Volunteering

After more than six years and it becoming difficult to see small print clearly it is time for me to move to a different type of volunteering at St. Johns. This Saturday afternoon I will be helping with the movement of bed-ridden patients to the new section of the hospital. My new volunteering will be at one of the four information desks on one of the floors of the new in-bed facility. I will mss Eldon and Miriam who I worked with for many years. My life moves on.

Volunteering

After more than six years and it becoming difficult to see small print clearly it is time for me to move to a different type of volunteering at St. Johns. This Saturday afternoon I will be helping with the movement of bed-ridden patients to the new section of the hospital. My new volunteering will be at one of the four information desks on one of the floors of the new in-bed facility. I will mss Eldon and Miriam who I worked with for many years. My life moves on.

Flashing Lights

I do not know what we did before search engines. The past few days a new thing is happen in the left eye. A flashing is going at times and seems like a small spot of a strobe light. I last for a short time but it is becoming more persistent. The following information help in its understanding. I will be seeing my ophthalmologist on Wednesday. Again the visit will be interesting.

Flashing Lights

Vitreous Detachment

What are Flashing Lights? Flashing lights are the sensation of lights going on and off, noticed particularly off to one side. They tend to occur in only one eye at a time and persist even when the eye is closed. What Causes Flashing Lights? The vitreous, a clear gel-like substance that fills the inside of the eye, sometimes pulls or tugs on the retina. This pulling causes the appearance of flashing lights or lightning streaks, though here is no flashing light actually present. This same sensation sometimes occurs when one is hit in the eye and sees "stars".When the vitreous separates from the retina, flashing lights may appear periodically for a few weeks. This commonly happens as people grow older and usually is not cause for alarm.

Minnesota +

Marianne called and I found out that things in Minnesota are going along well enough. She said, “That she wished that she could hear as well as she can smell, Charles is going for some heart tests. Leslie is still lonesome after losing Esther, She and Anola are not talking, but that she an Dwaine are okay.” It was good to hear about her family and I filled her in about us here in California.

Monday is Rachel's 23rd birthday.

Electronic Projets

It is not as easy as it was to participate in my hobby of small electronic projects. They are always a challenge but with this altered eyesight it is more so. Yesterday I was successful in adding a wall wart power supply to a small radio and tape player to substitute for it original power source.

Thanksgiving

The Thanksgiving dinner was a real success. The food could not have been better. The turkey dark meat was great. I am not as much of a fan of white meat. It was complete with potatoes, yams, green beans, cranberry sauce, stuffing that was surprisingly good, pumpkin pie and coffee. It was well severed and the tables well attended. I have often eaten with at least six of people who were there. There may have been over one hundred fifty there for the two setting. Of course, I missed you all and know that you too had a great day.

Past History

This article was pickup during a Google scearch last night. Not as much of our past is as much of a secrete as we might think.

SEPTEMBER 1997

SAN BRUNO'S POLITICAL CESSPOOL BUBBLES WITH TROUBLE
GO TO IS AN INVESTIGATION OF CITY CLERK/ATTORNEY REQUIRED?

GO TO RESIDENTS UNDERMINED BY DYSFUNCTIONAL CITY GOVERNMENT?

