Transplanting eyes

Volunteering at St. John’s can produce some real interesting events. Yesterday morning a man stopped at the information desk and sat a red box on the desk. He asked for directions to the surgery department. On the box it said, “Human Eyes For Transplanting.“ You can imagine those eyes having been removed from a dead patient a short time ago and in a short time they will be in the eye sockets of another person. Think of all the things that those eyes of the previous person will be seeking. Such things as that makes volunteering worthwhile.

Ryan and San Diego

It is interesting news about Ryan and his new job in San Diego. San Diego is Ryan’s birthplace. San Diego is where Lisa and Gary got their start in their married life. They were too brave souls. They made the best of hard times and survived. I know that Ryan and his family will do well there and I wish them the best of luck. Lisa and Gary will miss them. It will give them the incentive to visit San Diego more often. Life is always changing and most of the changes are for the better.

Wayne and Andrew

Yesterday, Wayne and Andrew stopped by. They were checking on a place for Andrew to live while he will be attending Hollywood Music Institute. The school begins in October. The course is for 1 1/2 years. They are hoping to get a place close enough to the school so that Andrew can walk to and from. We had dinner at the Enterprise Fish Co. They serve very good fish . They will be back week or two to do some more apartment searching. Andrew seems taller and is looking very good. Being at school and on his own will be a big change for him. He will do well.
There is a comment at the end of yesterday’s this a blog, check it if you wish.

Gardenia

The weather has been warm enough so that I can have all six windows open even in the evening. There is a dead calm and night air comes in. The perfume in the air is almost unbelievable. The Gardenia bush on the south side of the building has four blossoms. With this still night air the perfume is everywhere. It is all throughout the building and it covers the parking lots. The lovely smell reminds me of the Daphne bush that was outside our bedroom window in our home on Crestmoor Drive. I enjoyed the place where I live and that Gardenia bush is a bonus.

Memory testing

The three hours yesterday of memory testing at UCLA was interesting. One of the test is a list of 12 unrelated words. The tester reads you the complete list of the words and you are asked to repeat as many of them as you can and in any order. This is a daunting task. As you try to remember the first of the list you cannot remember the last of the list. The instructor continues to read all 12 of the words until you remember all of them. It is not easy. After about 20 minutes of other testing the tester brings out a 30 word list. In this 30 word lists are the 12 previous words in random order that had been memorized. As these words are read and you are to answer yes or no. It was easy for a me to do. This I believe is an Alzheimer’s type test. A person with the disease can know something and in about 20 minutes or 30 minutes can not remember it even with prompts. There were all kinds of tests, written, oral and visual. After the three hours of testing I was not physically or mentally tired, but it was a good workout.

Alzheimer's disease

Today I will be at UCLA to continue with my participation in the Alzheimer’s memory study group. The complete memory study sessions consist of one MRI exam two pet scans and a number of memory tests written and oral. During this period of tests I will not be on any medicine. It will be as if I were on a placebo. This series of tests will be about the same as I those I did about five years ago. I’m not sure that they will give me the results of the tests. It would be nice if they would compare the most recent results with my previous tests. Maybe I really don’t want to know. As far as I know they do not now have a medicine to prevent or cure Alzheimer’s. Some time ago I had had attended a lecture at UCLA by a noted Dr. who said that they know of only one thing, at this time, that prevents the disease . That is, smoking, and no one is recommending that you start.. I’m glad to be of any help that I can in preventing and curing this disease.

Carnitas

It is seldom that I eat at home. When I do eat at home. the dinner might consist of, carnitas, baked beans and corn on the cob. If you are not familiar with carnitas it is a type of pork. The best way I can describe it is, similar to the way my mother fixed home canned pork from a pig that we had we had butchered. The carnitas that I get is from the groceries store, in their hot food section. I do enjoy it.

Dinner

Last Evening

I just came from St. John’s Medical Center cafeteria. Tonight they had their rotisserie chicken. It is their best chicken. With the chicken I had au gratin potatoes, whole kernel corn and chocolate ice cream. That there were 10 people at our table. The food was good and even when it is not so good it is always better to be eating with someone.

A differebt Way To Think

A new different to think about religious differences:
There were two streams and they were continually thinking that one was better than the other. One thought it was better because It was so clear and clean and such beauty on its banks. The other had so much life, fish in the stream and frogs on it’s reedy bank and so full of life. When they came to their end they both dumped into the ocean. All the stream became melded into one ocean.

