Campfire

[snowball]

July has three birthdays in my dd's family one gd on the 16 and twins boy and girl on the 26th so we celebrated by heading down to
Utah to go to Lagoon Amusement park...think this is the most fun I've had at it ..it's been awhile since I've been there and they have
changed some of course they've added new adult size rides ones I'll never ride on but they've added in between ones it seems
like when the kids were young that the kids part had only 4-5 rides and no in between now they have lots of rides that all ages could go
on although still the height has to be think it was 40 inches by the youngest who is almost 6 I think she in going into first grade exceeded that but
she is one tall kid went on this swing that's been there for years since Lagoon opened I believe went on it twice...my daughter convinced me to
go on this ride in the in between stage it's so short mom and see that is as high as it goes..last time I believe her yes she was right it was short and
it was not a tall hill but you still went perpendicular hate roller coasters...went on lots though so got my days pass's worth I think loved seeing
my son with his daughter hard to explain but it was just cute and he bribed her one snow cone ro slushy for each scary ride he too her on a wicked one
she cried the whole time but she got her snow cone...although I don't think he will get her on it again...just a fun time for all and for the most part we were all there missing was dd husband he had to work at 4;30 her daughter she is only 18 months and too short for about anything dil she stayed with there youngest as she wouldn't have enjoyed it therefor noone else would have and is only 20 months old and grandson who was left in Id as he had to work and the gd the marine who is in CA was so nice to be with most of them
then back home on Sunday will be going down to Utah early part of Aug to take care of the two girls so son and wife can go to AK on a cruise will be fun for them
sheila

[JudyJB]

Campfire needs another log thrown on.

No satellite TV for me tonight because trees are in the wrong place! So, I have dug out a bunch of old DVDs of Broadway musicals. Am playing one of my favorites--Smoky Joe's Café, which was based on the music of Jerry Lieber and Mike Stoller and is performed by an incredible cast of singers and dancers. (Was lucky to see two live performances in the 1990s.)

Even if you have never heard of them, I guarantee you have heard their music. Hound Dog, Yakkety Yak, Spanish Harlem, Stand by Me, Poison Ivy, Love Potion #9, Little Egypt, On Broadway, and Jailhouse Rock are just a few--great music and beautifully done in this musical. Makes for a great evening.

Slowly working my way northeast. Posted on Niagara Falls and Steinbeck's Travels with Charley lately.

[Redetotry]

I had a strange experience at my yearly eye appointment and wonder if anyone has had a similar experience. During my appointment last week I told the first person that checked various things that I had noticed my vision was getting worse. They went ahead and dilated my eyes and sent me off to wait for the optometrist. After his exam he told me my cataracts were worse. At my other yearly appointments I've always thought they were talking about a cataract in only one eye, but this person said oh no, you never have them in just one eye. He told me that changing my prescription wouldn't help my vision because of the cataracts. So when he was finished with me I said, I do want to get new glasses as these have a crack. He thought for a minute and then said ,well you will need to come back for a vision check since your eyes have been dilated, maybe if we increase the strength in your glasses it will improve your vision. Just a few minutes ago he said it wouldn't help!
This seems to be a new procedure now as I'm talking to others, you go in for a yearly exam, they dilate the eyes then say you have to make another appointment for a vision check.

Has anyone else had a similar experience of having to make two appointments or been told that cataracts always appear in both eyes? This is the biggest eye center in the area and I've seen this same optometrist before but I'm sure having second thoughts about my experience this year.

[JudyJB]

That seems very strange. First, I was told I have a beginning cataract in my left eye, but nothing in my right eye. Second, why did they not give you a routine vision check BEFORE they dilated your eye? Sounds to me like they goofed and forgot. I have not been in for two years and am overdue for an eye check, but I have never had to make a second appointment.

Got to a new campground tonight and discovered that the 30A receptacle was occupied by a long cord going into the next door tent! They have a trailer and a sleeping tent, I assume for extra people. Called the camp people to verify that that was my hookup, and they said to disconnect it since no one was home at that site. I was also a little concerned that the fire ring was too close to my vehicle, so I moved it over, but so far they have not started a fire. And on my site, the fire ring was moved up from its original location so it was right where I wanted to have my side door. Never heard of people moving fire rings before, but I picked this one up and rolled it to under the picnic table. Chose this campground because it was right in Burlington, VT, and I wanted to ride my bike to their downtown and lakefront, and the bike trail is right here.

Another weird thing today. I was visiting Fort Ticonderoga, and there was a troop of about a dozen boy scouts and their leader who were also visiting. The leader was loudly shouting commands and marching them in two rows military-style from one exhibit to another! Then they stood at attention while someone explained each location. Never knew the boy scouts to march around like that. Unless I am really out of the loop these days, I suspect the leader was just showing off. The kids were not participating in the fort re-enactment or anything.

[gypsyrose1126]

I just had my eyes checked about a month ago, only 1 visit. But I don't have cataracts-- They dilated my eyes after the did everything else.
This is what the National eye institute says: "A cataract can occur in either or both eyes. It cannot spread from one eye to the other".

