great news, okay news

No glasses for the next two weeks. I don't know if it makes me more or less attractive. I look a whole lot like mom. And oddly David.
 

Yesterday's surgery went okay.  I'm typing, so I can see. Great news. 

I left afib Sunday so that load of stress was eliminated.  My BP was 155/75 but the nurse said that was okay. The surgery was much different than before. The last time I was in a chair, more like a dental chair and only partially back. This time I was laying flat. Actually, I think slightly more than flat. Last time they didn't strap me or my head down. This time they did. Because I was looking at the ceiling, and not a wall, the dark period didn't bother me a lot. It was weird but she was giving me the play-by-play so it didn't disturb me. I think I was in and out of there in two hours. I hadn't eaten since midnight so we went for ice cream. I enjoyed every calorie.

Sharon called hysterical at 5 to make sure I could see. Yes she was worried because I'm her sister, but she was more worried because I'm her Uber. Pat didn't seem to care one way or the other. I couldn't see to type. Thankfully I pre-wrote a mass email. All I had to do was hit send. Thank goodness for other family and friends. They wrote back.

I came home with a plastic covering but when I put drops in I could see the world was much brighter and at least in the mid-field more crisp. I called it high def.  As the evening wore on my vision worsened. I think it was the plastic shield. That thing was nasty when the doctor had me remove it today. I wear it to bed for a week.

Before the surgery I had three drops that I took a lot. Plus my three regular drops. They gave me a little chart.

 

 

At today's appointment I received this huge chart. Plus, of course my three regular drops.

She looked at my eye and said everything looked great. I couldn't even read the big E on the chart so I can't drive. I could if I had two eyes. I go back Monday. If I can read the chart then I get to drive. If I can't I have to wait until I go back the 15th when they do my eye exam. Then I'll get my new glasses if I need them. I might just need reading glasses. (The computer is fine. The phone and print not so much.)

The hardest part is keeping my hands out of my eyes. I've stopped myself twice. The grossest part is the chronic booger in the corner of my eye. 

After a trip to Waffle Hose (inside joke) I returned home. Told Pat that I couldn't drive till Monday and she took it personally. But my medicine is ready at CVS. How am I going to get it? A) You have enough till Saturday. B) It's 3/4 mile a way. They didn't operate on my feet. I'll go get it.

 

Sharon immediately got hysterical. But I have a doctor's appointment Monday. Don't worry Sharon I got you a new Uber driver. Make sure you buy her breakfast. I'm buying mine lunch.

I decided I'd go the market as well and I grabbed two bags and set off like it was any ordinary walk. Totally forgetting about afib and sore legs. I made it till Seminole Street before my body reminded me.  I think it was because it was all downhill or flat. They were doing construction at the 5-points so I had to wait there a bit to cross and didn't stop again until I got to CVS. I looked at "readers" while I was there. I didn't buy any. I want to check out Dollar Tree. This is going to take some trial and error.

I then headed to the market, got a few groceries and split them between bags. I started hoofing my way to the five points and had just crossed Carlton when I had to stop. Shit. My body was remembering. And it did not like carrying groceries. I waited again at the five points for the flagger to cross me. I stopped again at Ontario. This was beginning to be an every block thing. Instead of fighting it, I embraced it.

It's the longest I've walked in weeks.

Miles/Steps:   Less than 2 miles
Weather:          83, sunny

monday is the big day

(My excuse for sidewalks and stairs. Really, it's not great labor except for around the tree. Vinegar, salt and dawn in a squeeze bottle and squirt it when it's not going to rain. Dead by the next day. And no crap in the soil. The tree required shears.)

I've totally failed this month, again, at walking. I have no desire to do anything. Yet alone walk. At least alone. Frankly if it wasn't for Pat I wouldn't do Milly either. Or ride Sharon's hand-me-down Cubii. ("Have you rode that f'n thing today?" she barks.) OMG you should see my yard...and my sidewalks. I am an embarrassment to the neighborhood. And if you've seen the 'hood lately that's saying a lot.

I no longer care. But I do care.

