23 August 2016

TMI - Update

I survived!  Afterwards couldn't hardly open either eye.  I went home and back to bed.  The SCQueen tried to apply the prescribed antibiotic cream - yea, that's not happening now.  Got up about 4pm and continue to improve.

Thanks all for you prayers & good thoughts!

22 August 2016

TMI...

I am more than half a century old... and I dread this Tuesday like never before.  I am scheduled for surgery on my right eye.  I cannot think of a single body part I'd rather NOT have surgery....

I'm very sensitive about my eyes.  Eye drops?  Yea.. right down my neck.  The blink reflex is faster than the eyedropper.  I have experienced a scratched cornea and the  ..discomfort associated.  Contacts?  You mean "in contact with the eyeball?"  Yea right, that's not gonna work.  Gimme the cokebottles!  I'm good with that.

So what would make surgery an appealing deal?  The right eye is already effectively inop.  I can only focus both eyes under the best of circumstances.  Surgery can only make things better.  I hope.

The doctor tells me "this is a very simple procedure, 15 minutes and I've been doing them for 20 years.  It will be done under general anesthesia".   "YOU'RE DAMN RIGHT it will be under general... you're not gettin' close any other way!" I replied.  I suspect the first and last 5 minutes are putting me under and reviving me. and the intervening is the actual work.  Maybe less.  I don't actually know, nor do I want to know what he is going to do.  The whole idea of operating on the eye muscles turns my stomach.  He was recommended and has experience.  I trust him.  I have to.

And the procedure is probably the easy part..  The prep and recovery *sucks*! No food or water 8 hours prior and consuming scrambled eggs is just too complex a task afterwards :-(  Gawd I wish I could stack up all the procedures someone of my age starts to need in one swell foop and only go through the pre/post stuff once rather than once per procedure...

Tuesday sizes up to be a trying day.. as in "trying the marital vows, particularly the "..in sickness and in health.."  If you're of the type, please pray/think good thoughts/etc for me... and the SCQueen.

Wish me luck.  Out for now... expect to post the all clear tomorrow!

01 August 2016

"You're missing all the excitement!"

Quoting the SandCastle Queen calling me at $DayJob.

There were 10 fire engines* blocking all access to the street.  Not to mention the 5" water line crossing the driveway that she probably couldn't have driven over.  May as well been a Jersey Barrier at the end of our driveway.

Me:  I'll pick up the SCSon from school.

The "excitement" stemmed from a propane BBQ accident a few doors down the street.  Fortunately no one and no pets were physically hurt.  Rumor has it the cook stepped into the kitchen and heard a Ka-Whump, BAM!  Apparently the "BAM" was the propane take hitting the wall following the "explosion".

Before it was over the windows on the back of the house are blown out and $LocalFD opened up all the walls on that side of the house to ensure no lingering embers.  Damage to the house is probably $50-75K, and probably 2-3 months reconstruction.  This is why we all buy fire insurance.

The street was still blocked by fire engines 30 minutes later attempting to drop off the SCSon.  He got to walk the last 1/8th mile and was happy to do so.

If you have a propane BBQ (and who doesn't?), take a moment to squirt down the tank hose connection and hose with soapy water solution and look for bubbles!   The SandCastle BBQ is on a wooden deck just off the kitchen.  You can bet we will check before next use!

Update 02Aug: I brought this up as an item for consideration to my circle of co-workers as I with this post.  One asked "Does the BBQ sit out in the sun?"  I do not know but "yes.. a BBQ on the back patio would have southern exposure and thus maximum UV exposure.   And UV and Rubber do not play nice together!  He then related his Father's BBQ had some ornate additions that blocked the gas line from direct sun in such situations... and pondered.... maybe that's not just for good looks!  [Hmm.. disclaimer...rampant speculation follows... I am not an expert but I've had sun cooked tires fail...]   Perhaps the sun exposure accelerated the decline of the gas line.   Hmmm..  good point!

* 10 fire engines may seem excessive for a simple house fire where you live, but given the 100+F air temps plus the heavy safety gear they wear, they have to rotate firefighters in on a short rotation.