Technology--"It's Really Simple"

Jim and I have heard that phrase too often in the last weeks.  I would like to think that we are reasonably intelligent, somewhat tech savvy, and able to follow directions.  But we have been frustrated as we ventured into newer items of an electronic sort.

First, there is our new furnace and air conditioning system--run by a digital thermostat.  We let the fan run continuously and just change the temperature at night.  One of these days we will hold our breath and change it to the heat mode.  Apparently we can even regulate it when we are away from home by adding an app.  We are not quite ready for that yet.

Then there was the new TV for the basement purchased from Best Buy at a real bargain.  We set it up trusting that we did not need the Geek Squad because we were told "It's really easy."  We did get it set up but found it would not connect to Comcast.  So we contacted Xfinity, they came out, and not only hooked up our basement TV but also set us up with a new box and a remote that is voice activated.  Wow!  We say "CNN" or "PBS" and it finds the channel for us.  We're not sure if there will be a $60 charge on the next bill--but if there is, it was worth it.  I do mourn the password we had for years--the Fibonacci sequence--but Jim couldn't remember how it went and chose an Ethiopic word which was more his style.

Then there were the problems with our four year old iphones.  Jim's was charged at night and dead by morning; mine refused to text until I turned it off and back on again.  Jim has been saying for a while it was time we traded them in and yesterday he convinced me.  We spent well over an hour at Verizon buying our new phones, getting all the gear that the young lady convinced us we needed, and listening to her say "It's really simple to transfer everything from the old phones to the new ones.  Just follow the directions."

We tried.  We really tried.  Jim managed to get everything but email on his.  I could not even get that far because it said I had not backed up the old stuff when my settings clearly said that I had.  So we headed to the Apple store and despaired of a 1 1/2 hour wait.  We went back to the Verizon store which was not busy at all.  Jacob (who said he really went by Hank!) helped us with great skill and patience.  It was clear to me that even he had to do some problem solving but he was not discouraged or dismayed.  All my favorite apps (Dark Sky, Fitbit, NPR, Hilton) are there now and I haven't lost any photos or videos.

I feel as if I am a password generating machine.  I know it is not advised but sometimes I'd like to change them all to one easy to remember code.

Time to clear out all information from the old iphones and mail them in for a refund.  Hope we can do that with ease.

Cataracts, Part 2

I really dreaded going back to Unity Hospital for the second try for cataract removal on my right eye.  I would lie awake thinking how I was going to be assertive and refuse any medication or eye drops until I was reassured that they had the right implant for me. I was embarrassed that I was as angry and confused as I was after the aborted surgery.

I prayed about it but did not have much peace about the whole procedure.  Yet I felt I had to go through with it again and didn't want to start over with anyone else.   On the night before surgery Jim called me into the three season room, set me down and said he had something to say--that he would be the one to tell the staff not to proceed with anything until we had reassurance.  I figured that was my answer to prayer--that Jim took over for me.

And he did the next morning.  Supposedly the error had never happened before and the protocol at the hospital has been changed.  The doctor reassured us, the staff all knew what had happened, (everyone said, "So you were the one") and we went ahead with the surgery.  The preparation was easy enough.  During surgery I was aware of lights and shapes in my vision, but I really don't remember much of it or the recovery counseling.

Once again, Jim got us Krispy Kreme donuts and coffee on the way home.  I was expecting to be able to see out of my eye afterwards because Jim was able to do so and so was my sister.  But I could see nothing but tan and brown blobs--no vision at all. After a while I thought I could see light at the windows.  A few hours later I thought I could see my hand in front of my face.  This frightened me so I called the office and was told it was because of the antibiotic shot I was given.  No one had warned of this side effect and if they had done so, it could have saved me some real concern. 

The doctor called that evening and said some folks could see right away and for others it took 24 hours because of where the medication ended up in the eye.  At least that is the way I understood it.  I have a follow-up appointment with a doctor Jim has seen often and really appreciates--I am going to clarify that with him tomorrow.

My eye sight is good enough now although there are still auras around light.  The floaters are almost gone and the pain is gone--it wasn't severe but I was aware that eye movement caused pain.

I think I will enjoy going without glasses--especially when I can use some make-up again around my eyes.  I've tried on reading glasses at CVS and they seem to work fine.  I chuckled to see that there were cheap ones in packs of three.  I know it will be easy to lose them.

It is strange to go without glasses. I've worn glasses or contacts since 5th grade.  I am used to taking my glasses off to relax or sleep and that signal is gone.  When I drive I wear glasses with the right lens poked out.

