Perfect

   I had the laser treatment on my botched cataracts last week.  It was a breeze!  Unfortunately, the trip to the Griffiss Eye Surgery Center in Rome was torture!  The temperture was near 90 that day, full sun and high humidity.  Our car was uncomfortable even with 4 windows open!  (Neither of us likes riding with the AC blowing in our faces. Besides I can't stand the way I get so cold when I'm in AC for any time.  That's a side effect of Warfarin.)  We made it to Griffiss about an hour early because we weren't sure of the directions. Didn't know there was a "super highway" where Rte 49 use to be. It's still called Rte 49 but it's a 4 lane divided roadway where the speed limit is 65mph... but it's more like where the speed limit starts at 65mph! Everything and everyone was passing us and we were doing 65mph! Once we knew where we had to be at 2:30pm Jeff decided to try and find 'Runnings', the sports store. It was on the other side of Rome so I got a tour of the city. (It did not impress me.) We found 'Runnings' and, of course, Jeff had to go in. Anyway, we just made it back to the eye center in time! I checked in and when I was told it would take about an hour, went back out and told Jeff (he was going to be sitting in the hot sun that long!) Well, he wasn't... because as I walked back inside he drove off! (Found out later he went to Burger King.)

   When my procedure was finished I couldn't see clearly but I could tell that Jeff wasn't in the parking lot. So I had to sit there and wait for him to come back... about half an hour. He finally drove in and we headed home. He was mad because of the traffic and I was mad because he made me wait for him after the procedure. I couldn't see and didn't have any sunglasses, so I had to keep my eyes closed all the way home. (Try doing that while someone is driving at 65mph!). We made it without any problem but when we got home, Jeff had a hard time getting out of the car. He could hardly walk! His leg and back were in spasm... and stayed that way for almost 2 days!! The next morning he had trouble getting out of bed and had to lean on the hall wall to get to the bathroom... and that was using his cane! He was like that for 2 days! He even wore his back brace!! He didn't try driving until Tuesday and that was just to town and back. I've been driving this week and listening to his complaints! Yesterday I drove to Herkimer for my post-op checkup but he had to drive home because my eyes were dilated. Again, no sunglasses and I couldn't see anything for a couple of hours!

   I'm glad I had the laser procedure.  Dr. Nair says my eyes are now 'perfect' and I think so, too, but I'll never go to Griffiss for another procedure.  It's about the same distance from here (30+ miles) as Bassett but took about 15-20 minutes longer to get there even with the 'super highway'.  I'll take the country drive along a lake any time over that!!

   The next morning when I woke up I could see so much better I just sat and looked out the window. The colors of the sky and lawn were so much brighter! The apple tree outside the window looked like it was 2 feet closer to the house. I could see the little branches!! But when I walked into the bathroon I screamed! I never realized how dirty it was! The bric-bracs on the windowsill were so grimey!! The vanity was streaked on the side I use because I thought I was wiping it daily and the side Jeff uses... well, let's just say it wasn't clean! I was embarrassed!! My mother must have been rolling in her grave! I spent the next 2 days cleaning house. The bathroom got the full treatment: window sill, bric-brac, wall around the light switch, vanity, tiolet (inside and out) and floor. It actually looked clean!! Then I started on the kitchen! I did the cupboard doors and counter next to the stove and the top of the stove, the counter where the coffeemaker is and the counter where the Burkee waterfilter is. It's not the cleanest but it's better than it was. When I get my new glasses I'm going to tackle the shelves by the windows and take the curtains down and wash them.

   The day after I had my eyes done I went to see The Hand Man...for my left hand.  All I got out of that appointment is confirmation that I have arthritis...like 97% of women, he told me.  There isn't much he can do that I'm not already doing (heat, ice, rest, get rid of the carpal tunnel brace and use a thumb brace when I need to, and use Voltaren cream as needed) until I can't take the pain any longer and then we can talk about surgery.  But it's one of the worst replacement surgeries:  4-5 weeks in a hard cast and 3-4 months of PT.  He can do it but he doesn't recommend it until it's the last resort.  Oh, well. I guess I'll manage...I even started knitting.  

   Well, actually I started knitting a couple of weeks ago but just for 10-15 mins a day.  When my thumb started to hurt I put it down.  I finally finished a sweater and a couple of hats and with what I found in bags in the closet managed to send a pretty good replacement down to restock my display in the shop. (I seemed to have sold almost all my sweaters...there are only 3 left!!)  I'm working on a Pin-stripe Henley pullover that I'll take with me when I work a week from tomorrow.  I'd like to get a few hats done by then, too.  I just have to make myself stop and put the knitting down when my thumb starts to hurt.  Which means I should go and knit now!!