My post-op #2 revealed both eyes doing great!  Once I’m done with home treatments in a couple of weeks, and go to my final exam in October, I can get prescription reading glasses mostly covered by my insurance except for blue-light filtering for screen-time.  As for driving, I now see better without glasses, although at some point I’ll need light-reactive, glare-resistant, etc., lenses for driving, whenever my insurance will cover another pair, maybe in a year or two.

So I took myself food-shopping, thanks to more of Robert’s gift card, then to Avdi’s.  Not surprisingly, the latest extreme heat advisory has been extended through Saturday.  It’s just one long tropical summer around here.  I think I may be allowed to go swimming now.  All I did out there today (and yesterday) was some watering and photos.

It’s 101º FEELS LIKE 115!!  So much for cooling off.  All that’s missing is flamingos, palm trees, alligators, and an ocean.  For now!  The ocean is the only feature I miss.

All I did outside was make some plant cuttings to root and propagate, repot a couple of N’s downstairs plants and move them outside because they needed it, cut some fall (FALL??) native flowers to bring in, and take some photos.  It’s an actual furnace out there.

Avdi and S jumped in the pool, which was strangely cold in this heat.  I wanted to, but I can’t while my eyes are healing.  At this rate, it will be summer all fall, so I may get my chance again.

Full disclosure, we didn’t grow the white pumpkin.

I’m getting back in the swing of things at the Avdi’s.  In the seeing of things!  Here are some things I saw:

(Can you find the hiding dog?)

I drove over to A’s yesterday evening for the weekly meeting; on the way I took off my distance glasses, and–I could see even more clearly and farther without them!!  Just as the doc said I might!  Everything was so focused and sharp!

When I got there, I just stared and stared at the yard,  I saw lots of different butterflies perched way on top of the Mexican sunflowers.  Many of the fall natives have started to bloom, white and yellow, and I could make them out from a distance.  (Also all the dead stuff from the continued drought; I think I’ll be ok to just water, and straighten things up in the house.)

After the first eye surgery, I was like an invalid in quarantine; this time around I’m too anxious to get back to work!  And excited about my “new” eyesight– I want to go out and look at things!  I have to restrain myself until it’s ok to get back to normal.

I know, it’s all about me!  Just indulge me, until after I get my new prescription reading glasses, then I’ll go back to droning on about nature and kids, with the occasional political rant, as usual.

Loucious has been sick, and couldn’t even eat, which is unusual for him; now he’s on meds and hopefully recovering.  Poor doggie!  I was so proud of him, because he went straight to the back fence to do his business like he’s supposed to, without being coaxed or led.  I’ve been away, so he remembered all on his own.

I was able to go to the grand finale of N’s musical “Ride the Cyclone” last night, courtesy of a ride with Stacey.  It’s hard to put into words just how superb and masterful a production the kids put on.

N was beyond brilliant as Karnak; I get chills just remembering his role.  As Stacey said, you could almost hear the gears turning, it was so compelling.  I recognized most of the cast, who were absolutely incredible actors and singers.  The girl who played Jane Doe was magnificent, and her voice was opera-quality.  More chills!

These kids are so talented, I again felt like I had been to a Broadway (or off-B) production, and would probably find the latter to be less genuine!  Mr. Schaefer is listed as Producer, but I understand it was the kids who did the actual producing and managing.  Just the rehearsals took months!  You could tell.  These kids may or may not go on to be drama professionals, but they easily could.

Like I said, words don’t even begin…

I feel honored to have been there–and grateful to have seen it clearly without my glasses!  (My phone cam is officially blinder than I was!)

It’s only the first day after surgery, but I feel like I’m seeing much more clearly at a distance.  Amaze amaze amaze!!

Yesterday I was telling my driver how my insurance will only cover the standard distance OR closeup surgery, with no added enhancements.  She and I agreed it shouldn’t be that way for a basic human need, vision, just as with dental.  Only rich people get to have the full improvements available.  That’s our current system.  Still, I’m grateful for what I can get, with help.

So with an upgraded closeup prescription, I’ll be able to see to read with glasses, which I have to do already, so that’s not bad.

Speaking of enhancements, here is my expanded apartment jungle, with the plants I brought home, before I give some more away.  My mini-climatron.

It didn’t rain as much as expected, but it did cool down a little.  Once I can get back to “work”, the timing should just work out for preparing the garden for dormancy and convalescence.  I’m looking forward to it.

Today I had my right eye surgery, and it appears to have gone well.  This time I knew the drill, so I wasn’t nervous.  Just like the first time, I remember nothing after I was sedated.  I did remember David the anesthesiologist!  Also like last time the nurses and technicians complimented me on not looking my age, and what’s my secret?  I said gardening.

Next my driver took me to my post-op, where I recognize most of the doctors, nurses, and technicians.  They examined me and determined everything looks good.

Now I’m recuperating at home for a few days.  My first destination was bed!

It rained last night, so I’m not worried about the garden.

Here are photos from yesterday.  After I cleaned up all the potted tropicals at Avdi’s, I brought them home, and was able to share a couple, as well as more veggies, with one of my neighbors.  Others will go to Stacey.  My apt jungle has grown!

Just look at all the life basking in the late summer heat.  It’s like a living sculpture garden.  I think that’s part of why I don’t just keel over and die!  Too many discoveries yet to be made.  So many beers yet to try.

I’ve been purposely not commenting (barfing) on the latest antics of trump and his idiots.  He’s obviously (and medically) utterly demented and delusional.  They take your keys away for much less.  Yet he insanely still has nuclear codes and declares war every five minutes.  He’s maniacally genociding whole populations here and abroad.  He’s a small mind with grandiose delusions of megalomania.  And his Borg thugs just prop his decaying ass up and pretend nothing’s out of the ordinary.

“All you zombies show your faces
All you people in the street
All you sittin’ in high places
The pieces gonna fall on you!”

The Hooters, 1983…almost 1984.

OK, where was I?  In the garden, where it’s sane and not unnaturally hideous.

It’s actually bearable out.  I did some gardening: cleaned up and hand-cultivated the two raised beds by the fence, removing all the gourd vines that were starting to fade while I was at it.  I moved the potted tradescantias to the patio beds.  I watered everything again, so by the time I have surgery and sequester at home, hopefully the garden will survive.  Still harvesting big juicy tomatoes, eggplant, and zucchini.

These black swallowtail caterpillars suddenly showed up all over the remaining parsley and dill.  I was wondering where they were all season.  I’ve seen the butterflies, just not their cats.  In fact, a half dozen or more of various butterflies have been happily  congregating around their favorite flowers.

It’s cooler today, only supposed to reach 90º or so!  Pretty quiet here.  Y had a friends sleepover.  Stacey is here to take N to rehearsal (where else) and K/S to the Japanese Festival at MOBOT, while S stays here.  I am thinking garden thoughts while I still can.  In a few days I get my other eye surgery, then restricted again.

Here’s what I’ve got so far.  More later.