When school ended in May I was going to read, walk, and spend quality time on a manuscript. Once a week I was going to leave the Lehigh Valley to walk. I was going to rack up kilometers on my volkssport books. Maybe even rack up some pics to place on the volkssport FB page. Summer is a drought for content. But, as always, nothing goes to plan.

I spent the first 4-5 weeks working. So many projects were suddenly on my plate and not a single one was going right. I had to redo the redos. I had serious problems to solve. It was exhausting. Compounded when I started seeing "double".

Then totally uncharacteristic for me I went to the eye doctor to address the issue. Scheduled surgery, and promptly failed my physical. I ended up in ER with AFib. Surgery cancelled. It took a week to come out of it. The drugs left me sluggish. I had difficulty walking a mere mile.

A week later I went to the cardiologist, she cleared me for surgery. By June 29 I was back in AFib with wonky readings on my BP and crazy heart rates. It lasted 5 days. And as quick as it came it was over. I thought finally, things are getting back to normal. Last Thursday I went again for my physical. I passed.

Tuesday night I went to the theater with Bonnie and Barb and we went to the Thai restaurant for dinner. Tuesday night is also the first time I've driven in the dark since all this began. It was harrowing. Every headlight, sign, reflector, porch light, street lamp was double, triple or more. (Hell, even the actors were double.)

Wednesday I got my first wacky blood pressure reading. Okay, I think, maybe it was the black Thai tea. I should not have had all that caffeine. (There is more than in a Coke!) I forget tea has a lot of caffeine. Or maybe it was salty. Though it didn't taste salty. I was careful eating yesterday in case that was the issue. I felt fine. But I always feel fine.Heart wise, anyway.

I woke up today and my watch told me it was 6:54 am and my heart rate was 177. I just opened my eyes! I didn't even go to the bathroom yet. When I checked the tracker later I got the message that they couldn't get a resting heart rate no no detailed sleeping data. Shit. A little later I took my BP I got three totally different numbers five minutes apart. The highest 220. The lowest second number was 70. The highest 100. And my heart rate had similar leaps. It was confirmed. Like a recurring nightmare it was back. The lowest was 140. No now stupid AFib. I have surgery Monday.

So I did what anyone would do. No, I didn't call a doctor. Bonnie would do that. I took a walk. If I couldn't make it to the top of the hill I knew there was an issue. But I made it. I had to stop once to get my jelly legs back, but still made it up no problem. I had no crazy chest pains. I'm going to have to walk flat surfaces and build up my stamina again.

But this got me thinking. I passed both my cardiologist and my physical. I got the go ahead from two doctors. My surgery is on MONDAY. What happens if this doesn't convert again? Will they send me home, will they do it anyway? Will I have done a crazy schedule of drops for 3 days for nothing?

What if they need to reschedule again? School starts in a month will I be able to see? And what happens when it starts getting dark at 6 pm. Will I be able to drive? I never want to go thru that again. Will I be able to work? I can use my computer/phone because it's backlit. The multiple images fade more. Ditto with the Kindle. I had two books there, finished them in a week. I  do not want to give Amazon my money and paper books are hard. The pile from little free libraries grow.

Having jumped into the negative rabbit hole. It occurred to me that, for a few minutes anyway, I won't be able to see if they do the surgery—once they take the lens out and until the new one goes in. For a few minutes the world will be dark.

Then will they cover it with the plastic shield, or will they cover it with gauze. If they cover it with gauze I won't be able to see at least until morning. Do I need to make arrangements? I'm way to large for Pat to handle. I guess I could sleep on the couch and just wear the same clothes. My appointment is at 7:30 am.

Now people want to know how I am. Already they are asking. I guess I should start an email before I leave with everyone's address in.  Then when I get home, and my vision is cloudy thru a plastic shield, I can see I can report that. If I can't maybe Barb (who's driving me) can type something in. Or maybe this machine has that bitch Siri. Let me check. I do. I'd have to turn that little spy on. It wouldn't be awful for one day.

