Audio Books

Downloading books from the Santa Monica Public Library has been working out well. They go through the Internet and end up on my hard drive. The latest book I have been listening to is, The Accident. It is a book that I have been enjoying. Elie Weisel, who is a Pulitzer Prize author, writes it and so it is worth reading. Listing to audio books is something like reading a book. It is best to sit and concentrate on the text. I have found that with my wireless headsets I am able to do minor chores and still follow the book satisfactorily. One thing about audio books ii is very important to have a good reader. The reader of the above book is one of the best I have heard. So, audio books is just the other way of enjoying more of life.

Rachel's birthday

Today is Rachel’s birthday. Norma and I only have three granddaughters. They are all special. Wishing, Rachel a Happy Birthday!

I do not know how many words it takes to say that I have nothing to say. Today it should be a normal and usual day for my helping at St. John’s medical Center. I always look forward to my day of volunteering.

If you wish, check for comments.

Garrison Keiller

Public broadcasting showed on TV a program of the Garrison Keillor’s Prairie Home Companion. It is a radio show. I have listened many years and so have listened to many, many of is broadcasts. Recently, they showed a video of his radio broadcast done on stage and I enjoyed it. Years ago he tried to make a series of TV programs of the show. It was a flop. This one that they showed on TV recently was his 30th anniversary stage show. After seeing that on TV I can see why his Saturday night shows that he does on stages in many different cities are always sold out. Garrison Keillor is a remarkable entertainer.

Weather

The weather has become cooler but the days remains sunny. The lowest temperature here on my weather recording system shows that he lowest has been above 50 degrees. The cottage is comfortable and the heating system working well.

Today will be an ordinary Sunday with activities that I enjoy.

Avastin

The Avastin ejection last Monday to help overcome the effects of macular degeneration in the left eye has caused more improvement in its vision than the previous injection have made in the last 11 months. The ophthalmologist said that he would continue with the injections are long they showing improvements. My belief is that in the future I will be able to read with the left eye. We should be thankful for the progress that is being made in drugs and medical techniques.

A substance in the body called vascular endothelial growth (VEGF) factor is responsible for the growth of new blood vessels. It provokes this growth by stimulating the endothelial cells, which form the walls of the vessels and transport nutrients and oxygen to the tissues. Evidence shows that retinal pigment epithelial cells begin to wither from the lack of nutrition. The VEGF goes into action to create new vessels. This process is called “neovascularization” and it acts as a restorative function in other parts of the body. In the retina, however the vessels do not form properly, and leakage results. This leakage causes scarring in the macula eventually, loss of central vision.
Antiangiogenic drugs prevent the VEGF of a binding with the receptors on the surface of the endothelial cells. In most cases, the drug is injected into the vitreous of the eyeball, then pass into the subretinal space, where the vessels proliferate. The neovascularization is then blocked, preventing bleeding into the retina.

Laundry

I do my laundry on every other Friday. My Segway and I look like a high tech bag lady. It works out well. The laundry gets done and in the process and I have good cup of coffee and some good pastry at a nearby little French eating-place.

Thanksgiving day

Everyone, have a happy Thanksgiving! After breakfast this morning at St. John’s medical Center I will be at the restaurant Back On Broadway for a Thanksgiving dinner. I is sponsored by the city of Santa Monica and served in a nice restaurant. They provide a typical Thanksgiving dinner. There will be people there that I kmw. I will wish and be with family members, but they will be in my thoughts.

Turkey Terms

Caruncle - brightly colored growths on the throat region. Turn right red with the turkey is upset or during courtship.

Gizzard - a part of the birds stomach that contains tiny stones. It helps them grind up food for digestion.

Snood - the flap of skin that hangs over the turkey’s beak. Turns bright red with the turkey is upset or during courtship.

Wattle - the flap of skin under the Turkey’s chin. Turns bright red with a turkey is upset or during courtship.

Poult - a baby turkey. A chick.

Tom - a male turkey, also called as gobbler.

Today in history

Nothing was reported that seemed interesting enough to comment on in the list of things that happened In Today In History.

That is about the way that it looks for my today in history, everything as usual. Usual days are all right, too.

Have a good day!

ARMD

As a treatment for wet Age Related Macular Degeneration (ARMD) off-label use of Avastin is quickly replacing Macugen due to its more impressive success rate.
Dr. Rosen yesterday gave me the injection of Avastin rather than the Macugen I had been getting every six weeks. I had read about this new treatment. Today at 9 a.m. as is normal a day after the injection, Dr. Rosen checks that everything is OK. I will be pleased if the improvement reported by other people takes place.

Check out yesterday's comment, if you wish.

The left eye

Today is the day. at 1:30 I will be back at Kaiser to see my opthmalogist, Dr. Rosen. He has been giving me an injection of Macugen in the left eye once every six weeks. The treatment has been improving the vision of that eye. Yesterday at church, I was able to see, with my left eye, the minister at the podium. I could not recognize who it was but at least I knew that there was someone there. I expect this improvement in that eye to continue. The right eye is normal. The treatment is not without some discomfort. I know that it is worthwhile.

Entertainment

People often ask what do you do in your retirement? It is hard to explain everything. The following are some of the things I do for entertainment around this cottage. Here is a list of some of the equipment. A TV set, three AM FM radios, cassette player, two C D players, VHS tape player and recorder, two DVD players, computer with a choice of hundreds of radio stations from all over the world. With the computer I can connection to the Santa Monica public library where they have ebooks to read on the screen; there are 765 audio books recorded since 2000 to listen to whenever you choose and a new Sudoku puzzle from Australia each day. I also have my wireless headset. I do not get many visitors but do get a visitor now and then. Wouldn’t you wonder how I could find time for a few naps?

