Hi Sean,

 RH> everything was looking good and after about 6 years of monitoring it
 RH> with no change, I don't need to see her any more unless it gets worse.
 RH> My regular eye doctor was happy to hear that and also said my eyes
 RH> looked good otherwise. She prescribed progessive bifocals (I'd worn
 RH> them before my cataract surgeries.) with just an astigmatism correction
 RH> on the top--said I'd not have to do the on/off thing all the time in
 RH> situations where I'd need them for close up but not for distance in the
 RH> same setting.

 SD> Thankfully, I don't have to bear the cost of the treatment.  I had

That's always good. We had to go to an ER last night (Steve got a cut on
his arm while lowering part of antenna, 12 stitches.) so went down to
the VA hospital in Durham. Since it was VA, it was no cost for him, just
gas.


 SD> progressive bifoicals a few years ago and while they were good
 SD> glasses, my eyes didn't like them so I went back to standard bifocals.

Steve had a hard time adjusting to progressives, finally was able to by
getting a wider mid section. I've had progressives since the mid 90s;
other than the initial change of lenses adjustment time (a couple of
days), I've never had problems with them.

 SD>  Finding
 SD> someone outside of the VA who would make progressive bifocals with
 SD> prisms in them was nearly impossible within my budget which was
 SD> another reason why I went back to standard bifocals.

That probably would be a pretty penny. Can you get them thru the VA in
your area?

 SD> I can get my prisms in single-vision easily, however, I usually
 need SD> the bifocals while driving as I cannot see anything up close
 properly SD> (like the dashboard!) without the magnification.

I understand. I've been wearing just drugstore readers for the past few
years, pulling them off for distance, putting them back on for reading,
computer, etc.

 RH> Are they a life long necessity or are they discontinued at a certain
 RH> point?

 SD> They are needed until her eyes make a marked improvement.  Mom is 72
 SD> now (that feels really weird to say that) and I do not know if she
 SD> will
 SD> have to continue them for a long while.

Time will tell.


 RH> We went to the VFW Christmas gathering last night at the local
 RH> cafeteria. They catered it, most everything I'd had from regular visits
 RH> there but a broccoli casserole was new--and good. If you've been to
 RH> Cracker Barrel, they've started offering one and I think the one at The
 RH> Forks was similar, but better. I'd had the CB one in October, on our

 SD> I like catered events but without teeth, it can be difficult for me.
 SD> I am now pureeing veggies to get them down with my Nutrimill immersion
 SD> blender after steaming.  Cracker Barrel is always good but around

Sounds like quite the production for meals. They had scalloped potatoes,
shoe peg corn, stewed apples, fried chicken, roast beef in gravy and
rolls, plus choice of several desserts. At the end of the dinner, it was
announced that boxes were available to take home left overs so we took
some apples and beef. I mixed some mushrooms in with the beef, served it
over sourdough miche brot (a Wegman's take on a German bread) for supper
the next night.

 SD> here, they're always really busy.  There's a Bob Evans about a mile
 SD> down the SD> road from CB here in Johnson City which usually isn't

There's a Bob Evans in the area--not sure if it's Raleigh or Durham--but
we've not been to that one. Have been to some while travelling; they
discontinued their chicken pot pie a while ago which was one of Steve's
favorites.

 quite as busy SD> and they're good also.  There's a Shoney's close to
 my apartment which SD> is SD> good.  My friend, Scott (who is a
 disabled vet and a former co-worker SD> of mine), and I go there
 occasionally for their breakfast bar.

We've not been to Shoney's; they usually don't show up when we start
looking for places to eat. Also, CB lets us stay overnight in their
RV/bus parking, some even have dedicated lots for those vehicles.

 SD> I'm starting to cook more at home.  A friend gave me a good used
 SD> Black+Decker tabletop convection oven which has been handy for me.
 SD> I'm considering an air fryer also.  I'm trying to find creative
 ways SD> to SD> cook things as I really need to cut out carbs as much
 as possible in SD> all forms.

Sounds like fun. We don't have an air fryer but do have a small
toaster/convection oven plus crock pots, a couple of "Instant Pots" (not
the name brand) and all sorts of other forms of cooking other than the
stove. (G) As for carbs--balance them with protein as much as possible.

---
Catch you later,
Ruth
rchaffly{at}earthlink{dot}net  FIDO 1:396/45.28


... Gone crazy, be back later. leave a message at the Beep!

--- PPoint 3.01