Tuesday, September 16, 2014

New and Improved...........is not always the best idea!

We all know of the catastrophies of companies changing their products or names to make their "brand" more current, attractive, upscale or different. There is a restauant in Houston that I've loved for well over 20 years that decided to go upscale with a new building, a new interior, a new location. Same name. It used to be funky, fun, Mexican and every time I went there it transported me to the interior of Mexico. Today I ate at the new improved, upscale restaurant. I could have been dining on any type cuisine because there was almost no decor to even indicate that it is a Mexican restaurant. What a disappointment. Today was Mexican independence day. Six of us had lunch there. The food, thankfully, is still delicious, but the service is now stilted, not effusive and welcoming as in all the past years. I enjoyed the meal with friends. But, I left feeling cheated that I did not have an authentic Mexican experience, as they used to say, but just a dining experience in a big restaurant that could have been anywhere and served anything. SAD. Hope the owner makes it!

Sunday, September 14, 2014

Oh say, "Can you see?"

Indeed I CAN and better then ever in my whole life. I started wearing glasses at 18 months. Itsy bitsy ones. Then as I got older and in school they were those thick as bottle glass ones. They made my eyes look teensy tiny. Lots of kids teased me about that. Some bullied, of course. Those are the things that toughen you up for real life! I hated the glasses and especially the time as a preteen when the eye doctors were trying to correct the nerve problem in my right eye by making me wear a black patch on my glasses to school. Needless to say, the patch would stay on my glasses until I was out of my mother's view. Of course HAD I worn the patch, the nerve would not have died to the brain and I WOULD have vision in that eye. C'est lavie. Dr. Sander was almost clicking his heels after this "experimental" surgery on Friday. To the other patients he said it went well. When he got next to my bed, he could hardly contain his glee and exclaimed loudly that it had gone "fabulous". Even my brother Bill, who accompanied me, was surprised at how effusive the doctor was. He was like Santa delivering a great present that I had not opened yet and didn't know how wonderful it was going to be. The whole two operations in two separate operating rooms took about 2 hours. We were back at my brother's home by 11:30AM. I couldn't see much at the time but I could see some colors and shapes. To myself I said, "Well, at least I'm not blind." I then slept for a couple of hours and upon awakening I COULD see things. As the evening progressed, I could see more. Yesterday driving to the Doctor's office for a follow-up, I kept saying to my brother things like "OMG, I can see the leaves on the trees". Or,"I can read that sign up there, way up there"! It was amazing. As each day as gone by with today being the third day, it is truly unbelieveable how clearly I can see. I promise I've never in my life seen so clearly. Thinking today how devastated I was when the doctor told me I had a cataract on my one idea and the sheer terror I felt when he said I would have to have it removed was so scary. Now I realize what started out as such a negative thing led to the most joyful gift. If I had not had a cataract I would never have had this surgery. Who knew? Well, Dr. Sander in Houston knew. Last November after he confirmed that I did have a cataract just as the eye dr in San Miguel had diagnosed, I began to play in my mind all the scenarios of what it would be like to try to live without vision. If I had had another eye to see from that would not have been an issue. Hence, ten months of worry were resolved on Friday. Thankfully. When I see the doctor on Thursday, I'm going to find out specifically what this "experimental" procedure is called and what the difference is between it, cataract removal and lasic surgery. I was corrected when I referred to it as lasic, so heck I don't know, but it worked. The vision at this point is so good, I can read the names of the books in my friend's library from almost eight feet away! Woo hoo....... Now I'll be able to see the signs better to drive back to Mexico soon. I think I've been living like Mr. Magoo and didn't even know it! Amazing indeed.

Sunday, September 07, 2014

Long and Winding Roads

A little over a week ago, I left my daughter's home in Kingwood to allow them to return to some normalcy and to get on with some of the other reasons that I came to Houston. Julie is doing extremely well with her recovery and has returned to her hectic schedule. In fact, tomorrow she'll be driving to Nacogdoches, Texas to the campus of Stephen F. Austin. She's finishing getting her degree online but must be on campus a couple of times a year. If I remember correctly, I think its about a four hour drive through East Texas. It's a beautiful drive. Speaking of driving, when I left north Houston and my daughter and son-in-law's home, I headed straight for the water. Galveston Texas. Near and dear to my heart. I stayed with my dear and close friends, Vandy and Sue. Always a busy time. Always. From dinner at Sonny's corner store to dinner at Louie's Bait Camp near Hitchcock and a few other fun things.......it's always a treat. The last night there we went out on Sportsman's Road so I could photograph the sunset over Galveston Bay, not the Gulf of Mexico. It was breathtaking. I got many good shots along with photographs of roseate spoonbills and white egrets in the wetlands. Unfortunately, this computer is NOT cooperating and I'll have to post photos upon returning home. Aaargh. It was so wonderful to spend some time by the water. It is totally silent looking out over the Bay where we were. I commented that I if I lived out there I would never go into town and would become a haggled tooth old hag. Of course jokingly (I think) Vandy said that I was already that.......hmmmm. Tuesday morning saw me on the road early to drive to College Station to spend the day and overnight with my delightful, oldest granddaughter Jessica, who turned 23. What fun to just hang out, eat a good meal and do a little shopping. But mostly it was sitting around and talking. I also got to see her new apartment. She'll graduate in May from Texas A&M. Of all my grandchildren, she spent the most time with me growing up. We have a delightful bond. Wednesday mid-day saw me back on the freeways returning to Houston to stay with my friend Martha as I awaited my appointment with the eye surgeon who is going to do laser cataract surgery on my eye. The surgery was already scheduled for the 10th but it has now been moved to the 12th as he is doing another type of procedure. Now I realize that cataract surgery is no big deal. I'm only concerned because I only have vision in that one eye. He has assured me that that is not uncommon and all will be well. Whew. Another reason for my initial planning of being in Houston at this time was to celebrate the 16th birthday of my grandson Christopher. He is the son of my daughter Jennifer. What a treat to see him so grown up. It has been almost a year since I saw him. When he walked into the restaurant, I almost didn't recognize him. Oh my, what a handsome young man. Christopher was born several days after his mother was diagnosed with acute myologenus leukemia. She was seven months pregnant and we all held our breath that he would be born healthy, which he was. He's a special person, gentle and kind in nature. He reminds me so much of his mom, Jennifer. So much. My brother and sister-in-law joined us for lunch. So it was a small, but meaningful birthday party. Another fun thing that happened, gosh it has been a busy week, was going to the Mucky Duck on Friday night to see Chris Smither entertain two SRO concerts. I was with my other dear friends Amanda and Patrick. That's a long story that I'll save for another post when I CAN include the photos. It HAS been a whirlwind week with many miles traveled. Yesterday, trying to drive from Houston to the NASA area south of Houston, the traffic reminded me of why I hate being on freeways, especially on the weekends. The coming week won't be as jam packed with activities but more in preparation for the eye operation. I'll also try to finish up any things on my list of things I need to do while here so that when all is over with recovery, I'll be ready to head back to Mexico. Stay tuned for the photos I couldn't post of the sunset, spoonbill, Jessica and Christopher. Documentation of a delightful and delicious time!