive spoiler alert, they do not sag noticeably as one gets older due to the forehead placement (unlike tramp stamps). A little wavy but one can work with that using cursive. Plus, when you are not looking for accommodation artfully placed bangs will cover up the message. Win-win. 

Upon questioning on whether I had a fall that screwed up my back I thought back to famous falls I have known. Ok. Fall in between the dock and boat that left a massive and colorful bruise on my hip. Fall down the stairs when I was alone and managed to crawl back up the stairs and go on. Dropping my Honda 250 on me while driving around the yard. Jumping over a barrier and coming down hard at an accident scene. But I maintain, as a boomer, it was a lack of technology. How many trainings did I perform hauling a massive reel-to-reel projector around loading and unloading it into awkward places. How many trips did I take with a (imagine) non-wheeled suitcase, again loading and unloading into awkward places. How many times did I haul around Resusci Anne performing CPR training. How many times does one "hold up their end of the item" knowing it was too heavy so I wouldn't be marked the useless member of the team.  It adds up. However, the days when I could just lie on the floor and put my legs up on the couch for relief are long past. Plus, it's a bit harder getting up off the floor-lol. 

CITY TIME Speaking of my salad years I saw a story on Lansing's former Mayor David Hollister the other day. He was incredible to work with and gender, color, orientation was not a concern for him. He just wanted results. I learned a lot about management style from him. They mentioned the seat belt campaign he launched when he first took office (well actually delegated to me). We created billboards and advertising materials showing the belt around the Capitol. The LPD had a great time with stopping people (before it was the law) and "gifting" them with a Burger King coupon if they were in compliance. Scared the hell out of drivers. Side Note: the OH did not start wearing one habitually until his little girl asked him why he didn't have one on. Caught by the old do as I say, not as I do clause.

 They also mentioned the new City logo he created with the sun behind the Capitol. Privately we pointed out that because of the placement of the sun behind the Capitol one would be facing west so the sun was actually setting, not rising, ahem. However, the die had been cast, literally. Clinton's visit to Lansing (and the Mayor's assistant falling off her chair on the podium) the Lugnuts stadium project and the campaign to keep GM in Lansing were also during his regime, so it was an exciting time to have an inside seat at the mechanics of the projects (and the parties). Though having to meet Geoffrey Fieger and escort him up to the Mayor's office during his ill-fated run for governor was definitely a low point-a total tool.

SIGH Pay attention people. I was reading an article stating about 50% of Americans think the economy is shrinking or in a recession - neither is true. They think the stock market is at its lowest which is the exact opposite with Dow and S&P hitting numbers never seen before. They think unemployment is at its highest level in 50 years when at 3-4% it is the lowest in 50 years. We are the envy of the world as we negotiated a soft landing, and the economy has not only recovered from the pandemic but is actually growing. Yes, gas is always a bone of contention; groceries are obscene but the lines at attractions are huge and everybody's filling the planes, trains and highways so apparently, it's "the other guy". I blame the media focusing on the negative and the magas spreading manure. 

ROAD WORK With all our doctors in Lansing or East Lansing (they tend to cluster together) negotiating travel has been challenging as the Gov is busy "fixing the damn roads". The routes change daily-no exaggeration. I find it best to smile and wave at disgruntled workers. This accomplishes two things: 1) they are assured we see them and 2) forestalls having a tool "accidently" thrown in one's direction. However, you can't cover up dropping in a hole after missing a detour-you're on your own there. As the route to the surgery center keeps narrowing, I am in awe that all of us older patients, GETTING EYE SURGERY are able to negotiate the entry, and especially the exit, without causing road construction mayhem. 

Actually, the prettiest sign spotted is the one that says, "End of Road Work". Heading to a barbecue so peace out....💚  💙💛 Happy Summer- The Hummers are back. 

                                                                

                                                                

THANKS TO THOSE WHO GAVE THE ULTIMATE SACRIFICE! WE REMEMBER YOU AND WELCOME HOME.

YO HO HO (May 20)

EYEBALL UPDATE Miracle number 2. I am typing on my laptop and was actually reading a paperback with NO glasses. Cataract surgery has turned out to be amazing and may even improve further over next couple of weeks. 20-20 and 20-25 at the moment-whoowee.  Amazing how some don't "trust science" so I say stay in your lane of blindness and ignorance, I'm moving on. Second eye a little grittier feeling, but that has subsided as well. Either I didn't get as much happy juice or the second time is more familiar, according to the mandatory video all patients have to review, as I remember being wheeled in and out of surgery and seeing the room which I do not remember at all the first time. The Doc is happy with his alter ego name of Hawkeye. As he was not under the influence of the happy juice he remembered our conversation. 

