Sunday, March 17, 2024

More Daffodils

And then the daffodils popped out all over the front garden. Lots of them in the backyard too. They love the cool weather and the sun. We'll see how they do over the next few days of cloudy weather with rain and snow showers. 

So today I went outside and snapped this photo of the daffodils today. Becky will probably go out there tomorrow and cut a few for some vases in the house.

Skillet Irish Soda Bread

For St Patrick's Day today Becky made some Irish Soda bread for the first time. She got a recipe from the NY Times for an Americanized version of a skillet Irish soda bread made with raisons. This American version also had sugar, eggs, butter and buttermilk. Authentic Irish soda bread contain no raisons, butter or, eggs. She baked it in a heavy iron skillet. It was delicious.

We will be eating this for several days.


Saturday, March 16, 2024

Another Salmon Dinner

We love eating salmon and our neighborhood food markets have it available. Becky cooks a wonderful meal with salmon. We recently had it last month with creamy rice and veggies but tonight she made some nice potato home fries and a salad. Very delicious.

Thursday, March 14, 2024

Post Op 1

Today I had my post op appointment with my surgeon. This time we had to drive down to the Ross Eye Center in Orchard Park because that is where the surgeon was on the day following surgery. Apparently that is his MO. He had quite a few surgeries yesterday and all of the people were in that waiting room with me.

The appointment was for 12:45 and we got down there a little early. Fortunately the route was the same as yesterday but just about 10 miles further down the road. We were checked in and in the waiting room by 12:30. Just a few minutes after that I was called into the nurse station where she took down all my information about how I was after the surgery. She also checked my eyes and gave me an eye exam. After I was done with her I was led to another waiting room where I spent a little more time waiting to see the doctor.

I saw him about 1:15 which wasn't bad considering how busy the medical center and he in particular. The exam was fairly short but he did closely exam my eye. He said everything was fine and we would see me again next week. I had a few questions which he answered for me. He also assured me that I would not need to wear regularly wear glasses anymore but maybe for reading. I would also need to wear that eye protector for a week after the surgery which means I will be wearing that thing in bed for two weeks. 

I'll be taking those drops every day for five weeks. The only real discomfort I've had since the surgery has been a sore finger which is a little bruised. The vein coming from that finger was the one they used for the port in my had for the anesthesia drugs. Who would have thought. 

Last evening Katie did a video call with the kids. First Violet saw me and looked very perturbed that I wasn't wearing my glasses. Then Clara said hi but immediately asked me where were my glasses. Henry looked at me and asked if I was feeling alright.

First Daffodils

The first daffodils of the season came up early this year. For the past couple of weeks there were a few of them in our front garden that looked like they would bloom at any time. This week they did. Well, a several of them. The weather is supposed to get bad again this coming week which will have a negative effect on the daffodils that bloomed. They will droop, lie down on the ground and not be viable in the coming weeks of spring.

So Becky cut a few of them and put them in a vase so that we can enjoy them in the house for awhile. It does look like there will be a lot more blooming in the coming weeks but for now we have some nice flowers in the house.

Wednesday, March 13, 2024

Eye Surgery Day 1

Today was eye surgery day for my first procedure on my right eye. This was the eye that was the much worse of the two. The difference in my two eyes was stunning. This is also the eye that has pre-glaucoma and the one I've been treating with drops over the past several months. A few days ago the time of my operation was changed from 10:30 am to 6:00 am because of their concern with my malignant hyperthermia susceptibility. They wanted me to be the first surgery that morning. 

We got up about 4:30 am this morning. Becky got a quick breakfast but I wasn't allowed to have anything to eat. We both had our showers last night. We were out of the house and on the road about 5:15. Becky had already done a dry run to the surgery center in West Seneca on Saturday and was ready. This morning was dark of course but now she knew the route. We ended up getting to the center at 5:45 and we had to wait until 6 for it to open. 

We went into the center and checked in. The we sat in a waiting room. I was taken in at 6:30 where I was processed by a nurse. I spent a half hour getting 24 drops in my eye after getting a quick checkup. Then I had a needle and a set up in my left hand for the drugs. I was also given some things for use after the surgery including an eye protector for sleeping at night. A big pair of sunglasses too.

