Wrapping Up 2010

Another year has come to an end and for the last two years I have taken the time to review those years and write a summary. I find that I actually enjoy going back and reliving our adventures. 2010 was a pretty good year, and like all years we had some ups and downs. This year started out pretty slow. In January we just got back into the swing of things after the holidays and not much happened. Maybe that was a good thing, we probably needed to relax after our trip to Louisiana for Christmas.

February was a little busier and more exciting. The month started with the New Orleans Saints winning the Superbowl. Being a native Louisianian I was extremely excited for the team and the city. Also in February Thomas and I took a trip to Tucson to get away from the cold in Santa Fe. We spent about a week in Tucson and had a really good time. We did some hiking and letterboxing - we especially enjoyed our drive along the Sky Island Scenic Byway and hiking on Mt. Lemmon. You can read all about our trip at A Trip to Tucson (Part I and Part II). Back in Santa Fe we got back to our normal routine and started planning for our next trip. When we were in Louisiana for Christmas we didn't get to see my brother. He and his wife weren't able to get away for the holidays. But they had planned to be in Lafayette for Easter so Thomas and I arranged to visit then. So at the end of March we flew to New Orleans and rented a car. We did get to do a little exploring around Baton Rouge and New Orleans as well as visit the family in Lafayette. My sisters had also asked me to take pictures of my nieces, Tori (for her graduation) and Madison (for her first communion). I had a good time taking these pictures and even though I am not a professional I think they came out pretty good. You can read about this trip at Easter Trip to Louisiana (Part I and Part II).

When we returned to New Mexico in mid April it was to some bad news. Thomas' cousin Ruth had been diagnosed with cancer back in December and had been through surgery and treatments. Unfortunately things were too far along and Ruth was too weak to continue some of the treatments. So she and her husband made the decision to stop everything and make the most of the time they had left together. Ruth passed away on April 20th. Ruth and Thomas had been pretty close as we lived next door to each other for quite a while. But a few years ago Ruth and her husband Chris moved to Albuquerque and our visits with them lessened. It was still a very sad day for us and we miss her terribly. Ruth worked as an instructor at a community college and she was also an author. She wrote books under the names R. C. Brojim and Cleo Dare.

In May I took a trip by myself to Cape Cod, MA and Rhode Island. Some letterboxing friends were having an event to celebrate their semi-retirement from letterboxing and their finding 26.000+ letterboxes. I spent a few days on Cape Cod and then made my way to Rhode Island. This was my first time in Rhode Island and I really enjoyed myself. For more details on that trip go to Happy Trails! (& 26,000 (s)miles!) Letterboxing Trip. After this trip Thomas and I spent most of the summer just hanging around Santa Fe. We did work around the house and in the garden and took day trips in the area. It turned out to be a nice, relaxing time and we got quite a bit done around the house.

Then in August we went on a trip to Maine, Vermont and New Hampshire. We had talked about going to Maine for a while but never really made any plans. One of the main reasons for the trip was a letterboxing event in Brunswick (which turned out not to be so good) and the other reason was to visit Acadia National Park. We really enjoyed this park and I would really enjoy visiting the area again. We also made a side trip to Montpelier, VT. This has to be one of my favorite State Capitals in the country. This is the smallest State Capital and I think it is one of the nicest cities. We also spent a little time in New Hampshire during this trip and you can read about the trip at The Maine Event.

September and October had us staying close to home but keeping busy as well. We attended the New Mexico State Fair and we went raspberry picking. And we took an overnight trip to Clayton, NM. And we also took a trip to the Four Corners area and spent some time in Farmington, NM. Pretty simple things but fun none the less.
During this time we also started thinking about taking a trip to Georgia to visit my brother. We had pretty much decided to go between the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays but the we got a phone call from my brother and they wanted the entire family to go for Thanksgiving.

So we adjusted our time and plans just a little and made it for Thanksgiving. We actually flew into Birmingham, AL (because Southwest didn't fly into Atlanta) and then did a little driving to Savannah, GA and then to Asheville, NC before heading to my brother's place in Acworth, GA. We really enjoyed this trip - it was the first time for both Thomas and I to visit this area. There are much more details at A Southern Thanksgiving Letterboxing Trip.

That was pretty much it for our adventures for the year. December has turned out to be pretty quiet and cold and we ended having a relaxing Christmas. There are other things that happened throughout the year. Our puppies continue to grow and they have really bonded with each other - Daisy and Buddy have really become good friends. They ended up with another brother this year. During the summer a black dog showed up on the property and would sleep under a juniper at the end of the driveway. At first we did nothing, not knowing where he came from or if he was mean. I guess we thought that he would eventually leave. But then Daisy and Buddy started playing with him and Thomas felt sorry for him and started feeding him. Thomas named him Grim (because he is black and reminded us of the Grim in the Harry Potter books and movies). We have since adopted him and got him neutered and got him his shots. He has turned out to be a great pet - we think he was abused and he was just looking for a little love. I am glad we have the space for another dog and that we can afford to take care of him.

Okay, what else - my detached retina. Things are good! I feel lucky that I have my eyesight and that the retina is attached and healthy. I am seeing an eye doctor that specializes in vision therapy and so far that is going well. I will write a post once I have finished the treatments and let you know how things have turned out. Detached Retina has the complete story. I also continued with my picture taking blog but I had some camera trouble and wasn't able to do a picture every day so I just posted a picture when I had one I wanted to share. You can see what I was able to do at As I See It 2010.

Last but definitely not least was the victories for Gay and Lesbians. Five states (Massachusetts, Connecticut, Iowa, Vermont and New Hampshire) and the District of Columbia now have legal same-sex marriage. There are also major efforts in California and New York to get same-sex marriage legalized. And now Don't Ask, Don't Tell has finally been repealed. With Obama's signature we can now have openly gay and lesbian soldiers able to serve this country and not have to hide. Unfortunately, there were some suicides among gay teenagers due to bullying. But out of this sadness we gained some really great support. The Trevor Project, It Gets Better and Give a Damn! all came to the call for help. Don't get me wrong, we still have a long way to go but things are much better.

For me 2010 was a good year and I am looking forward to 2011.

