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My eye surgery is scheduled for the 15th...that's this upcoming Thursday. Obviously, I'm not looking forward to the experience. But I'm also tired of only being able to see through one eye so...

Eye Surgery Canceled

My previously scheduled eye surgery was canceled due to some concerns about my bloodwork. I had high readings in creatinine and potassium. My doctor took me off the potassium pill he had me on and sent me to see a kidney doctor. She ordered some more blood work tests done and I gave blood for that this past Monday. At this point, I have not yet learned the results of those tests. I'm not sure if they will inform me earlier or if I'll have to wait until my next doctor's visits. I'm scheduled to visit my family doctor again on February 20 and my kidney doctor again on February 26. Until they can bring these numbers down to manageable levels, the eye surgery will have to be put off awhile longer.

The eye they did the laser treatments on has stayed steady and clear but I still can't make anything out through the other eye. At this point, I don't yet know when that will change. It depends on whether we can get my blood work issues back to a more normal level.

Thank you. My opthamologist (however you spell it) is a Dr. Marc Hoffman. I forget the name of the firm in Pittsburgh he is associated with. I am certainly tiring of this whole situation. I went through Christmas with one eye, went through New Year's with it and now will be going through the Super Bowl with it. I hope I have it back by my birthday...

Oscar Sunday

Well, it's Oscar Sunday...and it sure seemed to get here fast. Oscar Sunday is one of my favorite days of the year. I enjoy seeing all the stars together, even if all their quips are written for them and (likely) rehearsed endlessly. But I have fun with it because, like many people, I have an annual Academy Awards contest. It used to just be between a few close friends and I but about a decade ago, I took it to the internet and let people I've come to know via e=mail lists and message boards take part, too. People e-mail me their picks to win in each the 24 categories (from Best Picture to Best Makeup) and the top 5 win a prize...which happens to be a DVD from my personal collection. Hey, I'm not rich...I can't go out and buy everyone a boxed movie collection. For years, I did a lot of promoting and reminding and the number of people who took part in my contest grew and grew until one year when I finally had 102 people taking part. "This is nuts," I said to myself as I went crazy trying to keep up with the show and marking winners on each ballot as the night went on...I really didn't have time to just enjoy the show. So, after that, I made a few changes with the main one being that I quit reminding everyone. Before, I was sending out a reminder about once a week and with each reminder, I would get a flurry of new entries. Now I just announce it once and it's up to everyone that's interested to get me their ballot by the deadline (which is always midnight the night before the awards ceremony). I get a much more manageable number now...this year I have 27 ballots to keep track of, including my own, and I can certainly keep up with those.

One person who didn't send me a ballot was one of my brothers, though I thought he would...he sounded interested. But then he said he wouldn't enter a contest run by a guy who's never seen "The Godfather". I plead guilty on that, but just because I enjoy movies doesn't mean I enjoy every genre of movies. I don't like horror movies and I've never been big on gangster movies, unless the cast includes James Cagney, Humphrey Bogart and/or Edward G. Robinson. I guess I am just not into overly violent films...yes, I like my westerns but I never thought of them as being all that violent. Until Sam Peckinpah came along, you rarely even saw blood in most westerns. Unrealistic, yes...but certainly enjoyable.

A brief update on my situation. I still can't see out of my right eye. Surgery was delayed because of concerns with my kidneys and how they would handle the anethesia. I have been scheduled for surgery again and that is currently set for June 4, barring any further physical problems. So that is what, just under two weeks from now? So if they're going to cancel me again, I imagine it would happen sometime during the next week...

Tomorrow I go for what is called a Cardiolite Stress Test. It's two parts...part of it is monitoring my heart rate while I'm on a treadmill. Another part is putting some kind of colored liquid in my body and then photographine it with special cameras that photograph me while I have to remain shockstill for about 20 minutes...my seat is rotated ever so slightly during this process so the cameras can take shots at different angles. It is not a prarticularly pleasant experience (I've had this done once or twice before).