[Acadianmom]

I have gone to an eye doctor (ophthalmologist) not an optometrist for years. That is not how they do things there. If you are going to need cataract surgery at some time I think I would find a doctor now so they would be familiar with your vision. It doesn't make much sense to me that they would dilate your eyes first and make you come back. They have always given me a prescription and I could get my glasses there or go anywhere I wanted. I usually went to Discount Optical.

Martha

[BirdbyBird]

I agree that someone should have waited until after the annual exam before dilating your eyes. The issue that they are now seeing cataracts in both eyes is probably not that unusual though. My question to them now would be, are you going to be charged an additional office fee for having to come back? I believe there are limits to the correction they can achieve when dealing with cataracts.

[Bethers]

They screwed up - you should have had the exam FIRST. And, yes, you can have a cataract in just one eye. I think you should get a free exam now. That was just not a good thing, the whole thing. So, if you're now uncomfortable with them, I'd pay and go elsewhere.

[Bethers]

I have to do some long, hard thinking about whether I'll come back next year if offered the position and terms could be reached. Plus, I've only ever gone the same place two summers in a row - so do I want to come back a third to the same place? I think, if offered, I might have to wait till the last minute to decide. I hate having to use money as a major force in decisions ... so whether or not I end up going to Amazon might be a deciding factor, also.

Next week I finally get the colonoscopy I've been putting off for years. Then the day after that I have my annual physical. Such fun lol

Sturgis is over, and it while a few days were crazy, it didn't last as long as expected and what a let down. I wanted at least a few more busier days. Anyone who wants to come up here - and avoids August because of Sturgis, should come immediately after - cuz things are really quiet. I think most people avoid all of August. So a hint, the week after, well, it's a good week to be here.

[monik7]

Four years ago I was fed up with glasses. I had never worn them until my 40s when I started with reading glasses. Eventually it became necessary for me to get progressive lenses and wear the glasses full time. I hated them. One night on a Thursday on my way home from babysitting I heard an ad on the radio for a procedure called RESTOR (not sure if there's an "e" on the end). The doctor treated members of the 49ers football team. I learned it was a procedure used for cataracts (which I did not have). They told me if I had cataracts my insurance would most likely cover it. Since I didn't have cataracts, I paid full price. It was definitely worth every penny. I got an appt. for the next day and they asked me to come back for an additional test Monday. They said even though I did not have cataracts, the procedure would correct my vision. I had the first eye done the next day on Tuesday. They remove your faulty lens and insert a new artificial lens. I had the second eye done a week later. The surgery was painless and I was awake both times. Time involved including getting there well before the surgery was about 3 hours for each procedure. It only required drops in each eye for about a week after each procedure. I now have 20-15 vision in both eyes. When I went to the DMV in March to renew my driver's license, I had to take the eye test. I breezed through it and the lady didn't believe it and questioned me twice if I had contacts on. I haven't heard any of the ladies here who've had cataract surgery talk about anything similar to what I got, but it's been a miracle for me. I would recommend it to anybody.
Sandi

[beazle]

Sandi, your eye procedure sounds a lot like my husband's surgeries. He did have cataracts, and so the vision correction component was a private pay add-on to a covered procedure. He had both eyes done, 2 weeks apart, and a slightly different approach for the second eye because the astigmatism was less severe. Regardless, he has new lenses in both eyes, and can see wonderfully, using glasses only for close reading now. Previously he had terrible vision all his life, and could not see my face in front of him from 4 feet away with the best correction. Now, the poor man has to see my face without blurred vision, but he doesn't seem to mind. To him, it was miraculous and worth the $2100 each eye we paid. It's a modern variation of the LASIK surgery, done with lasers and implanted lenses.
Unfortunately, the eye surgery increases the risk of retinal detachment, so 2 years after his cataracts, he had that, too. But, we got through that and his vision was once again restored. Still strongly in favor of having it done if recommended by your ophthalmologist.
Eileen

[Acadianmom]

Sandi, the eye surgery you had is the same as when there are cataracts except your lenses hadn't gotten cloudy yet. I haven't been to the DMV yet but I think I can probably pass the eye test. I just need glasses to see up close. I could have had one eye done for close and one for far but I never did like that idea. Medicare and my supplemental insurance paid for everything except $120 on each eye.

Martha

[Bethers]

Martha, they recommended one eye either way for me, also. I wouldn't do that. And they said chances were if they corrected mine for distance I'd still need reading glasses. That wasn't an option to me either.

Glad it's worked well for those of you who've had it.

[JudyJB]

My mother also had a retinal detachment a year after cataract surgery, so I will put it off as long as possible. Even though they reattached her retina, her vision was never quite the same and she eventually ended up legally blind. It is not a common thing to have retinal detachments after this surgery, but it does happen and since it happened to my mother, at least I know what to look for.

Which reminds me, if you suddenly lose vision in one eye, have a "curtain" descending in your vision from the side or the bottom or top, or have shooting stars or a lot of sudden black floaters in one eye, go to an ophthalmologist or major medical center immediately. And immediately means today, not tomorrow. No waiting for the morning--go at night if it happens then. The faster you get surgery for a reattachment, the less damage to your retina!

[Bethers]

Good advice, Judy. I always try to stay quiet when anyone talks cataract surgery as my Mom had problems after hers also. I feel a little comforted that my sister had it without problems, but I sighed with relief again this year when I was told there's no sign of the start of them in my eyes, yet.