Detached Retina (Update #13)

It has been a year since my last update. I am now only seeing my Retinal Specialist (Dr. Wyant) once a year. My check-up went well and me retina seems to be attached and is looking good. My vision is about the same meaning that I seeing well enough with both eyes and my glasses. My left eye is still blurry and my peripheral vision is still less than in my right eye. My depth perception is much better and I have no problems with driving. Dr. Wyant cleared me for another year and my glasses prescription hasn't changed. Even though I am doing well enough I still miss my peripheral vision and with certain activities I do notice a problem with my total vision. After my visit with Dr. Wyant I spoke with a co-worker about her detached retina and what she did to help her vision. She told me about her eye doctor who specializes in vision therapy. She gave me his name and number and I will contact him to make an appointment. The treatments he provides seem like they could possibly help me. I will update here when I have my evaluation and treatments with him.

2009 - My Look Back

The year started out pretty good. On the 1st we had a simple meal at home with just a few people. We ate and watched movies. No fuss, no muss - my kind of day. Then I met some friends on January 2 for lunch and some discussion about my hobby - letterboxing. It was a nice way to start the year.

So lets recap 2009. I continued my picture taking and you can see my progress at As I See It 2009. I have found that I am really enjoying this picture taking project. I will definitely continue this year and you can see those photos at As I See It 2010. For some reason I had a little more difficulty finding things to photograph this year. I think that when I did As I See It 2008 it was easier, maybe because it was new. Don't get me wrong I enjoyed 2009 as much as 2008 it just seemed harder. Anyway I am looking forward to photographing 2010 and continuing to better my skills.

As for my hobby - letterboxing, it has been a bittersweet year. The year started off with an interview. I was contacted by the Albuquerque Journal and they were interested in doing an article about letterboxing. I had mixed feelings but eventually agreed. The article was titled "You've Got Mail" and you can read it at Astro D's blog in her post 15 Minutes of Fame. The article turned out well but it also exposed the hobby more than I liked. The boxes I have planted received many visitors this year and for the most part I received positive comments but unfortunately there were a few really nasty ones. The most recent was in November. That one really knocked me for a loop. The comment I received literally told me I should have wrote the clues to state exactly where the box was. The jist of the note made it sound like I should put markers along the road leading right to the spot where the box is hidden and then place a flashing red light right over the box. It just took away all the joy of the hobby. I have since pulled back from the hobby - the enjoyment I felt had greatly diminished. I have done some letterboxing since then but not like normal. And I will think long and hard before I place another box and let it be scrutiny for another bitter letterboxer. For now I am pretty much keeping to myself with the hobby and I will wait and see what 2010 brings. As for my letterboxing adventures this year here is what I did. Thomas and I took a winter trip to Bosque del Apache and to Las Cruces - this was to see the birds and to do some letterboxing and you can read about it at The Forest and the Crosses. I also made sure to get out to letterbox on February 16 - my anniversary date. That story is at Three Year Letterboxing Anniversary. In March Astro D and I headed to Texas for T.A.L.E. 6 and we were joined by Bell Motel for part of the trip. You can read all about it at Texas Heritage Letterboxing Trip. It was a great time - I always have fun with the Texas letterboxers. Then in April Thomas and I took a long weekend to go to Oklahoma for a letterboxing event at Lake Murray. We had a lot of fun and enjoyed meeting some new friends. You can read about it at Oooooooooklahoma! to find out what we did there. In May Thomas and I took the train to Chicago. While there we did a little letterboxing, those stories can be seen here. Then in July we spent the weekend of the 4th in Broomfield, CO visiting Thomas' brother. I did get to do quite a bit of letterboxing in the Centennial State while we were there. By August I was antsy to do some more letterboxing so I jumped in the car for a few days in Arizona. I letterboxed along I40 to Gallup, then continued along I40 to Flagstaff, I made it all the way to Williams before turning around and heading home. In September Astro D, rubberpeace and I hosted a letterboxing event - El Rancho de Los Letterboxes. It was a good event, very relaxing with some great boxes and some really nice people. I think everyone had a great time. Thomas and I usually try and take a couple of vacations a year and in the fall we traveled to the Oregon Coast. We did a lot of letterboxing and a few other things. You can read all about the trip at Letterboxing on the Oregon Coast. This brings us to November and the horrible note that put a damper on my letterboxing enthusiasm. Besides these trips I did quite a bit of letterboxing in New Mexico especially around Santa Fe and Albuquerque. I also got to meet quite a few letterboxers throughout the year and that is always nice.

We took quite a few trips this year and most of them I mentioned when I talked about letterboxing so bare with me as I list all of our trips. We traveled to southern NM to Las Cruces, I took a trip to Texas with Astro D. Thomas and I went to Ardmore, OK for a long weekend at Lake Murray. Our major spring trip was an Amtrak train ride to Chicago where we spent an incredible week. We also spent the Fourth of July weekend in Colorado. I then took a trip by myself to Arizona for a few days. And then we took our big fall trip to the Oregon Coast. Our last trip of the year was a week in Lafayette, LA visiting my family for the Christmas Holidays. Mixed in with all these big trips we also took day trips in and around New Mexico. It was a great year for traveling for us. We had a great time and some wonderful memories.

As for our health we are doing pretty good except for maybe being a little overweight and having high cholesterol. With medicine the cholesterol seems to be under control and both Thomas and I are starting to pay more attention to our diet and exercise. Hopefully in 2010 we can lose some weight and help our health a little more. And as for my detached retina things are going well. The retina is attached and has healed but I still have blurry vision in my left eye. You can read the whole story at Detached Retina.

You may remember at the end of 2008 that we had to say goodbye to our bulldog Boudreaux. And in December we adopted a blue heeler mix and named her Daisy. Well at the end of 2009 we decided Daisy needed a playmate and we adopted another blue heeler mix and we named him Buddy. The two dogs seem to be becoming good friends very fast. They sure have livened up the house.

2009 was a pretty good year and I am hoping that 2010 will be just as good or even better. Happy New Year everyone - best of luck to all of you.

