Cataract Surgery

Well, chilluns, I had my first cataract surgery Wednesday.  Started off with writing the check, of course, then I went into pre-op.  I was expecting the surgery to be done in an examination chair, but I was put on a gurney, just like in a traditional operation.  Not all cataract surgery is done this way, but it was comforting feeling.  I was hooked up to monitors, given several drops, several times.  Repeatedly asked my name, birthday and surgery.  I had so many people working with me, that this way there would be no confusion.  When I was in the operating room and they asked what surgery I was in for, since it was the last time...I responded with "appendectomy".  They all laughed and the doc said "no way" .  Dr. Strelow, talked to me throughout the procedure and told me what to expect.  What I would see, that they were beginning the oxygen, etc.

It was an easy procedure and quite interesting, because what I saw looked very much like the old liquid light shows of the 60's on a much smaller scale.  Something like this...

There wasn't any red, like shown on this overhead projector liquid light show.  It was mostly light colors with a spider web effect along with the bubbles.  Visually pleasing, actually.  It helped that my eye was completely numb and I was being given a light sedative with an amnesia additive.

Recovery time was quick.  They brought me out on the gurney and hubby said I looked like Bride of Frankenstein, being raised up on the gurney and swaddled in blankets (looking like I was wrapped in bandages).  When I went to get up, my feet felt soooo heavy, but other than that I really don't remember much.  Good thing hubby got the post op info cause I barely remember the ride home. 

I have drops that I have to put in on a certain schedule and a hard plastic cover that I tape over my eye when sleeping.  Other than a bit of flickering in the eye as it heals and the new lens becomes part of me, I'm not experiencing any side effects.

Well, that's it for now.  Just wanted everyone to know that all went well.  I wasn't nervous and I attribute that to the power of prayer.  Mine and others.  Thanks to all who have been thinking and praying for me.  I have my next surgery on June 13th and I'm sure everything will go just as smoothly.

By the way, I walked the track today without my glasses.  Feels a bit odd to be able to see out of one eye without the glasses.   I was talking to Peri on the phone when I realized I could see out of my "new" eye, so she got to experience that with me.  This time next month I'll be done with both eyes and will have a whole new outlook on life.

Hope everyone has a great weekend.  Take care and don't rub your eye!

Happy Memorial Day

Teach your children well.  Happy Memorial Day.

Is it just me???

Is it just me? Do I not pay attention or have you also found people speaking in shorthand?

Remember Sunday's elephant hat?  I failed to mention, I was very surprised last week when the woman who commissioned the hat from me waited until the last minute to order it.  This is what she said to me..."my girlfriend's baby...it's a boy, they are already in the nursery".  Well, after busting my buttocks to get the hat done for a newborn that was already in the hospital nursery, I find out what she actually meant.  Her friend had just had a sonogram and she was excitedly telling me what color hat to make and relaying that her friends were already decorating their nursery...for a boy, that will be born in August.

 None of this was made clear. Also, she knew that I had only made owl hats and she specifies an elephant...and could I do that?  At the last minute?  No wonder I was confused and a bit miffed.  After making it over the weekend, I took the hat to the gym where I knew her trainer would see that she got it, put a note with the hat with my phone number hoping she would call.  This morning she did call and what does she say?  " I love the owl hat".  I replied, it's an elephant (I try not to cuss, but in my mind I actually said "you stupid B-word") and she said oh, yes, I was thinking that because you make owl hats.


Grrrrr.   What is wrong with people?  I don't know why I ponder this when I realize it's the Groundhog Day syndrome.  Remember the movie, Groundhog Day with Bill Murray?  One of my favorites and thinking of it is one of the best ways to deal with the idjits that are out there.

Everyday when we go out I think things will be different and they are not.  I have to remind myself that I can make the choice to react differently to the same old insanity that is life. I really try to.

So from people who don't say what they mean, to people who are mean, to people that can't drive...remember to say to yourself "It's Groundhog Day" and hopefully you will feel better about things.

Do you have a Groundhog Day pet peeve? I'd love to know I'm not alone in this.

An elephant never forgets.... (Mother's Day Tribute)

While this elephant cap was commissioned for a baby I'll probably never meet, it reminds me of my mom and her collection of elephants. 

Elephants are the symbol of the Republican Party and Lois was a Red Hot Republican.  So in honor of Mother's Day, I post this crazy crocheted baby elephant cap. She would have loved it.

 Love you bunches, Mama.  Happy Mother's Day, we miss you and will always have wonderful memories....and don't you worry, I'm keeping your tradition alive, I'm still a Red Hot Republican!

