Now that both my eyes have been operated on, the next task on my to-do list is to get new glasses. Or at least new lenses in my old glasses frame. The doctor has prescribed progressive lenses that will let me see up close (my computer screen, for example) as well as at a distance (when driving, walking the dog, or watching TV) without having to take off one pair of glasses and put on another about a hundred times a day.
That's what I've been doing for the past two months, after my second eye surgery on September 3. It works, but it's not fun. I'm still wearing the glasses I was wearing before the two surgeries were performed but now I can see distant scenes better without glasses at all, and I can see my computer screen better with the glasses that used to be good for driving and TV watching. It's all a little confusing. But it's good to know that my cataracts are gone now.
That's what I've been doing for the past two months, after my second eye surgery on September 3. It works, but it's not fun. I'm still wearing the glasses I was wearing before the two surgeries were performed but now I can see distant scenes better without glasses at all, and I can see my computer screen better with the glasses that used to be good for driving and TV watching. It's all a little confusing. But it's good to know that my cataracts are gone now.
Here's another view of the feudal fortress in the town of Fougères, on the eastern edge of Brittany.
Anyway, a week from today, we are having a load of firewood (five stères or cubic meters — about one and a half cords) delivered. We'll have to figure out where to park the cars, or at least one of them, so that we won't be stranded here during that time it takes us to stack the new load of firewood. That could be two or three days or more than a week, depending on the weather and how our backs hold up. Either way, it will be a lot of work.
Meanwhile, I have to get our second car, the "newer" one — it's 16 years old! — ready for its contrôle technique inspection. The main thing is to put a container of engine cleaner (is that still called by the brand name STP?) into the car's fuel tank and fill the tank with diesel fuel (gazole or gasoil). Then I have to make it a point to drive it nearly every day for a week or two to get the engine's valves and cylinders as clean as possible. It has to be able to pass an emissions test in order to be certified as not polluting the air.
Finally, I have to find a groomer who can give Natasha the Sheltie a good bath and brushing. The woman who groomed 'Tasha last year and the year before has at least temporarily shut down her business. She's expecting a baby in the spring. Who knows when or if she'll ever start working again. She's the one who drove up to our hamlet in a camper van and did the bathing and brushing on site in her van. I have one new groomer in mind, but haven't talked to her yet. 'Tasha won't be happy to be dropped off and left behind, but it has to be done. It'll just be for a few hours.
Never a dull moment around Saint-Aignan, as my late friend Charles-Henry would say. He loved that expression. By the way, it's been foggy, gray, and damp for a couple of weeks now. It's the kind of weather doesn't exactly boost the morale.
Meanwhile, I have to get our second car, the "newer" one — it's 16 years old! — ready for its contrôle technique inspection. The main thing is to put a container of engine cleaner (is that still called by the brand name STP?) into the car's fuel tank and fill the tank with diesel fuel (gazole or gasoil). Then I have to make it a point to drive it nearly every day for a week or two to get the engine's valves and cylinders as clean as possible. It has to be able to pass an emissions test in order to be certified as not polluting the air.
Finally, I have to find a groomer who can give Natasha the Sheltie a good bath and brushing. The woman who groomed 'Tasha last year and the year before has at least temporarily shut down her business. She's expecting a baby in the spring. Who knows when or if she'll ever start working again. She's the one who drove up to our hamlet in a camper van and did the bathing and brushing on site in her van. I have one new groomer in mind, but haven't talked to her yet. 'Tasha won't be happy to be dropped off and left behind, but it has to be done. It'll just be for a few hours.
Never a dull moment around Saint-Aignan, as my late friend Charles-Henry would say. He loved that expression. By the way, it's been foggy, gray, and damp for a couple of weeks now. It's the kind of weather doesn't exactly boost the morale.
I realized a few minutes that I also need an appointment with a dentist (if I can find one) and with dermatologist. I also need a haircut.
ReplyDeleteI found a dog groomer yesterday. I called her, she answered (despite the fact that yesterday was a holiday (Toussaint). We had a good chat. She said she will come to our house, bathe the dog in one of our showers or the bathtub, and then do the brushing (démêlage) and trimming. The appointment is for Nov. 20. What a relief!
DeleteThat wood job is a big job!
ReplyDeleteC'est vrai. Walt will do most of it. At my age I couldn't do all that. But I can help. Sometimes my help comes down to fixing lunch.
DeleteOne thing at a time... I need new lens also. My optician used to grind his own lens but he sent these last ones away and I have some blurring when I read.
ReplyDeleteI haven't had good luck with opticians here. Twice, in two different boutiques optiques I 've asked for reading glasses, and in both cases I've been disappointed. Neither pair was done right and turned out to be useless. Luckily, those lenses were not very expensive because they weren't progressives.
DeleteLook on the bright side, Ken - I have misplaced my phone and after 6 days I have turned my belongings upside down and yesterday, I just had to take a break. Other times (maybe 2) it was at most a day it took to find it. So...I went to Costco to buy a new phone at the T-Mobile booth and the sales person told me they would replace it free if I went with Android instead of the Iphone I had. I couldn't believe it as I kept repeating - but I didn't buy that "lost phone plan"! Why are they doing this? He just said, "You have been a good customer and they want to thank you!" Well, the email came with 3 pages I needed to fill out - and sure enough in the last page there was the cost of the phone that I would be paying divided up in 24 or 36 installments (I forgot which). So - I have been too mad to even return and tell him off. He must think his customers just sign anything and he took me for one of those (I read EVERYTHING before I sign ANYTHING!). How frustrating that was!
ReplyDeleteI have had progressive lens for decades and I have been very pleased with them. You will love not having to switch glasses! Frames are so inexpensive these days, don't you want a new pair that will work for another 10 or 20 years?
Take the wood job in parts... and don't overdo it! You, two, are such diligent workers, I know I don't have to remind you!
I've had progressive lenses for decades too, but I wasn't sure they would be the right choice since the cataract operations. The ophthalmologist kept telling me I would need glasses for reading and other close work, but not for driving, TV, or going out for walks. Anyway, it turned out that progressives are the best bet. Good luck with your phone ordeal. Do you think it was on or off when it went missing? Could it still be on? Can you just call it and listen for the ring? You probably thought about that days ago...
DeleteI hope your phone turns up, Mary. We're old enough to know that no one is going to give us a free phone.
DeleteMy daughter used the app "Find my phone" and it shows it is at my address. HA! I've rather used up searching in the spaces it could be - I'm really tired of this. I will have to go out again today and order a new phone, I am afraid. I did turn off my phone after it was charged up, Ken! My daughter had written, "so that explains why you haven't responded!" Yes, Evelyn, at this age we definitely know there are no "free lunches"! Did you read the book "The Borrowers" as a child? That is the only explanation I can come up with at this point!
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