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)

Detached Retina . . . One Year Later

Today is one year to the day that my retina detached. I was a little worried because last year June 4th was on a Thursday and I worked that day and I worked today. So I kept thinking all day that everything is the same as last year and I sure as hell hope my retina doesn't detach again this year. Well, so far so good! Even though a year has passed I still remember how I felt when I covered my right eye and realized that I couldn't see out of my left. The anxiety and fear are still vivid. But I have a lot to be thankful about. After four surgeries and countless hours in a face down position; after being very still and inactive for a full summer and after numerous doctor visits I do have vision in my left eye. In February I saw my regular eye doctor and had my glasses updated and in March I saw my retina specialist and things were looking pretty good. I do still have some blurriness in the left eye and if I cover my right eye it is still a little difficult to see things clearly. The good news is that I can walk and not bump into things with just my left eye - there is still some problems with details. But I continue to notice small improvements as time goes by. Dr. Wyant told me that patients sometimes notice improvement even a year later. So I am optimistic about things. My eye pretty much feels normal - no itching or watering and it isn't red anymore. I also have better depth perception and that makes getting around easier. All in all things pretty darn good. I am just keeping my fingers crossed that this doesn't happen again.

Detached Retina (Update #12)

Detached Retina (Update #11)

Today I had a follow up visit with Dr. Wyant regarding me left eye. All is well . . . meaning the retina is still attached and looks good. He even noticed a slight improvement in the vision of the left eye and that made me extremely happy. He asked if I had any problems and the only thing that I have noticed is that my left eye gets really red by the end of the day if I had to do a lot of reading or work on the computer. So he gave me some drops (Nevanac) and told me to use them when the eye was red. He also looked at my new glasses and recorded the new prescription. He seemed glad that I had seen my regular eye doctor and got new glasses to meet my vision needs. I have to confess that the new glasses are working out great - they are progressives (which had nothing to do with the detached retina and everything to do with getting older) and they really have helped both my near and far vision. So all in all it was a good appointment and things are continuing to improve. I don't have to return to his office for another six months - my next appointment is October 26, 2009 and that makes me happy because it means that things are going well and he isn't worried about anything.

Detached Retina . . . One Year Later

Detached Retina (Update #10)

Today I had a follow-up visit with Dr. Wyant. It has been about a month since my last appointment. As far as I am concerned I don't really see much change in my vision - things are still pretty blurry when I close my right eye and try to see out of my left eye. Once the doctor finished all his tests and exams he informed me that I had a little bit of improvement in the vision. I guess my left eye is at 20/100. I don't have to return to the doctor until March 23 and I no longer have to put any drops in my eyes. I am also going to make an appointment to see my regular eye doctor to get my glasses changed - It has been a year and a half since I last had my glasses checked. I can't say that I am happy about the vision in my left eye but I at least I have some vision. The doctor thinks that I will continue to improve over time but by how much he wasn't sure.

Detached Retina (Update #11)

My Look Back at 2008

I am writing this synopsis of 2008 to give myself a chance to relive the ups and downs of the past year. In many ways it was quite a wonderful year with just a little bit of stress and some health issues. I am hoping that by recapping the past year I can gain some insight as to where I have been and what I want to accomplish in 2009. I am not a big resolution maker just because if for some reason you don't stick to it all it does is make you feel like you failed. So I will just try to enjoy 2009 and hopefully I will be able to look back on it next January and feel good. So let's begin.

The year started out just fine, nothing spectacular but everything was going good. Thomas, as usual, had to work a lot in January and February since the New Mexico Legislature was in session. He also celebrated his 46th birthday on January 17th - we really didn't get to do much since his work was taking up most of his time. While he was working with the Legislature I just did my normal work and took care of the house. I also planned a trip to South Texas. My friend Regina lives in McAllen and I was taking a road trip to visit her. I really had a great time and got to some parts of Texas that I had never seen before. You can read about that trip at Touring Texas, Visiting Friends and Letterboxing. I also decided to start a project that would keep me busy all year long - I pledged to take pictures every day and post one picture a day on a blog - you can see how this project turned out at As I See It 2008.

I returned home at the beginning of February while Thomas was still very busy at work and I just fell back into my normal routine. But I also started planning my next trip. Another trip to Texas with my friend Diane. And when Thomas' work slowed down again we started to do some work on the house. In August of 2006 we replaced all the windows in the house and during the process the drywall had to be cut and then patched and finished. We just didn't get around to painting and putting the trim up. So the first order of business was to take everything off the walls and pack up all the knickknacks so that we could work easier. We felt like all the walls needed to be freshened up with a new coat of paint. So by the end of February we had begun the redecorating project.

Late February and Early March found me and Diane traveling to the Hill Country of Texas. The reason for the trip was to attend a letterboxing Event in Bastrop, TX. We got to visit some old friends and make a few new ones and we also visited Diane's Mom. A Tall T.A.L.E. will give you all the details of the trip. March also found us getting together with Diane, John and Chris to dye Easter Eggs. I really enjoyed this as it brought back a flood of childhood memories - such fun - you are never to old to be a kid again. During March we also continued to work on the house between work and trips - we were making great progress and things were looking good.

As we moved into April Thomas really made a lot of progress on the house but he was also planning a few short trips for work. He attended a conference in Oklahoma City, OK; a work meeting in Portales, NM and a Finance Meeting in Austin, TX. I sometimes try to travel with him when my work schedule allows - I wasn't able to go to Oklahoma but I did have the time to go to Austin. You can read about this trip at Lone Star Letterboxing and More Capital Boxing. the rest of April was used to continue working on the house.

May wasn't as exciting as the beginning of the year. I actually worked pretty close to full time at the hospital. They had been busy and had also cut back on the Travelers and needed more Per Diem help. It was good since I hadn't worked much because of all of the trips. On days off and in the evenings Thomas and I completed the house decorating and got everything back into place. What a great relief to have the windows finally finished and every wall and ceiling with a fresh coat of paint. This project also allowed us to do a major spring cleaning and get all the cabinets, drawers, closets and shelves cleaned out and organized. It was a good thing this project was done because June provided us with a curve ball.

The summer was pretty much a bummer and ended up being all about surgery and recovery. At the beginning of June I noticed something a little wierd with my eyesight but it wasn't something that alarmed me. Then one day at work I had a lot of problems with depth perception, but I was able to finish the day. And after work I even went to meet Diane, Jil and Ginny for coffee. While driving home after wards I began to get worried because things were harder to see and my depth perception seemed worse. I pulled over and covered my right eye and immediately started freaking out because I couldn't see out of my left eye. I got home and Thomas took me to Urgent Care where we found out I had a Detached Retina. I won't go into detail about it here since I wrote detailed posts throughout the ordeal and if you would like to know more you can read about it starting at Detached Retina. During June I visited the doctor 11 times (1 urgent care visit, 1 evaluation, 2 surgeries and 7 follow-up visits). I also celebrated my 47th birthday on June 2nd - which seems to come faster each year.