As reported in this edition of the The San Bruno Beacon and the August 20th edition of The Millbrae-San Bruno Sun San Bruno City Clerk Terri Rasmussen's alleged obstructive actions taken against prospective San Bruno City Council and Clerk candidates, during the recent San Bruno City election filing period, must be thoroughly investigated by the appropriate law enforcement or administrative agency or agencies charged with enforcing election laws and civil rights. As San Bruno's Chief Elections Officer, San Bruno City Clerk Terri Rasmussen was and is duty bound to uphold the election laws, protect the civil rights of both prospective and actual candidates, and be scrupulously impartial. Instead, Ms. Rasmussen is reported to have violated the election law, organized and directed the harassment and obstruction of a prospective council candidate, and, while employed in the duties for office, during business hours, and using City property, engaged in behavior to discourage prospective, non-incumbent candidates from running against her or incumbent San Bruno City Council members Pallas and Ibarra. San Bruno City Attorney Lowell reportedly told Millbrae -San Bruno Sun reporter Sheri Baker Rickman that he was present in the City Clerk's office on August 8th, the day Ms. Rasmussen allegedly orchestrated the harassment and obstruction of prospective City Council Candidate Norma ELIAS, because he wanted to make sure everything was done legally. However, when San Bruno resident Barbara LaRaia pleaded with City Attorney Lowell to do something about what both Mr. Lowell and Ms. LaRaia were watching Ms. Rasmussen allegedly do to obstruct prospective Council candidate ELIAS from filing her papers to run for San Bruno City Council he refused to do anything to stop Ms. Rasmussen from allegedly orchestrating the obstruction of Ms. ELIAS' efforts to file her papers. Ms. LaRaia said City Attorney Lowell told her that she was too idealistic and that what was happening was just politics as usual, the reality of politics. Ms. LaRaia reported that Mr. Lowell also told her that she should just go with what was happening and accept it. If an investigation reveals that City Attorney Lowell not only witnessed, but in fact condoned Ms. Rasmussen's obstruction of San Bruno City Council candidate Norma ELIAS by refusing to take any action to stop Ms. Rasmussen's alleged efforts to obstruct Norma ELIAS from filing her papers to run or San Bruno City Council, it is my opinion that Mr. Lowell should
immediately resign as San Bruno's City Attorney and if he refuses to
resign, San Bruno's residents must initiate a petition to remove Mr.
Lowell from office and file complaints against him with the appropriate
authorities.
With respect to San Bruno's City Clerk Rasmussen; she should step aside as
San Bruno's City Clerk pending a full investigation of this matter.
IS A FEDERAL AND/OR STATE INVESTIGATION OF
SAN BRUNO CITY CLERK AND CITY ATTORNEY REQUIRED?
City Council candidate Norma ELIAS had the courage to stand up against the very same entrenched, special interest, incumbent Council members (i.e., Pallas and Ibarra) who are responsible for squandering taxpayer dollars and soaking San Bruno's tax, and fee increases. Instead of being praised and supported for her courage she was reportedly targeted for harassment and obstructed in her efforts to run for San Bruno's City Council by San Bruno's City Clerk and Chief Elections Officer Terri Rasmussen. San Bruno City Clerk Rasmussen's allegedly illegal behavior in obstructing Ms. ELIAS, as well as other political candidates, is, if true, deplorable. If these reports prove to be true, Ms. Rasmussen should resign from office immediately and, where appropriate, be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. Free and fair elections are what our country is supposed to be all about and no candidate for public office should be harassed or obstructed in their effort to run for office by anyone, let alone the very same public official who is duty bound to insure a fair election. San Bruno City Attorney Lowell, who was reportedly present in the City Clerk's office while many of these alleged abuses were occurring, reportedly refused to intervene to stop them. Yet, as reported earlier in this article, Mr. Lowell has stated he was present in the City Clerk's office to make sure things were done "legally". In addition, Mr. Lowell is also reported to have refused to take action to protect Ms. ELIAS from the abuse she was encountering when requested to do so by San Bruno resident Barbara LaRaia. Did San Bruno City Attorney Lowell offer his support and approval of this incident by refusing to take action when there was an expectation that he should have? Was City Attorney Lowell enabling Ms. Rasmussen's efforts against Council candidate Norma ELIAS by refusing to take the action necessary to stop and/or otherwise prevent the City Clerk's reported actions against Ms. ELIAS? A thorough State and/or Federal investigation can help determine the answers to these and other questions about Mr. Lowell's conduct with respect to this matter. A State and/or Federal investigation of this matter may be needed since local government investigative agencies appear to be either unwilling or unable to take any action to investigate, remedy, and, if necessary, prosecute the appropriate individual(s) for the terrible injustice that has allegedly occurred. From a local perspective, it certainly wouldn't seem right to have San Bruno's City Attorney Lowell investigate himself.

Have a good Thanksgiving!

Computers

If the automobile had followed the same development cycle as the computer, a Rolls-Royce would today cost $100, get a million miles per gallon, and explode once a year, killing everyone inside.
Robert Z. Cringely
I have so far read, `Hornine` by Balzac , `The Phycology of Sex` by Havlock Ellis and am reading `Travels In Italy` by Dickens. These are books from the www.gutenberg.net and read on the computer screen. I did not think that I would like reading them that way but find that getting the print just the right size to suit me and the line length adjust to my liking it is not bad on this liquid crystal display. Viva la the computer.