Bottles....

Another short post because I'm triflin.  I have been making jewelry lately, but found myself in a creative slump so I thought I would play with some bottles.  I love containers.   I have repurposed tin cans, cigar boxes, paper mache drink holders from Wendy's, I have boxes and jars and bottles of all sorts holding everything from pens and brushes to bead-soup and linseed oil.  I think you get the picture.  Anyhoo, here are two bottles I've been working on and staring at respectively...

This first one is a ginger ale bottle that I just liked the shape and color of.  I covered it with slices from various types of polymer clay canes.  The largest tile that you see in the middles is fun technique called a Natasha bead or a Rorschach bead.  You squish some different colors together, form a loaf of sorts and slice down the middle, opening the loaf up like a book causing a mirror image to appear.  Several years back I did an in-depth tutorial on this technique and will gladly clue you in, if you are interested.

It only took me several hours to make the tiles, press them on the glass (no glue required) and cure in a dedicated toaster oven.  To stabilize the bottle, I gently placed it on a bed of polymer stuffing. Yes, its the same kind you stuff pillows and dolls with and it does not melt in the toaster oven while it provides a cushy little bed for the bottle to relax on while it bakes.  When you click in on this shot you should be able to get a closer view of the bottle stopper that I created out of clay.  That was fun.

This next bottle is a vinegar bottle that, once again attracted me because of the shape.  I soaked and soaked, but couldn't get the entire label off of the neck.  To hide this problem, I glued cotton clothesline around the neck of the bottle.  I showed this bottle to a friend and she suggested making a stopper for it, but I'm not sure what else it needs.

There are so many things that you can do with bottles when it comes to crafts.  I am also yearning to use glue on the outside of a bottle and write something in cursive and then spray paint the bottle for a really decorative look, maybe something like this...

I don't have wine bottles, but I think it would work on other types of  bottles.  I'm thinking of spraying mine off white or even silver for a more formal look (everyone knows how formal I am, y'all)

Any way, that is what I'm thinking about this week (when I'm not thinking about my upcoming cataract surgery).  I mentioned to my friend Karin that I'm working on a crochet elephant cap for a newborn, so as soon as that's done,  I'll post the picture of it.  It is going to be so cute.

Well, that's it for today.  It's almost the weekend, kids.  Remember to brush and floss or you will be subjected to super sonic scraping at the dentist when you are actually expecting flowery compliments.

Later for ya...

The last of the clan...

I still have lots of pictures to go through of the trip last month, but in the meantime here is a rarity...

it's a picture of the three remaining members of my family.  My mother was the only one of her family to have any children and none of us have any.  Seems the three of us were seldom photographed together.  Probably a reason for that. Sheesh, what a crew.

In any event, enjoy this until I get more of the travelogue together.

More pictures from the trip...

This week will be mostly images and hopefully not so many words.  Here we go.

Peri and I sat in the observation train for a bit, mostly so I could see what it was like.  What was it like? Noisy.  Wahhhh, I want to go back to our room and watch the scenery.

We always were at the back of everything, but that gives you a different perspective.  I love this house and the shadow of the trees.

Everything still seems very flat.  This looks like a community where there are few secrets. Kind of small town like, if by small town you mean double-wide. ( If you are offended by that reference, you probably shouldn't be here.)  Any way, we are now at the point in the journey where we are about to climb a mountain...

Here is a little version of two pictures that I stitched together in my photo program.  I know I need more practice, but you get the general idea.  It pretty up here.  The air looks fresh and clean and you can see for miles.

Hey, what's going on? These trees are gnarly and scary and the clouds are getting grey. It looks like it just might...

SNOW!!!! We got so excited.  We acted like two fools (acted, I said). I love snow when you can sit back and watch it and not worry about having milk and bread.  Peri hadn't been in a snow storm for quite some time and this one was soooooo pretty.  It got so foggy and snowy that we didn't get to see Donner Lake, but hey, not everyone gets to ride the rails in the snow in April.

Finally we start to come down the mountain

and it's still snowing in Truckee where we stop to drop off some riders. 

Finally moving again, and definitely out of the snow.  We get settled in for more adventure.  This whole way we have had volunteer guides telling us interesting facts over the intercom system, so we are sure to find out some more fun things.

As a final shot and the tease for next week's installment, I know this much is true...

You sure don't see this at home.

Well, that's it for today.  No one guessed that the secret picture was shot from the last car on the train, so I guess the gift goes to Peri.  Happy Birthday, Sis. Your gift will soon be on it's way.

See you next week for pictures of when things get rocky!