July found me still dealing with the Detached Retina stuff and I wasn't able to do anything. I was pretty much sedentary throughout June, July and some of August. This was disappointing since I had been pretty active for the last couple of years and was just getting into hiking again when all this started. I was also a little saddened because I was gaining weight (and I still haven't been able to lose it yet) - hopefully I can regain my activity level and lose it this year. Thankfully Diane, Chris and Peggy found the time to visit me and help relieve some of the boredom. Diane also rescued me by taking me to Albuquerque one day for some letterboxing and to have dinner with another letterboxer and her family - you can read about it at East Mountain Letterboxing. Thomas was a big support during all this and I don't think I would have done as well if he hadn't been there. He worried about me and even arranged for someone to help me out when he had to attend a conference in Portland, OR. I always knew he loved me but this just brought it out and strengthened it. In July I had 4 doctor visits (1 laser surgery and 3 follow-ups).

In August things began to get better. My eye was healing well and by mid August the doctor had cleared me for all normal activity and I was able to go back to work. The only thing was that my endurance and strength had greatly diminished. I found that even the simplest task really wore me out and I had to take frequent rest breaks just to recuperate. By the beginning of September I was able to work full days and do the normal household chores but anything else really tired me out. We did have visits from a couple of friends from Texas in late August. My friend Regina visited us for a week. It was mostly just hanging around the house and relaxing since I really didn't have that much energy. It was still a wonderful visit and I always enjoy spending time with her. Then two weeks later our friend Donna came for a long weekend. By this time I was feeling a little better and we took a drive to Glorieta, NM and did a little hiking. I managed to do seven miles with a lot of rest periods. It took me much longer to complete this distance at this time than it would have before the surgery. But none the less I was excited that I actually could do the hike at all. We did have some bad news during August as well. Our friend Lynda Cranston died following a long battle with cancer. Lynda and her husband, A.J. lived in Santa Fe for a while and we became close friends. Then one day about two years ago they told us they were moving to Montana to be closer to A.J.'s family. It all made since when we found out Lynda was sick - I guess she felt it would be easier for A.J. when she was gone. We miss her a lot and hope A.J. is continuing to heal and take care of himself. In August I only had one doctor follow-up visit. Thomas also decided to take on another big project - he wanted to clean out and paint his Dad's house. His Mom died four years ago and not much was changed with the house. He decided it was time to de-clutter and clean it up. He started by working on one room at a time. He painted the master bedroom and changed the carpet as well as eliminated some of the extra furniture and knickknacks. He did a little at a time after work and on weekends. He pretty much did this project by himself - I think it was a way of finally getting past his Mom's death.

At the beginning of September Thomas and I started planning a trip to Southwest New Mexico to do some hiking and letterboxing. We had actually planned this trip for the second weekend in June but had to cancel it when my retina detached. So we took a long weekend and headed south - it was a great trip - we did a lot of hiking and found and planted quite a few letterboxes. This trip was documented in Headed South in New Mexico and 999 - if you feel inclined to read about it. This also marked a milestone for my letterboxing - in the two and a half years that I have participated in this hobby I was coming up to my 1000th find. My friend Astro D (aka Diane) had planned a very special box. She asked other letterboxers that we have met over the years to carve stamps for this special box - it really made this milestone special and you can read more details at One GRAND day of Letterboxing! September also was marked with much happiness since I was now getting out more and increasing my exercise and activity. And again I only had one doctor follow-up visit. Thomas decided this month to get back to his art. I think he is really talented and he decided he wanted to try and recapture his love of painting. He did this by using the photographs I have been taking. He printed out my photo of the day and taped it into a sketch book - he would then draw it with pencil colors or watercolor pencils. I have really enjoyed seeing him do his artwork again and I see that it has brought some happiness back into his life and it also helps him release stress since he gets drawn into the artwork and forgets about the problems he had during the day at work.

Back in April my Dad called and told me that he and his girlfriend of 7 years were getting married. My Mom passed away 15 years ago and I feel that it was time for my Dad to finally move on. They planned the wedding for October 4th. Since Thomas and I pretty much lost our summer we felt that a nice vacation was warranted. So instead of our normal route through Texas to Louisana we decided to head east on I40 and visit some new areas. So we made our way out of New Mexico and into the Texas Panhandle, then through Oklahoma, Arkansas and into Memphis, TN. From here we headed south into Mississippi and then to Louisiana. We arrived in Lafayette a few days before the wedding and got to visit with the family and help my Dad with some last minute preparations for the wedding. It turned out to be a great trip and my Dad really seemed happy - and in the end that is the only thing that matters. There is more detail about the trip at Four New States and a Wedding. We were only home for a little over a week before we were traveling again. Thomas was attending a conference in Hartford, CT and since I have never been to Connecticut I decided to tag along. While Thomas attended his conference I would do some sightseeing and letterboxing. Fortunately Thomas also had some free time so that we could explore this area together. You can read more at Connecticut Letterboxing Trip. This month I had one follow-up visit with the doctor. Thomas also changed jobs this month. He decided that the problems that were brewing in his department were getting to be too much and the enjoyment he had for his job was disappearing. He still works for the same department but in a totally different capacity - the stess has decreased and he seems much happier and I like seeing that. He has also taken his drawings from his sketch book and is now starting to transfer those to oil paintings on canvas. He has really emersed himself in it and I am happy that he has an outlet instead of just working all the time. He has made great strides in his emotional and psychological well being this past year. I am hoping that it continues into next year.

