Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving is coming up. After thinking about it, I have decided that I would prefer to spend the day in Santa Monica. I have not done that for a few years. They serve a good Thanksgiving dinner for seniors across the parking lot in a restaurant called Back on Broadway. I am sure that there will be someone there that I know. I will miss you all.

Recycling

The following technique is a way to recycle items that you have and would like to get the items into someone else’s possession who would use them. It is an alternative to taking things to a Thrift Store. On a sticky note write the following, “This item was left here for someone who would like it and use it. Take it with you and enjoy it.” Leave the note in a conspicuous place.

It is not my idea. I found it written inside a book cover that was left of a bus bench. I think it is a good way to recycle. I have been using the idea and like it.

Polymialga Rheumatica

My rheumatologist called me the results of the October 13rh blood test for the sediment rate. That is only measurable test that can be made to help identify the presents of polymalgia rheumatica. The reading was 14.3 where the normal is below 21. He suggested that I could, if I wanted, to start tapering off the prednesone from 1mg to 1/2mg. I will start of November 1 and continue at that rate for one month. If do not feel any increase in my discomfort I will try to discontinue with the prednesone.

Tijuana

I returned from Tijuana about 8:00. It was a good trip. Tijuana is still the worst of Mexico but it has improved. Down town is much cleaner and plenty of new building and international business. The dinner was at Hotel Calfia in Califa was 1st class Mexican and the lobster was great. I was surprisingly rested after such a long day and much riding, enjoyable.

Tijuana

I returned from Tijuana about 8:00. It was a good trip. Tijuana is still the worst of Mexico but it has improved. Downtown is much cleaner and plenty of new building and international business. The dinner was at Hotel Calfia in Califa was 1st class Mexican and the lobster was great. I was surprisingly rested after such a long day and much riding, enjoyable day.

Health and Travel

Yesterday I got my flu shot from Saint John’s Medical Center, being a volunteer; I qualified.

Today I am off on a day trip to Mexico and a lobster dinner just south of Tijuana. It will be a long day and I am sure it will be interesting.

Name Dropping

Paige called early to come to use the Intenet as her computer modem was not working and she need to research Neutrogenea to prepare for interview. Eldon, Miram and I spent six hours at the information desk. We work well together and enjoy each other. I had dinner with Dr. Ambruster and his wife Carol, Ken, John and Vivian. Vivian had an extra ticket for a bus trip and lunch in Mexico. In the evening Eliane knocked at the door after spending must of the day walking to the beach and doing other errands she said, “I am tired, do you have anything to drink?" I had an ale saved for drinking in October, an had been waiting for someone to drink it with. I have no feeling for her, but we agree about religion, politics and can talk about interesting things. It was a good day.

Confussion

I was having trouble deciding how to vote on some of 16 State Measures. It is so hard to know if the vote should be yes or no for an issue even if you sort of understand the measure.

I have gone to www.uulmca.org. They explain the measure so that I can understand them.

When on the site click on [enter the website] then scroll down to Virtual Meeting House, and then click on proposition to view it.
It is necessary to go all the way to bottom of the page to see [Return to the Virtual Meeting House to view another measure.

I hope that this will help the confussion

Retirement

What a Saturday is like in the retirement mode.

Breakfast while listening to `The Charlie Rose Show’, adding some contradictory comments to some Conservative blogs, trouble shooting the TV Wizard (a devise built by me that makes muffled TV audio understandable), going for coffee at the 18th Street Coffee house, where they are numerous laptops and students studying in groups or alone. The coffee is not great but the atmosphere, inside and outside in ideal for a coffee house. I picked up the integrated circuit that was needed from Radio Shack. I use the Segway for transportation, that is enjoyable. Got the electronic gadget working then went to dinner at the UCLA cafeteria. In the evening I listened to Garrison Keller’s show `The Prairie Home Companion` and then a play on FM by the LA Theatre Works. By that time it is midnight and time for bed. I should have added that a few timed naps are always added to my daily activity.

Birds

Another day without much to add, so enjoy something about birds.

God loved the birds and invented trees. Man loved the birds and invented cages.
--Jacques Deval Afin de vivre bel et bien

I know of only one bird - the parrot - that talks; and it can't fly very high.
--Wilbur Wright declining to make a speech in 1908

Enjoyment

The 1st gentile rains of the season wet the garden and yesterday I was there. The rains brings out a few weeds. As much time was spent drinking a cup of coffee and eating a small handful of toasted almonds as was spent hoeing. That is a great way to enjoy gardening.

Macular Degeneration

Yesterday, Dr. Rosen discussed my left eye problem and we agreed to wait 3 weeks and monitor the condition before proceeding. The condition is not at a condition that the results can not be predicted. In the meantime my vision is still about as it has been.

The following is an edited article about Macular Degeneration.

Regarding
Macular
Degeneration

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the retina?
The retina is the back surface inside the eyeball, opposite the lens. It contains millions of light sensitive cells, called rods and cones. An image projected by the lens onto the retina is sensed by the rods and cones as different intensities of light and different colors.

