Friday, October 30, 2009

Pumpkin Carving

Tonight Thomas and I invited a few friends over to carve pumpkins, have dinner and roast marshmallows over the fire and make s'mores. Diane, John and Chris came over and we chatted for a while and had some wine. Then we sat down for dinner of salad, chicken alfredo and garlic bread. Then after dinner we moved to another room and started carving pumpkins. Chris chose to draw his own design (a Jack-o-Lantern face), Diane and John carved a pumpkin together (a skeleton) and I started working on a design I got off of the internet (Frankie). While we were doing that Thomas was outside starting a fire in the firepit. I guess I was moving slow because everyone finished their pumpkins and I had just barely started.
Thomas called us outside to start roasting marshmallows and make the s'mores so Diane, John and Chris took their pumpkins outside and lit them. I left mine inside to finish carving after we ate the s'mores. I had carved a pumpkin the night before and we put the three of them together to take pictures. So we sat around the fire and roasted the marshmallows and ate s'mores until we had had enough of the cold and wind. We then came inside and relaxed and talked for a little while. We had a great time and I really enjoyed the s'mores - it has been a long time since I had them. Once everyone was gone I finished my pumpkin. I think they all came out great.

Monday, October 26, 2009

Detached Retina (Update #12)

I had a follow-up visit with Dr. Wyant today. It has been a year and five months since my retina detached. My last appointment with Dr. Wyant was back in March. Since that time not much has changed. My vision is pretty much the same - blurry with lack of peripheral vision on the left and bottom. The only real complaint I have is that my eye tends to get red. When it is really red I use Optive or Systane (over the counter eye drops) and that usually helps. I had to renew my driver's license this summer and when they checked my left eye alone it was pretty bad. The DMV looks for 20/40 and my left eye is at 20/60. So I am okay for normal driving but I would not qualify for a license to drive a bus or 18 wheeler. I don't want to drive either of them so there is no problem. My depth perception is really good now. Not sure if I learned to compensate or if it is actually better - all I know is that when I reach for things I can get them. Dr. Wyant doesn't expect any changes one way or the other. He thinks that there is a very miniscule chance that the retina would detach again in the left eye and that makes me feel much better. So all in all things look really good and I don't have to see the doctor again for a year. Thankfully things are looking up.

Detached Retina (Update #13)