November started with a bit of sadness. Boudreaux, our 12 year old bulldog was having some health problems and Thomas and I had to make a very difficult decision. In the end we opted to put him down - we just felt his quality of life was too low to justify our keeping him around and putting him through any surgeries. Good-night, sweet prince . . . says a good deal more. He is greatly missed but remembered with a lot of love. There was also cause for celebration and hope as this country made a bold decision and elected Barack Obama as our 44th President. I found that I was happy and relieved that we could go for such change and hopefully correct the mistakes of the last eight years. This month also found me back in surgery for my eye. This time was to replace a lens and remove the oil from my eye. The doctor assured me that this was the last surgery for the eye. The surgery went well and my eye is healing well. The vision is still blurry and I was told that it would just take time for it to clear up. Again, you can read about the entire ordeal at Detached Retina. This month I had three doctor visits (1 surgery and 2 follow-ups). Thomas also finished his work on his Dad's house - the entire house is painted and there is new carpet, everything is fixed and working well and the best thing is that it isn't cluttered anymore. Just after Thanksgiving his brothers came and picked up things they wanted and then they had a garage sale for the rest. I feel it gave Thomas some closure and an ability to move on - and I feel that he is much happier.

So here we are at the end of the year and we still miss Boudreaux and there is an empty space in our home and hearts. But we continued on. I love the Christmas season and was looking forward to it - I decorated the house the weekend after Thanksgiving and I am now making plans for the holidays. But first, Thomas and I had talked about maybe getting a new puppy sometime in the spring, well things change. Thomas talked to someone at work who had Blue Heeler/Red Heeler puppies. So on December 11th we took a trip up to Las Vegas, NM and fell in love with a wonderful little female puppy. That evening we introduced Daisy to her new home. She wasn't brought home to take Boudreaux's place but she has brought some love and fun back into the house. The rest of December was filled with fun and celebration. First, Thomas and I had Diane, John and Chris over for our 2nd Annual Cookie Night - a whole lot of fun. Second, we attended Holiday Enrichment for the Animals at the Rio Grande Zoo - more fun. Next we went to Chili Night at Chris' - Diane, John and Toni were also there - it was fun and we got to celebrate the Christmas season. And last, we spent Christmas Eve doing the Canyon Road Farolito Walk and then attended an Open House at Diane & John's. New Year's Eve isn't something that Thomas and I usually celebrate - we pretty much stay home and Thomas goes to bed at his normal time, I stay up and watch TV and then I wake him up in time to watch the ball drop. This year we had a friend in town. So we decided to take a walk around the Plaza and then we had dinner at Maria's (along with a couple of Margaritas) and then we returned home and watched movies (It's In The Water and Mamma Mia!) We ended the night watching the Dick Clark New Year's Eve Special and got to see the ball drop - we wished each other Happy New Year and then went to sleep, not terribly exciting but nonetheless we had fun. I also had two follow-up visits with the eye doctor this month.

But probably the most important part of the year was on December 30th - Thomas and I celebrated our 19th anniversary. We use that date because that is when we moved in together. We also have another anniversary that we celebrate and that is October 11th - on that day in 2004 we were married in Provincetown, MA. It may not mean anything in this country except in the state of Massachusetts but it was more powerful to us than we could have imagined. So we acknowledge it each year as well as our original anniversary. Here is to 2008 filled with great memories and to 2009 with hopes for another great year.

Detached Retina (Update #9)

Another follow up visit to Dr. Wyant today and my left eye is healing well. The macula is resting flat against the back of the eye and the rest of the retina is attached and healing well. As for the lens - Dr. Wyant thinks it is positioned well and is also healing well. There are a few sutures still present which should dissolve over time and that will also improve the healing. I don't have any complaints about the eye - it doesn't hurt or itch. I guess it still waters a little every now and then but that is the worst of it. Since I stopped the dilation drops about three weeks age the light sensitivity is completely gone. So there are a lot of things to be thankful for. I did express my concern to the doctor because my eyesight in the left eye is still pretty blurry. Again he told me it takes time for the eye to heal and the vision to improve. I guess I just need to be more patient and hope that with a little more time the vision will clear up. My next appointment is in a month (January 26, 2009) and I am hoping that there will be more good news. This whole ordeal has been going on for a little over six months now and I am hoping that the end is near, we will see what happens in a month.

Detached Retina (Update #10)

Detached Retina (Update #8)

Zip-a-dee-doo-dah, zip-a-dee-ay,
My, oh, my, what a wonderful day.

I had a follow-up with Dr. Wyant today and what a great follow-up it was.

My eye still is a little sore and itches every now and then but it is definitely getting better. Also, light really bothers me - I was putting Atropine drops in my eye four times a day to keep it dilated - so anytime the light or sun was too bright I would get a lot of discomfort. Hopefully that will end soon because I no longer have to use those drops. The only drops I need now are the Pred Forte (three times a day for inflammation) - WooHoo!

Dr. Wyant was happy to see that the retina is still attached and looks good. The lens is in place and healing well. And the overall look of the eye is better. On my own I don't see much difference in my vision but the doctor tested it and there was improvement since my last visit two weeks ago. He is letting me slowly go back to normal activity over the next week and by December 18th I am released back to work and all restrictions are lifted.

He does want to see me in three weeks (December 29th) for another check up - and I hope that will be the last - but we will have to see. Anyway, it is all good news and I couldn't be happier.

Detached Retina (Update #9)

Detached Retina (Update #7)

This morning I saw Dr. Wyant for a follow-up visit. It has been a week since my surgery and he was checking to see how things are healing. I have been having a little pain in the left eye ever since the surgery. It is about 2/10 dull throbbing pain. I also have some itching which is minimal and not very consistent. The other thing that is bothering me is the sutures that they put in to hold the lens are poking me in the eye - it has gotten better since the surgery but it is still there and is a little aggravating. I relayed all this information to the doctor and he went ahead with his exam. The eye is healing, the retina is attached and looks good and the lens is in place. He told me that everything was going as planned and that hopefully all my symptoms will decrease soon. He has me putting more of the eye drops in each day to hopefully take care of the inflammation and pain. I am following his directions and I still have at least two more weeks of taking it easy and the doctor still hasn't released me from work. I have another appointment on Monday, December 8, 2008 and he will decide if he will release me back to work and normal activity. I can't say that I am happy about two more weeks of doing nothing but since everything is healing I guess it will all be okay in the long run. I'll write again in two weeks to let you know what is happening.

Detached Retina (Update #8)

Detached Retina (Part IV)

Yesterday morning very early I had what I hope is my last eye surgery. I also thought that this would be an easy surgery, but I feel that I am back at the beginning. I have all the restrictions that I had with the first surgery except for being face down. So let me get to the details.