At around 7 am I med with the anesthesiologist and answered lots of questions about my medical history and the malignant hyperthermia in my record. Also the brain aneurysm surgery and family history. Then the surgeon and a resident came in with similar questions and then he focused on the specifics of my upcoming surgery. He used a marker to make a mark over my right eye which took a long time after the surgery to remove.

At about 7:30 I was put on a gurney table and taken into the surgery room. It took several movements of my body to get me into position on the table so that my eye was in the ideal spot for the surgeon's equipment. Then the procedure began. I really didn't feel any pain or discomfort. The procedure was quick and very psychedelic. Lots of colors as he worked. The resident was standing next to him during the surgery and he was explaining everything to the student as he worked on me. I was aware enough to hear everything he said and it was somewhat comforting and distracting. I was paying more attention to what he was saying rather than what he was doing to my eye although he was talking about what he was doing to my eye. The whole thing was done in about a half hour.

I was taken to a recovery room and Becky was called on her phone that I was going to be ready soon. They also explained to her what was done and what was needed to be done as part of my recovery process. I felt pretty good following the procedure. I even asked to go to the bathroom before getting ready to leave because I knew it was a long drive home. They offered me a drink and I had some water along with a little bag of graham crackers. They soon had me in a wheelchair to take me out to the car when Becky pulled out in front. 

I had the plastic eye protector on and my new sunglasses. I looked a little weird. My glasses were in my personal effects bag.

It was a lot easier driving back in the morning daylight at we were home by 9 am. When we got home I had some breakfast... tea and toast. Then I started on my drops routine and then I took a nap for a couple of hours.

When I got up I felt good. We enjoyed the rest of the beautiful day. Follow-up post op appointment tomorrow.

Tuesday, March 12, 2024

The Eye Drops

Today I started with the eye drops. One day before the surgery. Two of the three medications and I keep track of them with my chart. 

I also have a fourth eye drop that I have been using for the past several months.

I've never been good a putting drops in my eyes but lately I've learned how to do it good. I've had to learn. 

Starting tomorrow I will be having a lot more drops in my eyes over the month.

Time to go to bed soon. It's an early day tomorrow with an appointment at the surgery center at 6 am down in West Seneca. 

The eye drops

  • Pred Forte - PrednisolOne Acetate - the steroid.
  • Acuvail - Ketorolac Tromethammine - NSAID (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug)
  • Vigamox - Moxifloxicin - antibiotic
  • Brimonidine Tartrate - glaucoma

Chicken Cutlets & Sweet Potatoes

Having lemon chicken cutlets is a regular dinner but what goes with them changes regularly. For dinner this evening Becky made some delicious fresh sweet potatoes from Wegman's and instead of our regular salad she put together a really nice tomato, cucumber and sweet pepper salad. No lettuce. We also had that wonderful store made bread from the co-op that we love. 

I had to eat good tonight because I will be fasting starting at bedtime. No breakfast tomorrow because of my eye surgery. Nothing to drink in the morning either.

Another Repug Resigns

I heard on the news that another republican congressman is resigning next week. He had already announced that he wasn't running again for congress in the fall but today he said he is not going to finish out his term because his party is dysfunctional and is no longer his republican party. Well, that's nothing new. It's trump's party and that is the state of the GOP. And this guy was already one of the country's most far-right members of congress but apparently he doesn't like the way trump is running his party.

Colorado Rep. Ken Buck fancied himself a traditional republican. His announcement came as a surprise to the republican leaders. His departure makes the repugs much weaker and they were already having trouble getting enough votes to pass anything. Now they have one less. The majority is eroding away.

He decided to walk away from the crazies because they were out to get him because he was often sticking to his traditional conservative principals which ended his career like a few others in his party. Of course that means it's not about the party or tradition but only about current power at whatever cost.

Monday, March 11, 2024

Karl Wallinger RIP - World Party

Karl Wallinger was a wonderfully talented songwriter, musician and bandleader who sadly passed away today at the age of 66. His group World Party was one of my favorite bands 1987 to 2000. He also played keyboards for The Waterboys on two albums in 1984 and 1985 which was another one of my favorite bands.



World Party albums in my collection:

  • Private Revolution, 1987
  • Goodbye Jumbo, 1990
  • Thank You World EP, 1991
  • Bang!, 1993
  • Egyptology, 1997
  • Dumbing Up, 2000
  • Best in Show (Compilation), 2007
  • Arkeology (5 CD Box Set), 2012
  • World Party Live, 2014