What is the macula?
The central portion of the retina directly opposite the lens, is called the macula. What is the fovea? At the center of the macula is very small area called the fovea. Despite its small size the fovea is very important for our ability to see fine detail and color

What is macular degeneration?
In macular degeneration, the light-sensing cells of the macula mysteriously malfunction and may over time cease to work. Macular degeneration occurs most often in people over 60, which case it is called Age Related Macular Degeneration (ARMD).

How is macular degeneration diagnosed?
The major symptoms of macular degeneration are: When viewing an Amsler grid, some straight lines appear wavy, and some patches of the grid appear blank.
In wet macular degeneration, when angiography is performed, leakage of the indicator dye into the bloodstream is seen from blood vessels behind the macula. 19 to 15% of ARMD cases are the wet form, so called because of leakage into the retina from newly forming blood vessels in the choroids . Sometimes the fine blood vessels in the choroid underlying the macula begin to proliferate. The cause is unknown. When those blood vessels proliferate, they leak and cells in the macula are damaged and killed. The principal symptom of macular degeneration is reduction or loss of central vision, with retention of peripheral vision. At present, it is the only treatment which has been proven effective for any form of macular degeneration. The laser beam essentially "cooks" the tissue which is exposed to it. The beam has a very small cross section, which is aimed at a leakage point revealed by angiography. With luck, the cooking, or coagulation, of the cells at the leakage point will stop or slow leakage, hence the progress of macular degeneration caused by the leakage. Only about half of patients with wet ARMD are candidates for laser photocoagulation. Also, laser photocoagulation is only effective about half the time it is done as a treatment for wet macular degeneration. When effective, the benefit lasts on the average abou y one year.

The left eye

The angioplasty at Kaiser shows an abnormality in the left eye, that is the veins in the back of the eye. That is an indicator of macular degeneration. Two ophthologists, Dr. Judge and Dr. Lee, have been involved with the diagnosis. Tomorrow I am to consult with Dr. Rosen to discuss what will be the best procedure to follow. I am not pleased with what I have learned but feel that the trouble has been detected as early as it was possible and from the information that I have that is about the only time they can do much with the it.

Polotics

An ordinary Monday, so a couple more quotes.

Politics is the art of looking for trouble, finding it whether it exists or not, diagnosing it incorrectly, and applying the wrong remedy.
--Ernest Benn

The trouble with political jokes is they get elected.
--Henry Cate VII

Paul, thanks for the jokes. I had not had any new ones for awhile.

181 days

The number of days without rain in the area, 181, was ended last night. There was a nice rain, no flooding, no wind or damage. They explained that this was sixth longest period without rain. I will be a big help in keeping the wild fires at minimum. Carl and Jyoti commented on the fires north of San Francisco and Carl reported rain in that area This year should be for low fire danger, making up for some of the past high years.

Polymialga Rheumatica

The last Wednesday’s visit with Dr. Bulpit the rheumatologist went well. I had made the appointment because of the concern about bone density due to having taken perdnesone medication for over two years. He assured me that at a 1mg per day rate the risk is very small that there would be any significant bone loses. He did schedule a bone density test for November 19th. He also laid out a procedure where I might be able to get off the medication. The last time I tried I decreased the dosages in too rapid in succession.

The polymaligia rheumatica gives very little trouble; I don’t want it to flare up.

Jyoti

Jyoti arrived on time about 3:30. She had a shop on Montana that interested her and since there was a coffee shop near that worked out well. After checking out the Sunset Grill and some shopping at Whole Foods (Whole Paycheck) we had a dinner at the Le Pititt. That is a great place to eat. Their blackened salmon is always so good. She was off after breakfast to her classes near-by at 18th and Wilshire. She will meet up with a friend and be at the Ambose Hotel tonight and then another long day of classes tomorrow and then fly home, arriving late. We had time for good visiting.

Later

I will bolog later. Jyoti and I an doing breadfast and she will be at her event before 9:00.

Eyes

Wednesday evening I got a surprise. As a was working a crossword puzzle on the computer’s flat screen some of the straight lines in the puzzle grid had some wave to them. A couple of year ago the Internet was searched for retinal degradation (Macular Degeneration). I referred to the previous downloaded test grids and they indicated some troubles. An appointment was arranged with my ophthalmologist yesterday. They looked and were not sure they could detect any defect. A test has been set for next Tuesday to examine the blood vessels near the nerves of the left eye. The only treatment that is of value to prevent great damage is to detect the trouble very early. I will keep you informed

Chip

I have included an edited story from the Internet from late yesterday afternoon. The reason being that, I have believed for sometime that the technology had been developed so that all persons at birth will have a bar code under the skin of their forehead, each with our personal information. The cliché is, `If it can be done it will be done.` The full story was in Yahoo News under the heading of Health.

Yahoo! News - FDA: Chip

Wed Oct 13
A computer chip, the size of grain of rice, that is implanted under the skin won U.S. approval on Wednesday for use in helping doctors quickly access a patient's medical history. The VeriChipis placed in the upper arm in a painless procedure that takes minutes. The chip contains a patient's identification number that corresponds to health information in a computer database. A handheld scanner can retrieve the patient's number from the chip, which emits radio waves when activated. Proponents hope doctors will use the technology to find vital information.