Thomas and I left Santa Fe at 5:00am yesterday morning to be at the Albuquerque Ambualtory Eye Surgery Center for a 6:00am appointment. I checked in and got all the paperwork filled out and waited for the nurse to take me back to get prepped for surgery. I realized I wasn't as nervous as before (I guess that by the third surgery it gets a little easier - and I really trusted the team at AAESC). At 6:30am I was taken to the surgery prep area and had the normal things taken care of - vital signs, drops in the eyes, IV started and the eye that was having the surgery was marked. And then I was taken to the operating room. At this point I don't remember much. I do remember the Anesthesiologists coming in to start to put me under. Now I wasn't completely knocked out. I had what is called conscious sedation - this type of sedation induces an altered state of consciousness that minimizes pain and discomfort through the use of pain relievers and sedatives. The next thing I remember is having a lot of pain. And I remember telling the doctor it was hurting (about 5/10 on the pain scale), and I remember the doctor telling me not to move. From here the next thing I remember was waking up in the recovery room. At this point I was told that they had to put me completely out to finish the surgery. I guess I was moving too much and they needed to keep me perfectly still in order to get the lens in the right spot.

Once I was completely awake they sat me in a chair and called Thomas in to give us the instructions.
Just about the same as before . . .

1. Walk carefully, depth perception will be affected.
2. Resume usual diet and meds.
3. Percocet for pain as needed.
4. No vigorous or jarring activities.
5. Do not remove eye patch until next doctor appointment.
6. Do not get operated eye wet.
7. May do light reading and a little TV watching.
8. Follow up doctor appointment Wednesday, November 19, 2008.

So the nurse walked me out and Thomas pulled the car around. And we headed home. I was feeling a little tired but other than that it wasn't too bad. I decided to just go straight to bed and get some rest. I ended up sleeping for about five hours. When I woke up I was feeling a little soreness in my eye but it was tolerable. What wasn't as tolerable was the feeling of having an eyelash stuck in my eye. All I wanted to do was rub it, but I was told not to take the patch off and not to rub the eye. So I took a percocet and just tried to relax. Later I took a bath careful not to wet the eye and went back to bed. I slept on and off all night - that "poking in the eye" feeling was really annoying. I couldn't wait to see the doctor in the morning.

My appointment was at 8:40am and it wasn't coming fast enough. I wanted to find out if things were still looking good and I needed something done about what was in my eye. They call me into the exam room and take the patch off - that helped a little, and they started to check my eyes. My vision is already a little better and my eye pressure was fine. So I was a very happy little boy - I still just wanted this "poking feeling" to go away. Anyway, they dilated my eyes and sent me back out to the waiting area to wait for the doctor. Ten minutes later I was back in the exam room and the doctor was doing a more complete exam. My retina is attached and looks good and the lens was in place and here is where I found out what was poking me in the eye. Apparently when they sewed the lens in place they left one suture just a bit too long. The doctor said he couldn't take the suture out or cut it so he decided to give me some ointment to help ease the discomfort until the sutures self dissolve. So it turned out to be all good news. He even told me I could work on the computer for short periods at a time. I am also unable to return to work for at least two weeks and maybe longer. I made an appointment for next Monday, November 24, 2008 and we left.

I needed to get some prescriptions filled so we went to the pharmacy and got those meds and returned home. They had put all the drops into my eye at the doctor's office but I needed to add the ointment when we got home. Thomas helped me with that and then he went to his Dad's house to check on him and I went to sleep. I had forgot how much this surgery took out of me. I ended up sleeping about five hours. I woke up feeling pretty rested and the "poking feeling" was quite a bit better. I put in all my drops again and the ointment, put the patch back on and tried to eat a little. I wasn't very hungry but I managed a little bit of soup. I did a little work on the computer and then watched TV for a bit. I ended up falling asleep in the chair for a short period. When I woke up I dealt with the drops and ointment again. Now I am trying to get this blog written. I am really optimistic about everything at this point. I am hoping that my appointment on Monday will be more good news - I will keep you updated.

Detached Retina (Update #7)

Detached Retina (Update #6)

Well I saw my Retina Specialist (Dr. Wyant) on Monday, October 27, 2008. Things look good! My retina is attached and has healed well. We talked about removing the silicone oil and replacing the lens. He had photos of my eye taken and measurements for the new lens were also recorded. For the vitectomy surgeries I was really apprehensive. At this point I am relieved that this ordeal is almost at an end. We have scheduled what I hope to be the final surgery for November 18, 2008 at 6:00am. I am actually looking forward to it. My surgeries have been at the Albuquerque Ambulatory Eye Surgery Center. I feel confident about this next surgery because I have a lot of faith in my doctor and the staff at AAESC. Hopefully the next time I journal about this I will have pretty normal vision in my left eye - the doctor is confident that my eyesight will be pretty close to what it was before the retina detached. Wish me luck and I'll write about the surgery as soon as I am able.

Detached Retina (Part IV)

Detached Retina (Update #5)

I had a quick visit with Dr. Wyant on Monday and everything is still going well. The retina is attached and healing as it should be. I still have blurry vision but that is due to the lack of a lens in the left eye. I had a good discussion with the doctor and I will be seeing him again towards the end of October. At that time we will schedule a surgery to remove the silicon oil and replace the lens. I am hoping that by the end of the year I will have my normal vision again. I am really happy with the way things are healing - I went back and read some of my blogs from the beginning and I must say it all feels a bit surreal - I am just relieved that the healing process is going so well.

Detached Retina (Update #6)

Detached Retina (Update #4)

This is going to be a quick update, since the check-up with the doctor was quick. Essentially everything is good. The retina is completely attached and healing well. My eye feels great - no pain, redness or tearing. I still have blurred vision but that is due to not having a lens in my left eye. The doctor told me I could contact my regular eye doctor and be fitted with a contact lens to temporarily replace my lens until I can have surgery to replace the lens (which can't happen until three to four months following the last surgery). I have also been totally released for all normal activity without fear of causing more problems to my eye - that sure made me feel a lot better. I also am done with all eye drops. So basically I am back to normal (I know some of you are thinking I wasn't all that normal before), so at least to my normal self except for the blurriness.

Detached Retina (Update #5)

Detached Retina (Update #3)

Here is the latest news regarding my detached retina saga. With each doctor visit I become more and more optimistic that I will have a full recovery. Since my last update I have had two doctor appointments and they were both positive.

