Did you note the concern of the $3.50 parking fee when visiting a specialist? That was my only cost. In doing my friend's income tax, who was on income supplement, she had paid less than $60.00 for somewhere in the neighbourhood of a couple of dozen prescriptions, last year. ole joyful

I drove to town, parked at Bruce's apt. bldg., took a cab to the hosp., was to be there 11:30, waited over an hour for prep. Not supposed to eat after midnight, I'd been there at 8:30 the first time, at 11:30 this time, ate about 3 a.m. ... they were a bit concerned, made a note for the anaesthetist. All seemed to go well in that dept. Someone had made a fairly full report of their experience when I wrote of my first op, saying that the gel for freezing had stung somewhat, and I hadn't found that the first time, but did this time. The op took about 15 - 20 min. - they jackhammer the surface of the eye off, someone said like taking away the surface stuff of an M & M, then install the new lens. I found the strong intensity of the light that they use the most distressing part. Back in the recovery room, I rested for a few min., then they got me into a chair, gave me some crackers and juice. Had asked about discomfort the first time, I said a bit, not much, they gave me Tylenol, hadn't given this time, I asked and got them. I thought that, as surgery was well after lunch, that they'd have me back for prelim. check-up the next day, but they said come back in a little over an hour, so we went for some soup in the cafeteria. Checked efficacy of the job with microscope, checked pressure, was pleased, said come back next week. Bruce and I walked about 10 blocks home, going by way of the bank, as I needed to pay for some stocks that I'd bought and Bruce needed some U.S. money to pay his sister for some shopping she'd done for him. I rolled some coins that Bruce had accumulated during the summer while doing his balloon projects with the kids. I'd tried his computer the earlier time, but had to concentrate, as monitor some distance away and letters small - but I had the good eye available then ... not this time. I tried Freecell and had a hard time distinguishing the cards, which surprised Bruce, as he thought that they were quite large. I found it easy to use my own computer. The lady had told me on the first trip that I could drive that day, but this time the lady said to not drive on that day (but I'd had the op a lot earlier, the first day, and gone home before the follow-up exam). Bruce and I went shopping, me driving, with no trouble, on Thursday, I dropped him at a friend's house and drove to the country library where I did some printing, on the way home. Before midnight, each op. day, when I closed my eyes nd thought about which eye had had the operation ... there was so little different feeling that I couldn't identify which. I noticed on the day after that I was seeing a few things double, for a time, but then sometimes the images would move together. A couple of folks said that, after their op, they could see print without glasses. It seems to me that I am able to see better without glasses than I could, earlier. I had trouble separating out some of the letters when reading print in a book or elsewhere, after this most recent op., but that seems to be improving. All in all, things have gone very well and I am thankful. Looked at the tomatoes Thurs. afternoon on my return, but none ripe. There were some near ripe on Fri., one ripe and I had it - tasty. Thanks for all of your concern and good thoughts. I think that my body spoils me ... I've never had broken bone, harly ever a headache, seem to heal well and quickly. Dad used to say that his car had one main job - to take him somewhere and bring him back without hassle. My body has pretty well done that for me, so I have much for which to be thankful: don't think that I've taken a pill in 30 years. Haven't been in the habit of keeping Aspirin in the house .. only need it rarely. How fortunate can one guy be?? I'm really, really thankful for that. ole joyful

I told of some of mine over on the welcome to AMY365 thread. Not much of great moment on the Friday ... but son and partner took me to a country and western band on Sat night. They're cousins - John P. Allen is the M.C. and gets his body and movements into it, and his face moves a good deal related to what he's doing. He played fiddle with the "Prairie Oyster" band for several years and recently has done a number of his own gigs. His sister, a doc, plays string bass and brother, fiddle, mandolin and trumpet were involved, and the young ones of the first two: the main female singer is taking nursing and quite vivacious - adds a good deal to the presentation. They attend one church where I go - the one which I went to as a child. The men's group in the other church had a tour of Labatt's Brewery on Monday night, so it's been an interesting weekend. ole joyful

A slight reduction in the warfarin, according to my hematologist, and altered after I had some antibiotics prescribed following the camera angling into the bladder (quite a few varying camera angles, actually). Thanks for the info about the cranberry juice, as I've been using it, trying to take a glass some time before breakfast, to let it get some good work in, as well as at other times. Will have to ease off some. Some more blood since yesterday, but my retired doc. relative tells me not to worry unless I feel light-headed (no comments, please) or otherwise a bit off, for the weekend ... if so, head to emerg.. I asked her whether, if I smiled pretty, I could drag her kicking and screaming out of retirement for about 5 min. - she smiled as she said, "O.K.". ole joyfuelled ... with some fuelling help from cranberry juice