If I can see after surgery I'm ahead on the game on my Northampton classes. If I can't it should be an easy transfer to someone else—everything is in Dropbox. I can ask Angel to forward it on. My Warren classes I haven't started prepping for. I requested a syllabus but still haven't got one. Dug thru the website couldn't find one. I pray the one I have from 2018 is not still in use. I'll have to leave them hanging out to dry.

The lawn needs to be done regardless. I'll get the former-kid-next-door here this weekend. And Saturday and Sunday it should be cooler with no rain. I'll get my ass out there with a squirt bottle. The laundry will be done Sunday, but should I clean the house? If I can't see learning to clean will be on the bottom of the re-learn pile.

Bonnie knows where my password file is. I might be able to get her to set things up on auto payment. And apply for social security. Nobody will want a blind art teacher.

Or a blind art director. So this weekend I need to finish the Christmas children's book. The files will also be in the Dropbox just in case someone needs to finish them. (Yes, it's early. We did it early so it would be done and waiting, just in case.)

Should I be making a to-do list? Prep for the worse. Relief in the best.

This weekend is going to be busy. But I'd like to go somewhere pretty. I really don't want my last images to be of a computer screen.

all i need are the compression socks and sandals

High Blood Pressure.

Glacuoma.

Cataracts.

AFib.

Plastic Weekly Pill Case.

Medicare.

Mall Walking.

As much as I try to deny it it I am officially old. Were do I sign up for the compression socks and sandals?

It's ducking humid out today. My house was 85 degrees when I came down stairs at 7 am. It's been that way for several days. Coming off a cool spring, it's quite the adjustment. Apparently Mother Nature has fixed her hormone imbalance.

Yesterday I decided I was going to mall walk. I went so far as to google the malls "mall walking" hours (8-10 am if you need to know.) Then Pat said she wanted to do Milly, in the hot house. I was in no mood to walk after that. I decided I'd go today.

I left about 8:30 but probably didn't arrive until 9:15. I did a lot of errands enjoying the air conditioned car. Advertising above the door was new. Beverage machines in the parking lot and all over the mall were new. At least too me. But then I go to the mall maybe once a year. I can see the ones by the bus station, but inside the mall with all the food places? Really? American's can't shop for an hour without a beverage?

 I entered on the second floor and headed toward Penny's. I had to stop and rest at Penny's. Then I headed back toward Macy's. When I reached the escalator, I went downstairs, and headed to the exit for the outside stores/food court, I did the loop there and rested again. Then I continued on to Macy's and back toward the escalator. 

It was here that I realized there are a lot of sexy underwear stores. Being a "basics" kind-of girl I don't get it. Why four lingerie stores? And they are creating a huge Vicky's Secret which will probably replace the two that are there now.

(Okay. Now I can't get Jax's Victoria's Secret out of my head.) 

It was cool in the mall, but it was not cold. The sun beats in those roof windows. I broke a sweat. But it wasn't humid.

 

Afterwards I ate more calories than I burned by getting a frozen chocolate banana. It also told me I'm getting old. I was about half-way thru it when I couldn't eat anymore. There was a day I could eat two if I was given the option.

Sigh.

Miles/Steps:    I have no idea. Probably less than a mile.
Weather:          85, sunny, air quality 65% (moderate), humidity 70%

tried a new trail today

 

Because my get up and go got up and went, I looked for an easier walk today. I wanted something relatively flat, and paved. I didn't want to deal with Eliquis induced fear of falling and bad sidewalks. I decided to try out the new section of the Jordan Creek Greenway today. 

 

This section starts at 2nd and Turner and goes about a half mile to Sumner Street. Then you walk on Sumner a few blocks and resume the trail thru Jordan Park. Upon completion, the entire Jordan Creek Greenway trail will traverse through Allentown and the townships of Whitehall, South Whitehall and North Whitehall and connect many regional parks, including Jordan Park, Jordan Creek Parkway, Covered Bridge Park and the Trexler Nature Preserve. I think that's 14 miles. This section has been only open about 9 months.