My first appointment was with Dr. Levy on Wednesday, July 16th. He did the YAG Laser procedure on Friday, July 11th. He felt that my lens membrane looked great and it was totally clear. A good sign if you want vision that isn't blurry. Anyway, the procedure was painless and quick and worth it on this journey to getting my eyesight back.

Then today I saw Dr. Wyant for a check-up on my retina. He was pleased to note that the retina is fully attached and that my vision in that eye is 20/60. It is still a little blurry but at least I can see. He changed the frequency for my eye drops. I am still using the Pred Forte for infammation, but now only need to do them three times a day for five days and then reduce them to two times a day. He also cleared me for work and back to my normal activity level beginning August 4th. This was extremely good news. I will be able to get some hiking in before the summer is over. This still leaves the matter of removing the oil from my eye and replacing my lens. He informed me that he would not do this until at least three months after the last surgery. The last surgery was June 17th and that means that we won't do anything until at least September 17th. But all of this depends on the retina and how well it is healed. I can deal with this. Things are so much better now and I can literally see the light at the end of the tunnel. He did give me some other good news. On my next visit (August 18th) we will try a contact in my left eye as a replacement for my lens to see if that helps my vision until we can actually replace the lens. The last few weeks have been good and I have been moving in the direction of more normal activity - I am doing things around the house, driving, running errands and doing light exercise. And the last two doctor visits have given me encouragement and eased my concern. I also want to thank everyone for all the comments, cards, encouragement and visits. It has really helped my recovery and made all of this more tolerable. I will be back in about a month to let you know what is happening.

Detached Retina (Update #4)

Detached Retina (Update #2)

This morning I went to the doctor for the YAG Laser Capsulotomy. The procedure was done by Dr. Renny Levy. It was a very simple procedure and the waiting and prep time actually took more time than the procedure. Dr. Levy and the staff at the Surgery Center of Santa Fe were very courteous and professional. After I checked in and filled out all the necessary papers they took me back to an exam room. The nurse checked my vitals and put two drops into my left eye. I then had to wait for ten minutes and then the same two drops were put into my left eye again. And then another ten minute wait. A different drop was then put into my eye to numb it. After five minutes Dr. Levy came in and started the procedure.
He put a round lens looking object over my left eye to hold it open. All I had to do was sit there with my chin in a holder and my forehead leaning against a strap and not to move. He had me focus on a green light with my right eye and to make sure to keep my right eye open. He was sitting behind a small and simple machine. He looked through it and performed the procedure. I heard some clicking and saw some red lights. And that's it - the whole thing lasted about a minute and a half. Once the procedure was completed the nurse put Pred Forte drops into my left eye and I was ready to go. I was at the center for only an hour. The only orders the doctor gave me was to continue to use the Pred Forte drops six times a day and to return for a follow-up visit on Wednesday, July 16. I also had to go to the Retinal Office and make an appointment to see Dr. Wyant on Monday, July 21. My eye actually feels okay. The only thing I had was a little discomfort. And that only lasted about an hour. Now my eye actually feels pretty good. My sight is still blurry but it is actually a little better. And the doctor thinks that in the next few days it will get even better. It won't be perfect because I still don't have a lens. That will have to wait until about October.

Detached Retina (Update # 3)

Detached Retina (Update #1)

Today I had a follow-up doctor appointment with Dr. Wyant. He is the doctor that performed my second vitrectomy. He had good news for me today. The best news is the retina is completely reattached and looks good. I am still on lifting restrictions and I am unable to do anything strenuous. He is now allowing me to do some walking as long as it is just casual. I can also do more things around the house. I no longer have to worry about the eye getting wet. I can spend as much time reading or working on the computer as I feel up to. I no longer have to use Atropine (drops to dilate my eye) or Zymar (antibiotic). I am still using Pred Forte (for inflammation) 6 times per day. I am excited that I no longer have to dilate my eye - the light was just killing me. It should be more tolerable now.

We talked about why I still only see shadows out of my left eye. He explained that with the first vitrectomy and the use of the gas it caused a cataract in my left eye. When he performed the second vitrectomy he had to remove the lens of my left eye in order to see into my eye to complete the surgery. The lens had clouded over due to the gas bubble. It would have had to be removed later anyway - so he just did it earlier. Well with out the lens the sight is more blurred and can be corrected with glasses. But the other problem is that the lens membrane (which is still in place) is also clouded. I will be have a YAG Laser procedure on Friday, July 11 to make a space in the membrane that isn't clouded. After a few days I should start having some vision in the left eye. It won't be perfect, but with my glasses at least I will have some sight. Eventually I will have to have surgery to take out the oil and replace it with salt water (which the eye will replace naturally with vitreous fluid) and have the lens replaced.

So all in all today was a good day and it finally seems that I am on the road to a full recovery. The doctor told me that hopefully by the end of July I would be released back to work and normal activity.

Detached Retina (Update #2)

Detached Retina (Part III)

Tuesday, June 17, 2008
So today I had my second vitrectomy. Even though I had already been through the surgery and knew what to expect I was still extremely nervous and anxious. The thought of having my eye cut again terrified me. My surgery was scheduled for 10:00 and we arrived at Albuquerque Ambulatory Eye Surgery Center about 15 minutes early. After getting all the paperwork out of the way it was just a matter of waiting. I was nervous so I decided to just sit and stare at the floor and take deep breaths. I wanted to be relaxed when they called for me. Eventually the nurse came for me and took me to the prep area. She did all the things she did last time – blood pressure, temperatue, EKG, started an IV and then put drops in my eyes. The wait for the actual surgery was longer this time. I was in the prep area for a good hour before they took me to the surgery area. One thing that helped me today was that it was the exact same staff as the first surgery. There was a lot of comfort in the familiarity of faces. The staff had done such a great job the first time that this made me feel a whole lot better. They got me prepped by covering my right eye with a protective patch to make sure that they operated on the left eye and the anesthesiologist started to put me under. I don’t remember much about the surgery although I was aware of something going on. I do remember the doctor talking about silicone oil at one point but wasn’t sure what it was all about. Today’s surgery was done by Dr. Wyant. Click on the photo below to what he did.

