Errata

 

Department of Health: Something wicked this way comes (Ray Bradbury book title)

In the last month: people over 20 feet away looked very wide and their faces were unidentifiable, and reading had become difficult, a combination of missing letters and the need to make the font larger and larger (something nice about the eReaders). 

THB and DB visit the retina doc and it is confirmed: his macular degeneration has worsened and it is time to start the Avastin shots in the right eye. No, not the one that got bit as shown  in the prior post. 

The eye is numbed, the shot takes around 10 seconds, and doesn't hurt.  THB has to apply antibiotic liquid drops 3 times a day for 3 days. Next time and on into the future, drops start three days before and then three days after the shot. Asking a guy with shaky hands to apply drops? At least the eye is a big target.

Normally (like THB is normal in the health department) the shots are given every 5 weeks for 20 to 30 months. 

About 40% of shot recipients see some improvement or stabilization. Other than the change in eyesight and the new procedures, THB continues to feel physically fine. Thank goodness  for audio books! They are more expensive (not an issue for THB who does mind supporting authors and book stores) and generally seem "better" than the printed versions. THB will say more (gosh, really) as part of the annual book list posted in early Jauary.

The machine that confirmed what THB had been (or not been) seeing. First they inject a dye (takes 3 pokes) and quickly take blinding pictures of each eye. The tech has to hold THB's eyelids to make sure the pictures come out ok. 

What Else Can Happen to THB: A long-lasting bridge fell out! Yeah, on a Saturday morning. For those of you with short (or shot) memories, THB had some baby teeth that were not replaced by adult teeth. Eventually some of them fell out. THB suspects that this bridge covered one of those holes.

Department of Revelations: Why do older brains, like THB's, struggle? Because during our formative years so much of what we learned as children is way beyond obsolete now

{ed note: a lot of discursive crap was excised here...you are welcome!}

Department of Corrections

 Sphinx Moth...id'ed by BH!

More news: The eVolvo is back after 5 weeks in the shop.  So far, the a/c is working well. 

Volvo dealer comp'd the tire and paid for one tank of gas (yes, a tank of gas is now $90)

How to send the geese back to Canada? Scare them enough that they will go foraging in some other grassy area

Flambeau Outdoors 5985MS-1 Lone Howler Coyote Decoy (does it howl, too?)

this pic taken from THB's office (aka the second bedroom/exercise room)

Look mommy, someone has been sleeping under the pillows on THB's side of the bed

More S-W updates 

Pea Patch boxes and fence nearing completions (just across the street and a bit west of the loft)

same for greenway-bike path

about 5% of new plants do not survive

Judging by number of units with lights on at night and foot traffic during the day, the place is filling up! Actually quite nice: younger crowd, more dogs for Sandy to play with and in general feels safer. Wait until the park opens next month!

Companion Bakery: A terrific spot in Santa Cruz expanded during Covid and now has a new location in Aptos, just south of Cabrillo College. Definitely better than Ad Astra with a broader selection, better efficiency, and does NOT charge a 15% service charge on what is essentially a to-go business. 

THB cannot figure out what Ad Astra is thinking about since almost all businesses everywhere have a pop-up screen to add a tip when you use a charge card. 

Both Ad Astra and Companion serve Cat & Cloud coffee. 

Companion warms you morning pastries and slices the loaves upon request

Department of Maintenance: although the new front yard at the beach looked great at installation, unfortunately the sedge grass overwhelmed the rocks in several of the new "open" spaces. We are now in the process of burying the bodies...well, isn't that what the pic shows? Actually, we have do dig the rocks out and then kill the grass. THB and DB have done that for two areas already with good success and you can see the 3rd and 4th areas that we have tackled in the pic below. Next we will be tackling a 5th area on the fence  shared  with 208.

that is not a coffin lid leaning against the fence nor are those mummies awaiting internment 

Department of Entertainment: C is staring ballet lessons and DB is escorting her to class on Wednesdays. She seems to have the ballerina posture already figured out. J is going to freestyle dance. Sorry, no pics from day 1 (yet)