 I've done the part on Whitehall a few times, and the portion in Jordan Park a few times.  The one in Jordan Park has the outdoor fitness center. As you can see from this map 7th Street is a real problem. (Upper left hand corner.) The orange line turns dotted. Crossing that street will be like crossing R. 22 at rush hour. Something I'm not willing to try.

I arrive at 2nd and Turner and there is no lot. I had to park on the street. It's a holiday so there is no parking. That area of Allentown is densly populated. There are probably 40 row homes on a block. I lucked out and found a space in front of the home with an orginial (and much better designed than the new one) Pride flag. I'll be able to find my car.

I had to walk about a block back to the trailhead. The sidewalks were worse than my neighborhood. And that's saying a lot.

I was greeted by a a ratty little unleashed dog, and a trail marker sign. I was quickly greeted by another unleashed dog, though this one had a owner. The trail was very busy. There was a lot of dog walking happening.

 

I stopped a lot. Not because I was tired but because I am so unfit my legs feel like jelly if I don't stop. I took it as an excuse to take a lot of photos.

 

Like this one of a ghost sign. The building is being renovated and painted grey. The only part I can read is "American". I'll open it late in Photoshop and see if I can pull more out. Since they are painting the building my guess is they might have powerwashed the words away.

Since this trail runs next to the river, there were several homeless encampments. Many were drying their sleeping bags and clothes.

 

This section of the trail ends and here's where you pick up the city streets. 

 Just follow the little bicycle person and you can't get lost. I turned around and walked back. In total I did a little over a mile but it took 45 minutes. But I'm okay with that. I got my ass out there and did it. And truly, that's all that matters.

And parking by that Pride flag was a stroke of genius. My car was easy to find.

Leaving, I took this mural photo at 2nd and Hamilton.

Miles/Steps:     1+ mile.
Weather:          82, sunny, air quality 53% (Green!), humidity 70%

i got my ass moving

 

June 30th the quarter ended for Volkssport walks. The plan was to stop yesterday and pick of my numbers. I forgot by the time I got home so I had to go today. Normally I park at the Comfort Suites, walk to the Hotel B and then come back via the Fahy Bridge. Today I did not.

I am just tired all the time with these new meds. And my legs feel like jelly. Add in a fear of falling and I pretty much don't want to do anything.

Today I parked on Main at Sharon's House near Garrison. Then I walked the FOUR blocks to the Hotel to collect the numbers. I stopped four times in two blocks. Now that is a hill and I do normally stop once, but four times? I got a long break waiting to cross broad and only stopped once in the next two blocks. I went to the hotel and gathered my numbers. It was cold in there so I hung around a bit and listened to American Standards that the pianist was playing for the brunch crowd.

I left and headed back to Sharon's. This section was uphill as well. Standing in the doorway of The Flying Egg was my brother Davids doppelganger. I stopped dead in my tracks. I'm guessing it was some long lost relative on my Dad's side. The doppelganger was not burdened with a oxygen supply. Seeing him made me notice this traffic box. 

I stopped once more at the latin restaurant in the Woolworth Building to read the menu. Walking was getting a little easier and we were headed for a downhill. When I arrived at Broad and there was 8 seconds left to cross the street I tried to book it. I was not across by zero.

Walking down the hill I was starting to feel confident. Maybe I could walk a little further. But my heart rate was at 125 and I didn't want to push it. I think I need to stick to flat places for a bit. And basically start over. One block today. Two blocks tomorrow, until I build myself back up.

I drove to the south side and grabbed those numbers as well. I even took a selfie. Too bad the hotel guest ruined my pic. Oh well, at least my face is hidden.

Miles/Steps:     eight city blocks.
Weather:          85, sunny, the air quality is down to yellow and 84. A little more and it will be good again. Humidity 71%

Yesterday was the first day of my 30 minutes a day challenge. Oops. I walked a dog that sniffed every two steps, mowed and cleaned up the yard. Put away stuff in the garage and managed to send a sheet of glass to the floor which only nicked my thumb. I left out one drop of blood. Maybe not even one. Cleaned up class. All that took at least 30 minutes.