The Segway

The Segway Human Transporter is still being very useful. With daylight savings time ended it is necessary that that I ride to dinner after dark. I have two LED lights on the front so that people can see me coming. There is considerable white on the jacket that I wear. On the back of it is a very bright flashing set of red LED’s. I ride on the sidewalk carefully and slowly. The Segway is an important piece of equipment in my life. It is remarkable. It has not given any trouble.

If you wish, check yesterday's blog for its comment.

Digital use

The digital age is still adding new features that are helping people. They have started a system at the Santa Monica library where people can read books on their computer. I do not like reading books on my computer screen, but I can see were it will help people who cannot get out. They also have a new feature where you can download audio books. I have tried to and find it to good. I have downloaded Dickens “Great Expectations“ and it comes to my computer and remains in storage. I can’t listen on my wireless headsets. It is very easy to use the quality is very good. Environmentally it is a savings as it saves on material and energy, as people do have to drive as much.

Online review

After watching the DVD “The Hour” I was not impressed and would not have recommended that movie. After going to Google and reading an online review of it I would have been able to enjoy the movie and highly recommend. Now whenever I rent a DVD I will go to the online review of it. Now I have “Don Juan DeMarco”. An online Google review states that this film may not go down in the annals of Hollywood history as one of the classic but it took me somewhere else for a little while kept me there. May be a will do the same for you. Now, I think I will enjoy the movie.

Having a great day

Yesterday was such a normal day that I have nothing new to report. Today the weather will be lovely and I will be working on a number of small projects, no unusual events.

Have a great day.

Cold feet

Sitting around in the evening with my feet cooler that they wish they were has been the condition for a few years. Now the news of the day is that cold feet could cause you to have more colds. That was news that I was pleased to hear. Now I am wearing a pair of heavy socks in the evenings with comfort and knowing that I am doing the right thing. I have been fortunate in the last few years to have very few colds

Visiting at Wayne's

Being at Wayne’s on Saturday and Sunday made a nice weekend. On Saturday Caynth and her Girl Scout’s went to what is called a rope event. It took place on the grounds of University of California at San Luis Obispo. Two groups of Girl Scouts perform feats high in the air on the ropes. They showed more courage than could ever have been expected. The weather in the area would not have been better. We had been visiting and good food. They are all doing well. It was so good to be with them for a couple of days.

A visit to Wayne's

I do not have cabin fever and have not been out of the area for quite some time. This Saturday and Sunday I will be at Wayne’s. United Airlines has space available and Wayne can’t pick me up and dropped me off in Santa Maria. It will be good to spend some time with them. The present weather pattern has completed its rainy cycle and the weather looks bright and clear for the weakened.

"Hours"

I picked up the DVD “Hours” at a video source about three blocks down the street. The story interweaves the stories of three women. It may be set in 1923 or 1951 or 2001, but it is always Now. The actresses are well known. I get to keep it for about a week. I rent one about once a week.

Volunteering

No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted. This is what I think about the one day a week of volunteering at St. John’s medical Center.

Thanksgiving

The subject of eating appears in this blog often. That may because most of us eat three times a day, and so it gives us a subject to talk about. Religion and politics are not often discussed here. Is better that those two subjects are discussed one-to-one. I have my ticket for this year’s Thanksgiving dinner. It will be at a good restaurant called Back on Broadway. This will be my fourth time that I have enjoyed their Thanksgiving dinner. Having Thanksgiving with the family is much preferred, but there will be many there that I know. And so I will be with good company. Traveling on Thanksgiving is not always easy.

Eating Out

Had dinner yesterday at dinner at the UCLA medical Center cafeteria. The entrée choice for the evening was salmon or pot roast. The pot roast was excellent and the salmon was reported to be good. I have not been eating there as often as I have in St. John’s medical Center cafeteria, as the vegetables are better there. This coming Wednesday Santa Monica’s will have Mexican food and I will be there. I do quite well with my eating out. The price is also good.

OWL

Our Whole Lives, OWL, a sexuality education program has been completed. This was a UU 20 hour course occurring during six sessions. The attendance varied between 20 and 8 participants. It was an in depth, participatory discussion of every aspect of sexual lives. They reviewed a lot that already is known and we learned a few new things. It is a great course for young people and for people of all ages.

An interesting game

If you have any desire to try Sudoku the following web site will take you to the game, www.sudoku.com.au. It is from a web site in Australia where there is a day’s and some hours of difference in the time. That may be the reason why I sometimes get the message “not available.” That site also has a printer friendly version with the solution and with many bells and whistles. If you are working the game and wished to leave you can save that game. When the game is correctly completed you get a lovely picture. There is even a timer and you can leave comments. I don’t know where or how anyone could present a better presentation.

Birthday

Bonnie’s birthday will be this weekend. We are all adding years to our lives. If all of the brothers and sisters add up their age and if the sister-in-laws added their ages to that number, it would be impressive. Wishing her a happy birthday!

A good day

Yesterday was a busy day. I had breakfast at The International House of Pancakes, walked the Palisades along and above the ocean the ocean, bought grapefruit at Farmers Market on Arizona Avenue and had a coffee at the sunday at McDonald’s. In the evening I watched the DVD, “The Human Stain“. It is a very good movie. A good day.

A quick note

Just a few words to let you know that nothing new here.

Have a good day.

Sudoku

Crossword puzzles have been a challenge for me for years. I never did get very good at them. Two many of the words be filled in were taken from the sports scene, the movie and entertainment industry, not my favorite area of expertise. A brand new puzzle comes along that is knocking the world off its orbit, Sudoku. It is a wordless crossword puzzle, just numbers and logic. I like Sudoku after I have tried a few puzzles. If you do not wish to get hooked or addicted, you are warned not to try them.