Lasik Surgery Recap

The surgery is complete and I am a sighted woman. People have been asking me all day if it feels "cool" to see and I have to laugh a bit. The world looks the same as when I wore contacts so there's no drastic difference... unless I stop to remember I'm NOT wearing contacts.

The surgery itself was fine, although I've come to the sad conculsion I'm a wimp when it comes to pain. You know how you sometimes wonder what your pain tolerance is, and how you might hold up under childbirth or enemy torture? The truth is, I'd spill government secrets at the first hint of pain. Need to know where we keep the nuclear launch codes? Follow me!

So we get there for the surgery and I gulp down my valium. Maybe it had an effect, but I didn't feel much. I think my greatest concern was that Cyndi Lauper's "Girls Just Want To Have Fun" was playing in the background when my eye surgery began. Not confidence inspiring. Pink Floyd would have been more apprpriate, given the flashing red and green psychadelic lights that dominated the procedure. My job was to focus on the flashing green light. Except at one point the doctor said, "You're going to lose all sight for just a minute," and then there was blackness, which was fine, until I heard them saying, "Suction, 15 seconds." Thank you, but I don't like to think of my eyeball and suction in the same sentence.

The whole thing probably lasted 10-15 minutes, max. My eyes did burn and tear for several hours and I was senstive to light. (I believe I walked into the dining area where Blair was eating dinner and said something along the lines of "MUST you eat with the lights on?!?") I also had to sleep in goggles, but I took an allergy pill which knocks me out so that really wasn't much of an issue. They said if you're prone to scratching or rubbing your eyes to sleep with the goggles for a week, so I'll try again tonight.

Other than that, I have to put in eyedrops throughout the day and not wear make-up. I saw a friend today and he said, "You look tired." Bite me buddy, that's what lack of under eye concealer will do for a girl.

Overall, I'm thrilled. Sight was great today, drove everywhere, typing on computer now with no trouble. Eyes feel a little tacky, but no aches or pains. Very pleased thus far. Thanks to all of you for the well wishes!!

Kylah Needs A Home

This is Kylah. Here's her story:

She is about 9 years old and is originally from the Guilford county animal shelter. She started out being an inside/outside dog and was only chained up a few hours a day. Now, her guardians have a new baby and can't devote time to Kylah. She is currently spending the majority of her time alone and chained up in their back yard. After receiving a DDB brochure in the mail, her guardians finally believe she does indeed deserve better and want help finding her a new home.

She has no behavioral problems. She is house trained, spayed, up-to-date on shots, does not chew on anything, does not bark uncontrollably, or anything bad. She gets along well with other dogs, cats, and kids. She is the best dog.

From her guardians: "We are not providing Kylah the home she needs or craves for anymore. I can tell she is not as happy as she used to be. She really needs a home where she can be primarily inside. She is pretty much a big lap dog."

If you, or if you know of someone, that can take her/foster her please, please use the contact info below. She needs to be off the chain and in a home where she can be loved.

Contact: Shari Strader / sdstray40@yahoo.com / Greensboro/Triad, NC DDB Rep /dogsdeservebetter.org

Lasik Eye Surgery Laminations

Photo courtesy of WikipediaTomorrow is my Lasik Eye Surgery. I went in today for a pre-surgery check-up, where they sat me in the big chair and pressed the optical refractor (see photo) against my face and proceeded to flip lenses in front of each eye, asking each time, "Which looks clearer? Number one? [FLIP] Or number 2?" "Number 1? [FLIP] Number 2?"

I have always feared this exam, namely because there is no sure way to pass it. Was number one more clear or did I  just imagine that? Can they tell if I'm lying, even if it's unintentional? Did she just have me choose between lenses 3 and 4 because my choice between 1 and 2 was so obviously wrong?

If I was nervous about the exam on a normal day, the stress is quadrulped given that LASER SURGERY will be performed on my eyes tomorrow based on my answers. Holy crap! Is it too late to admit I said #2 looked clearer only because I suspected that was what the lab tech wanted to hear? That I was guessing when I read most of those letters on the bottom line and what I called an E may have really been a fuzzy H or P? That, in reality, I saw no difference between lenses 3 and 4? Dear God... what have I done???

Yeah, I'll be having that valium before my surgery tomorrow. You betcha.

Dena

Why I Love Lesser Evil Snack Company

Blair and I were browsing through the chip aisle at the supermarket the other day (some people window shop at fine department stores, we drool over salty items at Wal-Mart) and Blair picked up a bag of Lesser Evil Krinkle Sticks. "We have to buy these for the name alone," he said. Considering they are all natural, baked, gluten and cholesteral free, I agreed. Plus, the "Stop Bad Snacking!" trademarked logo on the front made me laugh.

One word folks- YUM. Did you ever have Andy Capp Hot Fries as a kid? These taste just like them only without the hot. And I just have to endorse any company whose founder goes by the title, "Big Time Snacker" and whose contact info on the bag lists "New School (e-mail)," "Old School (phone)" and "Dark Ages (Address)."

The bag is dotted in humor such as a "High In Moral Fiber" logo and the "Potato Chip Snackcident Prevention" (also trademarked) explanation. The Lesser Evil website is even more fun with the "Spread the Lesser Evil Love" note, "shop by craving," and the blog.

Go getcha some today.

Cheers.