Mice

An optical mouse was installed on my computer a couple of years ago and it was an improvement over the ball mouse, more sensitive and no trouble from skipping. Last week I installed a wireless and optical mouse and found that it is even more satisfactory, can be used in any convenient place and no interference from the cord. Technology is still making advances.

Books

There is another web site that you my may be interested in as it is like adding a bookcase full of meaningful books to enjoy. It is www.literaturepage.com. Most people do not like reading books on their computer screen. When the page of the book is on the screen click on View and in the drop-down window click to go to large print. That makes it easy to read. Also any page can be printed so that you can read from a hard copy. There are provisions to mark your stopping place. I find it a good source of reading material, always something good to read right in front of you. No worry about where you left a book, finding your place and the light is right. Also I have downloaded the `Talking Dictionary` to my hard drive and it is nice to check a word that you are not sure about, seeing it and hear it pronounced.

Liberal Radio

If you do not go to the web site www.airamericaradio.com you should include it in our Internet surfing. It is the liberal radio that is intended to counteract all the conservative radio. It’s format is not much better than the ABC’s Art Limbo’s broadcast. At least with it you can hear the liberal slants and truths.

Carpets

Today is the day that the carpets get cleaned. I cleaned them once in the past, Maria and I cleaned them once and this time it will be a hired carpet cleaner. $60.00 will be his charge. That is, I think, about the right charge. He will be here at 8:30 so that they will have most of the day to dry.

Debates Politics Children

Waiting for the debate this evening. The last two were well done and expect this one to be interesting.

A couple of quotes:

What children take from us, they give. We become people who feel more deeply, question more or deeply, hurt more deeply and love more deeply.
Sonia Taitz

Get all the fools on your side and you can elect anything.
Frank Dane

Technology

As I was walking out the door of Staples stationary store yesterday afternoon with my packages of #10 envelopes and a wireless mouse, looked across the sidewalk my Segway tied up to the parking meter, this flash come to mind. Goodhue Minnesota in the 1920’s and coming out of my favorite restaurant for sweets and after buying some cheap chocolates. They can still can be purchased. Their might be a team of horses and a buggy tied to a rail. Now that is witnessing a big change in technology in a lifetime.

Debates

Yesterday it was the event of the Vice President debate that was looked forward to. The debaters were interesting to watch. Cheney did what he was expected to do, interesting but nothing new. Edwards did a good job in bringing up issues to counteract Cheney`s. The debate may not make much of a change in the poles, but debating is always a risky thing so it is good that no disasters happened.

I picked a couple of, new to me, books at the Library and see no diversions in the next few days, so I am prepared.

Academy of Entertainment and Technology

Yesterday consisted of the six hours of volunteering at St John’s. A routine Monday. The evening was the second lecture in the Mary Pickford speakers in this fall’s season at the Academy of Entertainment and Technology, part of Santa Monica City College. Last week was the Executive Producer and head writer for HBO’s `Deadwood`. This Monday it was David Grae a story editor of the TV Series `Joan of Arcadia`. I know nothing of either of these shows as I seldom watch commercial TV. I enjoy the craft of making TV and Movie shows. The two people above are writers and the class they lecture to are in a writing class. The class is inspired and I enjoy the lecture and being in class for an hour and half with the students.

An Event

Sundays afternoon Dr. Moreland,s reception was a again a big event. This time their were more people, 600 hundred. They were the doctor’s patients. He stated during is talk, “He has done 5000 total hip replacements.” I was pleased to be of help directing visitors to the new building. Tuesday and Thursday will also be dedications, not so many people on those days.

Doctors Dedication

The evening at the doctors dedication at the new North Pavilion at Saint John’s last evening was an enjoyable event as I expected it to be. So many doctors and their wives, may near a hundred. My place in the vent was to help to welcome them and direct them to see the new features. The cocktail hour and the finely catered dinner under the stars was 1st class. I though I would feel out of place in that crowd. Seated next to a Sister Marie and a nice Dr. Hansen made such a memorable evening. At noon to day I will be back for the reception for Dr. Moreland that I expect to be a big affair also.

Children

Not much for new old or new events, so some wisdom.

Grown-ups never understand anything for themselves, and it is tiresome for children to be always explaining things to them.
Antione de Saint Exupery

I must take issue with the term mere child, for it has been my invariable experience that the company of a mere child is infinitely preferable to that of a mere adult.
Fran Lebowitz

This weekend +

This Saturday St John’s is going to be using me to help with their doctor’s participation in the dedication of the new hospital wing. As a volunteer I will do certain things and will be there for the sit down dinner. On this Sunday I will be back doing about the same thing for a respected Dr. Moreland. I am looking forward to something different this weekend.

The debate was a good one and people should have learned something. They seemed evenly matched. It was Bush’s strong point and so maybe Kerry will get a slight boost in the polls.