For a few days, I was not myself.  Food and drink had no appeal the day of surgery.  I haven't felt much like reading or writing a blog or in my journals.  I can't do yard work or much house work because I shouldn't bend over.  But all of this is getting better and so I am writing tonight.

I have been thankful for my children's concern expressed through texts and phone calls.  My friends have been very supportive--friends from church and even my Goodreads pen pal from the state of Washington.  Jim has been very kind even when I have to ask him to pick up stuff from the floor or from the dishwasher or dryer.

One more week and we go through all of this again.  I will be very glad to have all of this behind me and ready to leave on our October trip.

Moonflowers

Several years ago I noticed a plant with spectacular white flowers while walking to the boardwalk at night in Ocean Grove, New Jersey. The next morning I looked for the flowers again but could not find them.  This seemed very strange to me until I learned that they were moonflowers which bloomed only at night--and only for one night.

 Since then I have tried to grow my own moonflower plants with greater or lesser success.  I learned that one has to start with seeds because seedlings don't seem to be available around here.  This year many of my seeds germinated.  I was able to give plants away to friends.

 The three seeds I planted have done better than ever before.  Maybe it's the compost I have used.  Or maybe just good luck!  I planted two seeds under the mailbox and they are threatening to block our mail.  I planted just one seed by the garage and bought a trellis for the vine to climb.  The plant got so large that the trellis fell over.

Last night I counted 13 large white blossoms on each plant.  I went out to take a photo this morning and it was too late.  They were already curling in on themselves.  I will pluck them off later.

Once the first blossom appeared--and you have to wait until late August-- I posted a photo on Facebook.  A friend posted a recommendation of a favorite book  The Moonflower Vine by Jetta Carleton.  The book was out of print but I got a used copy from Better World Books.

 What an absolutely lovely book!  It's the story of a family in Missouri around the turn of the century.  However it begins in the 1950s with the daughters of the family coming home for their annual two week stay with their elderly parents.  The first chapter is a happy and almost sentimental account.  So it is not a spoiler to say the book has a happy ending but as you go through the rest of the sections, each one featuring another member of the family, you see that there were times of rebellion, lust, alienation, anger and a tragic death.

The moonflower is definitely a theme in the book as the family hurries to get home to see it bloom at sunset.

"She looked around at the good thing she was granted-green fields, good pasture, shining weather. The air was fresh, the birds sang, and she had seen a white heron. Matthew was waiting for her. The children were coming home. And they would watch the moonflowers bloom. Oh, if she never got to heaven, this was enough..." 

Cataract Surgery Aborted

I have had trouble with auras around lights at night for quite a while.  This summer I began to struggle more with seeing the scores when playing the organ.  And I always take my glasses off for computer work and reading.  So it seemed time to start the process for cataract surgery.

First step--seeing an optometrist who referred me to Laser and Cataract Institute--a place Jim has visited for years for his eye problems.  It was a long and involved appointment there lasting almost three hours and ended with scheduling my surgeries and paying a down payment for their laser guided process.

This morning after fasting since midnight we checked in at Unity Hospital for my first surgery.  The whole process went surprisingly smoothly and easily compared to the more involved one for Jim last year at St. Joseph Medical Center.  I was given some anesthetic for "conscious sedation" and many drops for numbing and dilation.  But once I was rolled into surgery, the crisis began.  Apparently someone ordered the wrong lens for me and the surgery had to be aborted.

I was confused and angry and frustrated. I was partially sedated and very hungry and thirsty.  The doctor went to the waiting area and told Jim we had an issue.  Jim was concerned about what an "issue" could possibly be fearing the worst!  The doctor explained it to both of us and was very apologetic.  The director of the surgical area was also very apologetic and gave Jim a $25 Walmart gift card for our gas, she said, which I really just find insulting.   One assistant said this was the first time this had happened since the hospital opened.  I said I wasn't sure I wanted to reschedule and would have to think about it.

Cucumber Tom Collins
and Tacos

On the way home Jim got me a Krispy Kreme donut and some coffee which definitely helped!  I called the Institute to cancel a follow-up appointment and found that they already knew about the situation.  That eased my anger somewhat because I knew they were upset as well.

Meanwhile the dilation is slow to disappear from my eye and I felt a bit dizzy from the sedation or the eye strain.   We did enjoy Happy Hour at Granite City however!

 My blood pressure has been high all month and was really high today so I am going to see Dr. Blechl tomorrow.  I probably will reschedule the surgery--the office gave me my choice of times under the circumstances.  I feel like I should apologize to the doctor because it wasn't his fault.  I hope he can excuse me realizing that I was functioning under "conscious sedation."

It has been a very frustrating day.