Books On Tape

The get together with about twenty-five of us who have lost sight or are loosing it meet for a session at Cedar Sinai Medical Center to talk about the problem. It was a good session and many ideas as to how to get along with the problems were asked and idea presented to solve them. The one thing that I learned was how to listen to books on tape. That is something that I did not do well. I was distracted, lost interest or fell asleep. The solution is to teach yourself to do a new thing, listen to books on tape. Turn on the recorder and listen for not more than ten minutes and then gradually increase the time. Listen and do something else, walk around, putter around and etc. Do not sit or lie down to listen. Maybe after you have learned to enjoy books on tape you can relax, as you would while you read a book. I will return to be with the group next month. I would say that I was far more sighted than anyone else there. I am fortunate to have found that help group.

This afternoon

This afternoon my neighbor Mel and I will be at a support group for macular degeneration. They should have a lot of information and ideas. I will let you know what new information I gather.

Hummingbirds

Winter must really be here, but it is not easy to tell in Santa Monica. I thought that it started at time change. Now that my humming birds have left, that may be a better sign.

Visudyne

The following is a description of the procedure that Dr. Rosen and I discussed on my last visit. The decision was that we would wait for about a month, December 1st is the schedule, to recheck the diseases progress.

FDA Approves Treatment for Wet Macular Degeneration (April 14)
FDA approved the first therapy to slow vision loss from the classic type of Wet Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD). FDA approved verteporfin for injection (Visudyne). The European Medicines Evaluation Agency’s Committee for Proprietary Medicinal Product also recommended granting marketing authorization for Visudyne //www.qlt-pdt.com/corporate/html/news8.html). Visudyne therapy is a two-step combination drug and device treatment, which takes about 20 minutes and can be performed in a doctor's office. First, Visudyne is injected intravenously into the patient's arm. The drug is activated in the abnormal vessels in the eye by a laser light. Visudyne is co-developed by QLT PhotoTherapeutics Inc. and CIBA Vision Corp.

The following quote

The following quote might better say, “If you have nothing to say, it is better not write at all“. I have nothing to say about this coming day but just want you to know that all is well.

Better to write for yourself and have no public, than to write for the public and have no self.
Cyril Connolly
(1903 - 1974)

Today

Nothing new or unusual is expected for today. A little domestic stuff and breakfast at St Johns. Hoping a good day for all of you, too..

Bone Density

Today I will be at Kaiser Culver Marina Medical Center at 9:30 for a bone density test. After nearly three years on prednesone my rheumatologist and I though it a good thing to do, as that drug does have the tendency to deplete bone calcium. I would expect mine to be normal.

In the afternoon I will attend the yearly volunteer luncheon. This year is will not be sit-down dinner as St. Johns and other hospitals are cutting budgets.

Thanksgiving

I have my Thanksgiving dinner ticket for dinner at Back On Broadway.

Consider the following on your Thanksgiving Day.

The art of dinning well is no slight art, the pleasure not a slight pleasure.
Micheal Montaigne

Change

This macular degeneration isn’t good or too bad. It’s just the way of things. Nothing stays the same. I will make adjustments to the change and move on.

A Day

The sun is out bright, air is clear, no clouds and temperature just right. I expect the day to continue in the same way. 1st breakfast, to the UU, stop for soup at St. John’s, some gardening, at UCLA Santa Monica cafeteria for dinner. It will be another great day.

Our Speices

The feeding of the wild birds by throwing seed from the balcony to the parking lot is continuing. A few days ago there were five crows, fourteen doves, two small finches and one squirrel at the feeding area. The squirrel was too cautious to feed among the crowd. It made a leap into the air and propelled itself a bit forward frighten off the birds. It was able to feed for a while. That may demonstrates how us mammals with our larger thinking brains became the dominant species.

Calls

Lisa called. It is always good to get calls. Norma called to let me know that I would be welcomed there when things don‘t go well and a place is needed where some care can be given. I let her know that if she ever need care that I would be one of the 1st to volunteer. It was good to hear from her. The call was generally more of a monolog than dialog but still okay.

