I Think I Done Good

On the interviews. I'm really really leaning to the 2nd, as for some reason I feel there would be less of me working BOH, but we'll see. Ha ha. Get it?

OH! And I DROVE THE CAR today for the first time since February. It was weird, and I'm still on the fence on if it was smart to do or not. My right eye made me feel like I had an extra blind spot, but I had to get to these interviews, and there was no way busing (bussing?) it would work. I have to admit, I got a huge thrill out of it. Felt like I just got my license for the first time! But I'm going to not drive again until after eye 2 gets done. It was just a little too unnerving. Or maybe I'm just being paranoid after not being behind the wheel for almost 7 months...

And I forgot how much bicyclists make me angry. Especailly ones that are in THE MIDDLE OF THE CAR LANE and have a dumb ass back pack that has a painting of a gas pump = stick man shooting himself in the head. Really. I'm all for carpooling, alt means of transportation, but 99% of the time, but ppl on the bikes don't follow the rules of the road and run red lights, stop signs, and don't ride safe. Swear, they make me crazy. Okay, that vent is done.

Ah, My Eye Doctor Said "Yo Adrienne" Today

But I still adore him. Will let it slide because he is a snappy dresser. He had on a fabulous tie today.

Anyhoo, looks like things are coming along great. I'm very excited to get my next eye done on the 4th, but I want to make a few paintings this weekend that kind of express the duality of what I see before it's gone. It's kind of crazy, my eyesight now. Clarity on the left, and madness on the right. I feel like Two Face from Batman sometimes. But I get to wear makeup again in about 2 weeks! Mascara, here I come!

Been eating much better. Bean salads, roasted broccoli, chickpeas, salad salads, trying to get rid of bread (oh, but I love my bread). My girlfriend Alex just sent me a recipe for cream cheese sauce that I can use on pasta. If I use it on Whole Wheat Pasta with my roasted broccoli, does that make it okay? Gar. I love cream cheese. I really love it. Esp the chive onion Philly. NOM for cucumber/cream cheese sammaches. On pita or whole grain bread. Can that cancel out like Twinkies and Diet Coke? Oh, I miss the 80's sometimes....

Two, count them, TWO job interviews tomorrow! Both for pizza/italian places. Nice. Very very very (did I say very?) excited and nervous. Worried about the ink. Ppl get a little freaked out about it sometimes, but I don't regret them at all. Which makes it a strange barrier to overcome as I "don't look like" a girl that is overly tattooed. I don't have dreads, bizarre hair color (today), and dress pretty conservatively. Ask LJ. I'm really norm looking except for the ink and some of the homemade clothes! Okay, maybe the eyepatch throws ppl, but I only have to wear it one more day. Which breaks my heart a bit.

What Happens When A Pirate Forgets to Blog? She's TAAAAAAAAARRRRRRDY!

It's been way WAY too long since I've posted. Sorry, kids. Well, the first eyeball surgery went much better than expected. Swear to god, that I was terrified. Um, yeah, scalpel plus eyeball plus weird little plastic thing inserted into said eyeball equals OMG. The guy that inserted that IV catheter thingy into my hand was NOT GENTLE. This happened Tuesday and my hand still has a huge freaking bruise on it! Other than that, it went really well. I couldn't see the knife carving into my eye, all I could see were pretty colors. Before the whole shebang, I was lying in the cot/bed with the heart rate thing attached to my finger, the IV in, and a blood pressure cuff on. I watched my heart rate and did some breathing/meditation exercises and was able to lower it to below 70. Considering some of the anxiety that I was feeling, I was rather happy with that result.

My doctor was super nice and very reassuring. Next thing I knew, I was being steadied by a nurse at the door while the hub pulled around the car. Went home, and promptly zapped out on the couch for 4 hours. Got up, ate some food and zapped out again. Wednesday, I was pretty wiped out still, so took it easy. I had been able to remove the patch (with the gauze) before bed Tuesday night, but was so wonked that didn't really do anything other than put in my eyedrops. Wednesday was amazing though.

The colors are back. The glorious colors! BLUE! RED! GREEN! THE FREAKING SKY! The trees are detailed! I can recognize my neighbors by sight rather than voice!

My next eye shall be done on the 4th. I can't wait -

Other Funny Stuff

God knows I need it.

I had to get an EKG test today for my surgery. I totally understand that they have to cover their backs and make sure I don't pass out/drop dead on the operating table. But it was FUNNY. Esp since it's called an Electrocardigram. Where does the "K" come from? They put about 8 tapey things on my chest and sides and belly and hooked up jumper cable type things. The whole thing of taping and hooking up and unhooking up and untaping took longer than the test. To shut down the debates that I don't have a heart are now officially declared. The machine says I do. Take that!

Okay, on another funny note, The Rev. Horton Heat is going to be at
First Avenue the night before my surgery. This is one of the few bands that my bro and I agree on. Luckily, I have an "in" and can get us on the pest list. I haven't been to a show with my bro since he was 21. Um, that was a while ago. A LONG while ago. And what the hell. It's free and I need a fun night before getting my eyeball ripped open. Viva NA Beer! Let's see if I can figure out how to embed this...



Oooh! Yay me, I did it!

My life is filled with silly dumb surprises...

ETA: Typotastic.

Sticker Shock

OMG - my fucking eyedrops that I had to get today were nearly $200. I hope to GOD that I don't need to refill them, as that's about it for whatever was left of the generous donations from friends. Found out that my co-pay is also $200 for each eye. What would all this be WITHOUT insurance? I shudder to think.

Tuesday I went in for a weird little pre op thing. They did ultrasounds on my peepers! They numbed my eyes and put this weird cup with the laser thingy and rubbed it on my eyeballs. A very strange sensation. I guess it kind of gave me a bit of a "feel" for what happens Tuesday.

I found THIS great image that kind of explains what I've been seeing for the past few months:

The worst thing is not being able to read a book or do the crossword anymore. It's so FRUSTRATING! Don't get me started on not being able to use the sewing machine... I just want this over with!

Thank You LJ

“I look forward with horror to utter darkness,” Cassatt wrote in 1919, fearing that an operation on her left eye would be “as great a failure as the last one.” It was, and she stopped painting.

This small comment from your NY Times story (which I LOVE), really hit home. Once again, I thank you for everything that you are doing for me now, but for everything that you do. You and Knitty and Alex have really come through for me in ways that I never imagined.

I think I've sewn my last project last night - DANGER! lol. But the painting will continue. I refuse this BS to stop me, and like the article mentioned, I feel that this will be a part of the record of my life.

Had a job interview today which I think went well and they know all about the eyes and are looking to hire in August, when my surgery will be done. Vibes, for that too, please!

Heads Up

I don't know how much I'll be posting here or on Glitter for a while. My eyes are really shot to hell, and the puter glare is killing me. I can't read books/mags anymore (oh, the PAIN of that!), but what I have done is start a blind journal. With any luck, I will make it into an ongoing commentary of my adventures in near blindness. I've started making drawings of what I "see" and it's been interesting so far.

Please be paitient with me. I'll do what I can, but right now I'm typing by muscle memory and can't spellcheck. If Alex, Knitty, or LJ read this, please spread the word. The "brightness" on my moniter is set at 13 right now and I'm still trying to work off of oh hell, I don't even know now.

Didn't they think that Monet had cataracts? Interesting...