Repositioning Ships, Fall in Hawai'i, Eye Surgery Ahead

[Note: This is another blog based on my weekly emails to my family on the mainland.]

10/12/24

 

Aloha Everyone --

 

Poor Florida and other parts of the East!  Two whammies almost back to back.  My condolences and sympathies for whatever losses you might have incurred, and best wishes for recovering.

 

Here our fall has continued with much less drama.  This is repositioning time, when the cruise ships have sailings to Hawai'i as they get ships from the northern summer routes to more southerly ones.  They

Time to Snooze

usually run a couple of trips from the mainland to the islands, and we've had several in our port in addition to our usual Wednesday visit from the one based permanently in Honolulu.  One even stayed overnight, something that is very rare.  Another sign of fall is that the flowering foliage shifts. For instance our various varieties of plumeria, nearly stop flowering altogether and even lose their leaves.  Many others, of course, bloom more or less year around. It's hardly barren here in the late fall and winter, though --there's always something blooming.  Another sign of fall is the annual Iron Man World Championship  Triathlon that occurs near the end of October.  This year is the men's final, whereas last year it was women's.  This brings in thousands of hard bodies from all over the world, some of which have already arrived to train for the grueling  event.  They are easy to spot -- absolutely no body fat, broad shoulders and narrow hips.  There are usually about 50 professionals who compete, but the ones I admire the most are the 2200 or so amateurs in various age categories who somehow have managed to train in addition to holding jobs.  

 

This was a pretty light week for physical exertion.  We did manage to work out at Planet Fitness, but we didn't play golf.  Our usual partner was out of comission because she fell off her horse and was too sore to play.  We could have gone alone, but she's an excellent ball spotter, and right now both of us need help. Speaking of eyesight, on Tuesday I had an appointment with my eye surgeon and I've decided to definitely go ahead and have him do my cataracts.  The first one is scheduled for the week after we return from southeast Asia in early December.  The other is scheduled for late January.  I'm doing my worst eye first, though it is doubtful a new lens will help much because that eye has considerable retina damage from my vein occlusion 12 years or so ago.  If it does help that will be a terrific Christmas present! My other eye has a better chance of improvement because the retina is in better shape, even though I've had a vein occlusion in it as well.  

OK, that's it for this week.  We're off to market and breakfast at the beach.  Take care and keep reminding yourself that morality does matter.

 

Cataract Culprits, Cardio Consult, Magic Golf Balls

[Note: This is another blog based on my weekly emails to my family on the mainland.]

10/5/24

 

Aloha All --

 

Although it was a challenge, this week we managed somewhat to overcome our laziness since we returned from the mainland.  First, on Sunday we did a mild workout at Planet Fitness, the first in many weeks. Then on Thursday we played golf at Makalei for the first time in months.  For me the golf was largely "aspirational." I'd hit a tee shot, then skip the approach shots and just putt out.  On a few par 3 holes, though,  I played for real, and even got one bogie! I had to rely heavily on Karen and our partner because if I hit the ball any distance at all, it would magically disappear because of my lousy vision.  All things considered, I did pretty good given how long it had been since we played last.  Oh, and we saw about 8 Nenes who have arrived for their winter visit.

Speaking of vision, I saw my retina doctor on Tuesday and as expected, got a shot it my right eye.  We also talked seriously about cataracts and whether I should have them removed.  The conclusion is to have the surgery because it will eliminate one possible cause of my recent sudden vision downturn.  At first I asked him for a referral to the same surgeon on Oahu that did Karen's eyes because the only surgeon on our island has a somewhat iffy reputation.  Then I learned that a new surgeon has recently joined the eye clinic I go to, and my retinologist thinks very highly of him.  It turned out the new guy was in the clinic and I was able to have a quick consult,  I was very impressed with his credentials and experience, and I may have him do the surgery.  This would be in an out-patient clinic in Hilo, which is a100-mile drive each way, but much easier and less expensive that flying over to Honolulu.  I have an appointment next week to talk some more and take measurements  I'm thinking of going with tried-and-true plain vanilla lenses tuned to distance vision -- anything more than an outstretched arm's length. I may still need reading glasses but that's ok.  I want my vision for every day activities (like driving) to be as good as possible.

In still more geezer health news, on Wednesday I saw my cardiologist for the 2nd time.  This was a quick visit to redo my ECG, with which my cardiologist said he was "very pleased."  Naturally, I am very

Only 5"

pleased he's pleased.  He recommended that now I'm mostly in normal rhythm that I wear a portable monitor for a couple of weeks that will record any Afib events.  Since I don't feel a thing when they happen, this seems like a good idea.  These devices have become marvels of hi-tech.  The model I am using is remarkably small and tapes to my chest,  There are no wires -- the electrodes are embedded in the tape that holds it on.  I can get it wet but I have to make sure the electrodes remain taped down.  The device records continuously for two weeks, then I send it to a lab which analyses the data and generates a report. This is better than my own ECG device because it measures even when I'm asleep. 

 

I know I'm writing a lot about my health issues lately, but unfortunately this is a major component of my life these days. My advice is don't turn 80!

Ok, off to market and the beach.  As you are bombarded with election rhetoric, keep in mind a Finnish saying:  "you have a right to your own opinion, but not to your own facts."'

Carpe vita.