Light clouds blew off early, leaving temperatures just a touch below freezing but warming fast. It’s supposed to scrape the bottom side of sixty today and stay clear.
Which sets us up for the next two days, which promise cold, wind, rain and snow. Last few days I’ve been staying away from the ‘pooter more and letting the batteries top up nicely. By Sunday we might be scraping the bottom of the electron barrel if I’m not careful. For week after week in October/November we had so much beautiful sun that I could have left everything on 24/7 if I’d wanted to, and it lulled me a bit. Now it’s time to tighten up the regimen, at least a little.
The new electrical upgrades, while small, are working wonderfully well. The whole thing has been online since mid-summer, and I still find myself crooning “I love you” as I check voltage around noonish and found the system in float, having already bulk-charged the batteries. This is such an improvement from the original, in which I could only turn on a CFL in the morning if I wanted to listen to the low-voltage alarm.
Speaking of the electrical system, my ebook on that subject is just sort of sitting there at the moment but I’ll be back on it soon. What with winter and recent bad news, I haven’t devoted much concentration to it and it needs some to straighten out its organizational problems. But the text is pretty much written.
To the many well-wishers who wrote concerning my bad news: Thank you very much! I designated yesterday as my day to feel sorry for myself, but I’m feeling more positive today. Some folks have demanded a tip jar button to Paypal, and there are rumblings from the TUAK IT Department (also known as Landlady) that such a thing might be in the works. In the meantime, people who’d like to contribute to the *EXPENSIVE* Keep Joel’s Eyes Working fund are welcome to click the “Send Joel Stuff” page above. One person already asked about that, which I appreciate very much. That page gives you an email addy, and I’ll respond with my mail drop info. I don’t have a local mailing address, though it appears that may have to change soon.
I’m currently on something called Latanoprost, which I gather is supposed to reduce pressure in my eyes. While naturally a bit skeptical about doctors and medicines in general, I’m not such an idiot as to skimp on something this important now that I finally know the score. But my god it’s expensive. I have another appointment with the Wally-World optometrist on January first, after which I’ll probably be shelling out for an actual doctor and I don’t even want to think of what that will cost. But I’ve got to find a way to do it, and very soon. For those who have offered to contribute, any help would be gratefully accepted.
My close friends are arguing with me about the rifle raffle I suggested – I think it was yesterday morning, but yesterday is kind of a blur. True, it may not raise much money. True, I’m not really that jazzed about selling my best rifle with its gear. But I’m trying to pump myself up for the real long-term money solution, which is to apply for disability. Honestly I don’t even know how one goes about doing that, but I sure have to learn. In the meantime, if I sell the rifle – which I haven’t actually been able to shoot for a long time, because my right eye can’t make out the sights let alone a distant target – I can look myself in the (left) eye and say that financially I’ve done everything I can by myself. That doesn’t really help with the philosophical question, which to me is pretty rigid – Thou Shalt Not. I’m trying to get past that, and in the meantime a raffle would be a sop to my vanity. But I confess I can be talked out of it. I love my M1A, even if I don’t use it anymore. But seriously, I’ve carried the AK for years now, confining it to things I can actually see and therefore hit with bullets.
I’m sorry – these posts are going way too long. Thanks so much for all the kind words, and anybody who wants to kick in for the next round of appointments/meds is welcome to get in touch via the “Send Joel Stuff” page above. But even your moral support the past couple of days has been really encouraging.
Joel, presumably you made Social Security contributions while you were working. Arguably, SSI is not sucking off the .gov’s teat, if you’re truly permanently disabled. Get in touch with them. A regular income and medical care would help alot. I don’t think any of us would begrudge someone in your position that bit of help.
By the way, I’m back to having trouble getting here. But, this time I’m able to refresh and get to the home page. Ce la guerre.
I was going to send you something for Christmas anyway. Won’t be much, but should buy the drops for a day or two. Things like this sure make me wish I was a millionaire… or at least a few thousandaire… sigh
No idea if it helps, but your experience has pushed me to take the steps needed to go see a doctor myself for something I’ve neglected at least 10 years. Details don’t matter, really, but my kids have been ragging me to do this for a very long time and they’ll be grateful.
Have you had blood work done to make sure you are not diabetic? I know what you mean about being familiar with pain, but the bottom line is sometimes it’s giving us a message. Found out first hand – it’s not always best to just “work through it”, and wait for the healing to commence.