Gary left a comment, the 2nd one I have had. I know that a blog needs to be established, a very easy process. An answer can also be given with e-mail by clicking the icon at the end of the blog.

The latest on the eyes

Dr. Judge said, “Your eye pressure is good and your field of vision is good and you have lost some vision in your left eye.” Dr. Rosen meet with me and explained the possibility of Kenol Injections. The benefits were far short of the serious results. It was decided to wait a month and then evaluate the situation. As of now the left eye is far from what it was a month ago and know that it will not improve and is till of use. Reading with it causes the lines to wave up and down but with adequate light it can read regular print. The right eye was the eye for distant viewing. With glasses it helps with print reading. I am not pleased with what has happened but life will go on and I am innovating and am sure that things will work out

Dinner

Saint John’s started serving their chili again after a few months off the menu. It had been a regular item.. I took advantage of it last evening by popped up a bag of popcorn and bringing it along for dinner. Chili and popcorn and an apple made for a gourmet dinner.

Yesterday

Some days go along in their usual ways Yesterday was on of those. No need to try to explain them or to have any negative feels about them. I enjoy so many things about the ordinary items that make up a day in life.

Eyes

The left eye is continuing to degrade. It has become a real effort to read an ordinary book in normal light. Reading on the computer still works out well enough. The appointment with my ophthalmologist is this Wednesday. She had a field test scheduled and do not know what she will find to do considering the most resent developments in my eyes. For you to understand what might be happening with the left eye you can go to www.stlukes-eye.com. On the right see Common Conditions, click on Macular. My type is the wet type. So far it is only the left eye, lets hope it is not catching so as to effect condition of the right. The left eye was my reading eye, with or without glasses. I will wait for what happens next.

Thirft Stores

Saturday was not unusual. Shopped at three thrift stores, seen nothing that I wanted so brought home nothing. I shop thrift stores about once a month. Sometime they have something that I am looking for but must of the time it is just see what is there. I must be a characteristic to shop them as I once made the trips to the local dump, while there to see what peoples cast off’s.

Relationship

Lohoma and Anthony, they had been going to together for ten year, dinner partners with a few of us at the Santa Monica Medical Center cafeteria for a number of years. Lohoma who is 86 lost her drivers license a year or so ago because of poor eyesight and that had very upset after she had recently bought a new Cadillac. Now, Anthony let her know that he not longer loved her and did not want to see her anymore. If you think that only young people have difficulties with a break up, you are wrong, older people are even more devastated and do not have time or much going for them for more chances at relationships. Life is difficult at all ages.

Nice Days

The weather has been crystal clear and lovely since our spell of rain. In a few minutes I will be off to breakfast at Saint John’s. Later to the garden for some pleasures, then to the library to pick up a couple of DVD’s and some books. Life is nice after a lecture by a couple of promoters of some financial ideas at El Torito’s for a free lunch, just to listen and not cooperate. The concern about the left eye remains and the next visit to check it out is November 22

The Final Results

It is a disappointment for me to see the outcome of the election. In my 85 years I have not missed voting in presidential elections since I was 21. That makes sixteen times. There has been very few where I voted with the majority. That somewhat defines my political life. Not a loser but a member of a democratic society where some lose and some some win. Four more years :-) .

Uncertain

As this year’s election day begins, uncertainness is the prevailing feeling. So here are a couple of quotes about that.

In those matter the only certainty is that nothing is certain.
Pleny The Elder (23- 79 AD)

The only thing that makes life bearable is permanent, intolerable uncertainty, not knowing what comes next.
Ursula K. Gruin

Season Change

All the clocks and timers have been reset. This 1st day of winter went well. I consider winter starting and ending with the changing of settings of the clocks. Santa Monicans do not mind the winter weather. They just don’t like it getting dark so early. I have gotten the electric blanket on the bed, replacing the single sheet that I was using for covering and changed from polyester pajamas to flannel ones. The change of season must be physiological as I keep the temperature set at 70 degrees all the time. I just feel colder when the season changes. When the weather is always so pleasing you need to do something.