EYEBALL ACTIVITIES I have been reading the giant garbage bag full of practically new paperbacks my sister "gifted" me last summer. They all feature an intrepid female problem-solver. Supply is getting low but hopefully will last me through my next surgery. I have been gifting the local library with the books and they don't seem particularly excited though they were not cheap and in very excellent condition. Whatever. I suppose they would be more grateful if I gave them my untouched Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn books. I read all the classics (including the Brothers' Grimm) back in my youth and was hopeful my daughter would have the same interest in reading. Unfortunately, not and the grandson is into graphic novels, so they sit pristine in her shrine of a room I have not had the energy to clean out. Though Joe says it's his room now. I think he discovered her Mad Magazine anthology, however.

I used to always have a couple of books going at the same time-something non-fiction, something historical and something trashy. I may have to get back to that as my trivia knowledge is slowly waning. I even find it difficult to sit still to read my AARP, AAA and bi-weekly investment journal these days. When did I become so guilty about just sitting and wasting an entire afternoon reading? Though reading does mean snacking, so I jump to walk a couple thousand steps frequently.

EYES HAVE IT I read the best clapback regarding Harrison Butker's comments at Benedictine College where he told all these accomplished women including distinguished female teachers who are also nuns (not married, no kids) that we all long for getting married and having children. Really. Does his accomplished mother, who had a career as a medical physicist also clean house in heels and pearls? "I'm not taking career advice from a guy whose life ambition was to kick a ball."

Had the grandson for the weekend and he and Grandpa went out to the driving range a couple of times to hit balls. Also, he actually beat Grandpa at pool one out of three. He's taller now so that totally changes the stakes when you can actually reach across the table.

Starting to hit the lake and getting the boats out. The OH found a new toy to display on the deck which looks very nautical. Energized by the sun it's upper light rotates all night long. We haven't decided if it's going to annoy the neighbors yet, but it's so cool. Our friend and neighbor on one side likes it and as he pointed out "what the heck, we're at the lake". Works for me...until someone gets the bright idea to steal it and chuck it in the lake through malice or annoyance. 

                                                       

Another busy week and having the boy puts me behind on chores so cutting this short. One final thought. When I was lamenting how much I am noticing with my new "eagle eyes" how I really look, the recheck Doc said "well if it helps, you look the same to us as you did before"! God I almost wet my pants. Peace out....💚  💛💙

MIRACULOUS MAY (May 13)

 AMAZING! Mixed blessing and curse as I can see the proverbial head of a pin and also all the dirt and dust that has been accumulating in my living quarters. Color is outstanding rather like a kaleidoscope that overwhelms the senses, an artist's dream. Countered by the shock of seeing oneself in full 72-year-old glory; guess there is a reason our eyes dim as we age. I'm thinking of naming some of the newly discovered wrinklies. Also, the color of a certain bodily elimination function indicates I should be drinking more water-so health bonus! Suddenly I am reading street signs like a kid again and small print from 20 feet away. All of which is needed as road crews in E Lansing are systematically closing down access to the medical center. We have attempted three different routes as detours to nowhere, missing pavement and general befuddlement ensue. We got in through a restaurant parking lot on the last trip. Further there is only one narrow in and out patch of road to the medical complex left open making people with compromised vision a real menace. 

White brilliance even on a cloudy day when the old reality was a certain yellowish tinge coupled with the illusion of dust in the air. Which you don't realize until your eyesight is corrected! The red maple leaves that actually show a touch of silver when struck by the morning sun (who knew?). Truly miraculous surgery. That's only one eye and the effect was fantastic. I hope I never take my new view of life for granted, but I probably will. Though I wonder what happens when the second eye gets its wake-up lens this week. But, alas, I am still not able to play the banjo (see last week's note).

They give you a little happy juice intravenously to take the edge off which led to my joshing with the surgeon and staff throughout the procedure. We were trying to come up with a super-hero name for the Doctor besides "Superman" (his contribution). I had named one of his colleagues Ned Flanders (Simpsons) and he knew exactly who I meant so that led to his wanting an alter-ego. Hawkeye, probably.

DRIVING AGAIN No restrictions on driving with my super eye which led me to another observation. When I am behind someone, they go less than the speed limit. Not earth-shattering, but annoying. However, when I set the cruise at the speed limit (or a little over as I have an abhorrence of earning speeding tickets) someone will inevitably be attempting to ride in my trunk. Go figure. Funny how distracted driving has no impact on speed, though the ones that go too slow while texting are preferable to the ones speeding under the same circumstances. 

