I’m now learning that when you get cat surgery for distance only (the most affordable, covered type), your closeup vision does get worse, because the artificial monofocal lens doesn’t adjust like the natural one does.  They didn’t really clarify that pre-op; they just said I’d need to get upgraded reading glasses (prescription or not) after the eyes heal and stabilize completely, which can be months.

It turns out many people had this same experience and weren’t really advised about it.  Not that I had a choice, or more accurately, I had the choice of one or the other, unless I paid thousands out of pocket for the progressive/adjustable lenses (to avoid glasses altogether).

In a less capitalist system, maybe it’s possible for most people to get the comprehensive lenses affordably.  Here, the insurance companies own the parts of your body and assign value to them, on a schedule, and you have to prioritize which can get treatment.  Assuming you can even afford privatized insurance.

I am not complaining; they supplied the basic information I needed to go forward, and met those terms efficiently and thoroughly.  The surgery had to be done, and I chose the most accessible procedure, with help from friends.  My eyes are not done recovering and adjusting, so I’ll reassess in a month or two, when I’ll be cleared for glasses, which is what I signed up for.

Now back to our usual programming.

I must be out of practice doing erev Shabbat, because my challot didn’t rise or get fully baked inside, and the meal was not my most inspired.  But everyone seemed OK with it.

Then A, Stacey, S, N, Y, and I introduced Stacey to Grant’s Farm, for Octoberfest.  We took the tram ride in the dark, past all the different kids of deer and animals grazing in the trees.  Then we had fun with the herd of adorable little goats in their corral.  Then past all the other exotic animals in their pens, to the Anheuser-Busch biergarten with its live music, dancing 🤮, and Free Beer!! 😁  Under the still hot circumstances, even Bud on tap tasted good!

I could still see to drive home in the dark, so no worries.  There’s a large, bright halo around every light, but hopefully that will tone down.

Today I slept in, lounged around, got things done, and then went over to the Avdi’s to supposedly sleep over.  I joined Avdi, Stacey, and S in the pool, my first time since the surgeries, and chilled out.  Then Avdi baked pizzas, and I started to watch “The Terror”, which Stacey turned me on to.  Then it turned out I didn’t need to spend the night after all, so I came back home!  It’s almost like that archaic concept of “the weekend”!

Side note: I can’t believe I accidentally grew a whole pumpkin!