You may want to check the comments on yesterdays blog.

Ailwers

On August 22 my present blog was started. I had another one for a while but it got fouled up. That means for the past year I have been sending something daily on my blog. The blog is intended to be used by anyone who reads it to know that I am doing well. It has been a good way to keep in touch. There has been in an attempt to keep each blog short so as not to be boring. I think it serves a purpose so it will continue.

Sunday Activity

There is a Sunday activity that I have not reported. About once a month the Segway and I cruised some of the local alleys. It is different than cruising the local streets. Alleys can be interesting. They are something like railroads. One would not use the railroad to visit a city. People do not build homes facing the railroad. Not long ago, I found and abandon royal dust buster vacuum. It needed a filter. Now I have a new model of vacuum cleaner that works perfectly. The old vacuum cleaner was put on the curb for someone that needed it. That method is a good way to recycle good appliances, much better than trashing them.

Improvement

It has been nearly 2 weeks sinces by last left eye injection. I could see a very slight improvement, almost immediately after the injection. The improvement is continuing, although it is very slight, They injections are to continue every six weeks. That means there will be nine in a year. With that progress my eyesight should be considerably better. I expect that I will be able to read with it. I was not at all sure was that I would be able to ride the Segway. The injections are not pleasant, but I am pleased with the results.

Estelle

Yesterday was Estelle Edwards birthday. Mac and Estelle Edwards were our close friends for many years. Their family of Don, Pam, Ann, Susie were are extended family while we lived in Colorado. They lived closet enough so that we could almost call the neighbors. They went to the same Methodist Church in Lakewood. In the early years of our marriage, they were Republicans, as we were. Mac died a few years ago. Estelle lives in Mesa, Arizona, and in Evergreen, Colorado. Stephen still keeps in touch with Don. Susie was Lisa’s friend, and may still keep a loose contact with her. It was fortunate for us to have them as we had no other family, close by. Friends are important.

You might wan to check yesterday blog's comment.

A Bit Late

I am a bit later today as yesterday afternoon we had are second rolling blackout. The alarm must have been set of PM and not AM. It is not a problem as nothing unusual is planned for the day. I will be an hour later for breakfast the Saint Johns. The eggs and the rest in the cafeteria will be just as warm and satisfying. A good day to all.

An Interesting Day

Besides the noble art of getting thing done, there is a nobler art of leaving things undone…The wisdom of life consists of elimination of the nonessentials.
Lin Yutang
If I find any nonessentials today I will eliminate them. I see a rather normal day and will not be to busy.

It is always a good idea to check the previous day's blog. Some days they have interesting comments. Comments may have been added after you have read a blog.

Books

Paul left me the book by Jared Diamond “Collapse” which I have started to read. Chris, my neighbor gave me the book by Dee Brown “Bury My Heart At Wounded Knee” and I am at about the middle of it. Both books are very good books but make you feel slightly depressed. Last Thursday I brought from the library Erica Jong’s book “Sappho’s Leap” and it is a fun book. I am well supplied with good reading.
One story is good until another is told. Aesop, 620 - 560 BC.

A Domestic Day

Today I will do be doing my laundry. A day of a few domestic chores will follow. Friday is my ordinary laundry day. It was moved due to visits from Paul’s. They left after breakfast. It is such a long drive for only one driver. They had planned to take a break at Harris Ranch and get in a dip in pool. We had such a good visit. Leslie’s discomfort with the shin problem caused her us to miss her being here.

Saturday

Some time was spent at the beach yesterday. Nicholas like Benjamin did had a good time in the surf with the boogie board. Paul and Nicholas meet Leslie’s brother and others at the La Bera Tar Pits. At 4:00 Paul, Nicholas ans I were at the Getty Center seeing some exhibits and attending a musical at the Gardens. It was a great day. We will be at the beach again this morning after breakfast and before they leave for Grass Valley about noon. Benjamin had to complicated a weekend and traffic is to hectic for him to make it up. We missed him.

Paul's Visiting

Paul and Nicholas arrived yesterday. Leslie has had a flare up of her skin trouble and is giving so much discomfort that she would not have enjoyed the trip. We surely miss her being here. We walked to the close by store called whimsical Alley and found it so unique. We had to\time for cocktails, dinner and the movie the “March Of The Penguins”. Nicholas stayed overnight here. This morning we will soon be having eggs, hotcake, oranges, coffee and juice. We will have a great day.