Silicone oil
Although the majority of uncomplicated retinal detachments can be corrected with standard surgical methods, a small percentage of patients develop severe retinal scarring which does not respond to ordinary treatment. Some of these patients can be helped by the use of silicone oil to fill the vitreous cavity of the eye. Silicone oil is a clear inert liquid which may help hold the retina in place after it has been surgically repaired. Although in some cases silicone is left inside the eye for many years, most surgeons prefer to remove the silicone oil approximately four to six months after surgery, unless the threat of retinal re-detachment is great. Removal can usually be accomplished as an outpatient procedure. Silicone oil removal may help avoid potential complications of silicone oil, which include corneal clouding and glaucomaI also remember the doctor asking if I was okay and he stated that he was done and would come talk to me in the recovery room. Once in the recovery room the nurse checked all my vitals, sat me up into a chair and gave me some water. This time around I didn’t feel as out of it, the pain wasn’t as bad and I wasn’t nauseated. The nurse then went and got Thomas and we waited a few minutes for the doctor. He explained that he used the oil instead of the gas bubble thinking that it would be better this time around. He also told me that the oil would have to be removed later on. My discharge orders were pretty much the same as last time with a couple of minor changes. We didn’t have to stop at La Bajada since I didn’t have the gas bubble and I didn’t have to worry about car travel above 7500 feet. Here were the orders I was given:

1. Walk carefully, depth perception will be affected.
2. Resume usual diet and meds.
3. Percocet for pain as needed.
4. Face down position.
5. No vigorous or jarring activities.
6. Do not remove eye patch until next doctor appointment.
7. Do not get operated eye wet.
8. May do light reading and a little TV watching.
9. Follow up doctor appointment Wednesday, June 18, 2008.
10. Diamox for eye pressure once per day.

Again, the professionalism of the staff at AAESC was incredible. I felt so comfortable that I was being taken care of true professionals and it made the ordeal more tolerable.

Since I had all the equipment I needed for the face down position I was ready to do what the doctor told me. When we got home I went straight to bed. I felt so tired. I rested for a couple of hours and when I woke up Thomas made me some dinner. Later my eye really started hurting so I took some Percocet and went back to bed. I was anxious for my appointment the next day. I really was hoping for better news following this second surgery.

Wednesday, June 18, 2008
My appointment was at Eye Associates in Santa Fe at 8:00 with Dr. Mark Chiu. I wasn’t feeling very good this morning. I was tired and my eye had a lot of pain (6 out of 10). Dr. Chiu examined my eye and I was so relieved to hear that the retina was flat and completely attached.. He also noted my eye pressure at 28. I was so happy at this point. Now I could follow the doctors orders with some optimism for the overall outcome. The doctor gave me some more meds and more instructions to follow and I was to return on Friday, June 27 for a follow up. Here were my instructions ;

I was to continue my face down position as much as I could tolerate. Take my Percocet as needed. And put eye drops in my left eye three times a day (Atropine, Zymar) and I had to put Pred Forte in my eye every hour for inflammation. I also had to put Istalol drops one time a day and take my Diamox one time per day for my eye pressure. I was also to wear an eye shield at night to protect my eye.

This time when I returned home I felt so much better. And I vowed to be a model patient and stay in the face down position as much as possible – I didn’t want bad news when I returned on June 27. My eye was still hurting so I took some Percocet and went to bed. When I woke up the pain was much better but still there (3 out of 10). I could tolerate it so I didn’t take any more medicine. All in all I was in better spirits and seem to be able to tolerate all the restrictions a little better,

Thursday, June 19, 2008 to Sunday, June 22, 2008
I am lumping days together now since the days seem to be about the same. They are pretty boring – almost all I can do is watch TV. The doctor did allow me more time reading and working on the computer. I did still have pain but it gradually got better and by Sunday it was gone except for just some general discomfort. I have been using this time to journal all of this and I have had plenty of time to think about all sorts of things. I won’t tell you about all I have been thinking about because I think you may all get the feeling that I may be losing my mind.

Monday, June 23, 2008 to Thursday, June 26, 2008
So, by far, this week has been my best. First, I didn’t have to have any more surgeries. And second, because some friends came to visit. This really helped to lift my spirits and deter some of the boredom. On Monday, Diane stopped by with iced coffees and we just sat and chatted. For those who know us, we have been known to have days slip away from us while we drank coffee and talked. It was nice to have some distraction from the face down position and the TV. Then on Tuesday, Diane and Peggy came by for a visit and brought lunch with them. Lunch was from my favorite sandwich shop – Mucho’s – I had a New Mexico BLT – my favorite sandwich. I really enjoyed the visit and was glad they took the time to visit me. And finally on Thursday, Diane and Chris came for another afternoon visit. It was relaxing and a welcomed relief from me being alone during the day and just thinking about my eye. Diane worried that the visits were making me tired – she was right – but that was okay. I have all day to sleep and rest so I didn’t mind being tired from the visits. All I can say is I am thankful for good friends. It has also been nice to get phone calls from family and friends that don’t live nearby. I enjoy the phone conversations because they also help break up the monotony.

This week has also been better with pain – it has subsided and all I have now is occasional discomfort. The one big issue I have is with light. One of the drops I use is to dilate my eye. So my left eye is constantly dilated and the light really bothers it – some days are worse than others. I do use an eye patch or sunglasses to help but there are days when it doesn’t matter. The other problem I am having is my sleep. I sleep at odd hours. Sometimes I can sleep through the night but more than not I end up getting up because it is hard for me to sleep on my stomach. So I end up taking naps whenever the mood hits me. All in all I am feeling better. I do have worries and I am looking forward to my doctor visit tomorrow and hoping for good news.

Friday, June 27, 2008
ABSOLUTELY FANTASTIC NEWS! My retina is still attached and looking good. The doctor seemed very happy and I was estatic. Everything is looking up. The doctor lifted the face down position. So now I can sit and sleep in whatever position is comfortable for me. I still have to take it easy. I am still limited in my activities and can do nothing strenuous. I think I can live with this if it means that my retina stays attached. There are other issues that will need to be dealt with but all that is on the back burner until the doctors are totally satisfied that the retina has healed into position. So I will just do what I need to do and think positive thoughts.

* Since there is really not much going on now I will just post updates as things change. So if I don’t post you can assume all is well.

Detached Retina (Update #1)