PODCAST WOES My last podcast before a three-month break, as I have enough saved to get through the summer, was one of the hardest. As he was someone eager to be a participant after listening to my other offerings, I guess I should have believed him when he said he was more of a writer than a talker. Could have fooled me with all our encounters and the videos he produces for his business. I guess nerves get the best of us. Thankfully, not my first rodeo so I was scribbling down follow-up questions during his one and two sentence answers. I was lucky to get 20 minutes of material when I often have to break in after 30+ on most speakers. They usually rise to the bait as I skillfully and professionally stroke their expertise juices and get them to open up. Wasn't working.

TOTALLY UNEXPECTED TOPIC Just learned some interesting news from cicada world. You know the billions and billions and billions of noisy little varmints crawling out of their underground dens to procreate. Apparently, they are being infected with a fungus which causes their "naughty bits" to fall off. However, the fungus also ramps up their desperate need to "hook up" even without any parts with which to do so with both female and male cicadas (thus spreading the fungus). So essentially, we are being invaded by zombie cicadas so to speak, hopped up on sexy cicada pheromones. Sounds like a bad movie plot or RFK's bad brain-eating worm infestation presidential campaign. The fact that RFK admits the worm brain eating thingee makes one wonder if he is under the control of his infestation. Can the presidential race get any weirder?

Odd to have all this free time though my constant noticing of something that has to be cleaned has kept me a little busier than usual (curse you new lens). Plus, that stupid tree frog has taken up residence on  top of my front screen door requiring one to duck every time it's opened. Apparently, his favorite food bugs like to hover there as well.  Peace out....💚  💙💛

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY TO MOTHERS OF MANY SEASONS

FISH OR FOUL (Yes I know what I spelled) (May 6)

LURED/LURID An abbreviated version this week as we have been "lounging" at the lake with the grandson this weekend, His record intact, he hauled in about 15 blue gills. As we are on a catch and release program due to our total lack of interest in the cleaning and cooking elements, they live to fight another day. They ended up in a bucket for a while as one of the boy's arms is in a rigid cast making worm attachment and fish detachment a tad difficult. We agreed to his fire fetish Saturday night and roasted, rather burned, our token marshy mallows. When the OH asked about the chocolate and graham cracker additions I shut down operations. 1) JP will not really eat them; 2) they are messy as hell and 3) we don't need the extra cals. 

Some fun activity every day this week with three involving medical personnel and/or treatments, a podcast recording and a haircut. So ending the week with my relentless pursuit of beauty. Or rather, a hairstyle that I can basically wash and wear which my stylist says is a bridge too far.  Hah. She doesn't know how little I am willing to find acceptable.

INTERVIEW THIS My final poddie for the summer was supposed to happen last week, but first my interviewee wrote and had to have an unexpected and embarrassing medical issue taken care of. Rescheduling for this coming Tuesday (week later) I get two messages from him on Thursday of last week. As the second one was entitled "OOPS" I realized he had mixed up the days. Sigh.  Well third time's the charm. My other interview was "interesting" to say the least. 

As a long time Professor of medicine and chief of the Division of Occupational and Environmental Medicine at MSU when he talks, people listen. He offered some controversial, perhaps, opinions on the origins of lung disease and blew up some "educated" comments from the internet trolls. However, we all know, people would rather believe their opinions reinforced by carefully mined nuggets from social media. He was not shy about pointing virtual fingers at those seeking to exploit the fears of the gullible with unnecessary and useless products and procedure sold to both businesses and homeowners alike. To put it another way, my example would be those who claim the miniscule amount of PCBs sealed in a transformer up on a pole causing their cancer rather than the cigarette or other drugs they enjoy having any impact. Used to drive me crazy as I'm spending all shift monitoring asbestos exposure on masked and gowned workers who come out on break and light up. My results are quantifiable-theirs are "just a feeling". The Doc also blew up a lot of "misinformation" on how harmful mold really is...not. Interesting. 

IN MEDICAL NEWS First eye goes under the knife this week so basically a crap shoot on how well I see to read, write, shoot and play the banjo for a while. Which will heal (hopefully) in time for the second eye to be slashed a week later.

Update on the nerve noodle, nodule, fragment, whatever, in my spine. It hasn't changed in a couple of years so full steam ahead on the laminectomy, I guess. Hate to see what insurance is paying on that little consult. Bones do grow back and together. They take the piece of bone out of my back that's been squeezing my spinal cord like a boa constrictor and tuck it between two vertebrae where it grows together like a little bone stent keeping the dueling vertebrae apart - cool.

AND FINALLY AMPHIBIANS I don't mind raindrops falling on my head, but when I opened the front door and had this little fellow nail my noggin, I jumped like a bead of oil on a sizzling pan or a frog on a hot tinned roof.  (No animals were harmed in the making of this picture.)

 Peace out.....💚  💙💛