White Flies

White flies have been giving the gardenia plant trouble since the springtime. Chemicals do not seem to be very effective. I may have created a closed loop of infection the control. I have been feeding the birds close to the location of the gardenia plant. The small birds are skittish and like to have some bushes close by for escape. When they us the gardenia for there temporary refuge they find some white flies for food. Two problem may be solved, food for the birds and pant relief for the gardenia. Like some of my ideas, they do not all work.

Harris Ranch

Paul’s are starting on a vacation trip today and will be staying at Harris Ranch this evening. The thought of Harris Ranch recalls so many pleasures and thoughts over many years. We had so many family gatherings there. A good continuing life consists of good memories. We seldom forget what has made a memorable impression on our mind.

The Left Eye

I am about ready to start for the West Los Angeles Kaiser for the 10:00 appointment with Dr. Rosen for the 3rd injection of Macugen to help the left eye with its ARMD. Each treatment had helped a little to improve the vision of that eye. There is some pain connected with the injection but I am willing to do all that can be done for my continued usable eyesight. So far the right eye is a very good eye. It maybe that left eye is contributing some thing and will do better after more treatments.

Paul's Visiting

Paul, Leslie, Benjamin and Nicholas will be here for this weekend. They will be arriving on Friday and leaving on Sunday. We will have time to do some interesting things, find some good eating and have time for good visiting. Nicholas plans to stay with me and the three of them have a reservation at a Holiday Inn in Brentwood near the Getty Center and the 405 freeway just off Sunset Blvd. It is not easy getting a hotel near the beach in summer. I am looking forward to the weekend.

' Visiting

Bools On Tape

Books On Tape is still giving pleasure. One of their problems is that it is hard to maintain concentration. I have found a number of methods that help. One of the best is to open the door and what the birds feed and use the birdbath. It is something like watching a fish aquarium.

If someone leaves me a comment on a blog the system sends me an e-mail with that comment in it. I find that comments can be very easily missed. The trouble is that they may be added later in the day after most readers have read the blog. I would recommend that after you read a blog that you check the previous days blog for comments. I think that Google gives good service with their free blog system.

Dr. Visit

The visit with Dr. Liu the rheumatologist at Kaiser yesterday had the results I expected. He recommended that the daily dose of prednisone of 2.5 mgs be discontinued. I am to call if a flare up of the polymaligia rhematica happens. I am feeling pleased with my flexibility, the walking and the movements need for daily life.

Good DVD

Good movies are hard to find. “Crazy In Alabama” is a DVD that I thoroughly enjoyed. I don’t remember how popular it was in 1999 but it meet my idea of an entertainment. It is has good comedy and sort of warped morality and justified justus. If you haven’ t seen it and can find it you should enjoy it. I have attended a number of lectures at the local junior college by screenwriters and know that good movies are good because of them. This movie proves it.

Automation

Life is still getting to more and more automated. Yesterday I received an automated call from Kaiser asking to my to enter my Kaiser number and the machine repeated the number and asked to press any number to confirm its correctness. It machine then went on to inform by it inserting my doctor’s name and next appointment date. If I agreed I was press to press any number. It was all very mechanical and effective. Occasionally a clerk would call to do the same reminding. It is very efficient but I wonder what those replaced clerks are doing.

Attitudue

The following quote from many years ago. It is something that I hope that I follow and think that I am successful some of the time.

I am still determined to be cheerful and happy, in whatever situation I may be; for I have learned from experience that the greater part of out happiness or misery depends upon our disposition and not up our circumstances.
Martha Washington 1732 - 1802

Summer

Carl sent some pictures and a comment about school starting in a few weeks. Wayne said Andrew is looking into a musical institute in the Los Angles area. Paul commented in a blog about Nicholas starting high school in a couple of weeks. It doesn’t seem right that summer should be coming to and end when it seems as if it just got started.

Volunteering

My one-day a week of volunteering at Saint Johns has been changed to Tuesday. I had been volunteering there on Mondays since 1998. They have added a full time clerk to the staff at the information desk and that made four us there on Mondays. Being there on Tuesdays will as good for me as Mondays. I enjoy helping the patients and the staff.