I now have twenty twenty vision. If anyone is thinking about getting LASIK….DO IT!

It took around three minutes. They sat me down in a reclining chair under a large machine that ended in a tube pointed over the chair. My eyes opened my eye with a non painful A Clockwork Orange looking device and my eyelashes were taped out of the way. I leaned back and while a neck pillow inflated to keep my head stable, a round metal circle was lowered toward my eye. The nurse said “you’ll feel two light touches and then your eye will go dark for about fifteen seconds”. It wasn’t painful, but uncomfortable and weird. I was breathing really heavily, and I have to say that when the “little touches” touched, my foot kicked a little. I think some primal part of my body was saying, “Holy shit, your eyes are going to be sliced! Run! Run!” After my eye went dark, there was a sound like a can opener and I sensed that something was rotating on my eyeball. Extra creepy because then I knew they were cutting my eye. I still was seeing nothing. There was no pain. The suction was released and my vision returned. I was looking into the dark tunnel of the laser with a red flashing light. There was still no pain, but I did smell burning tissue. It was a little unnerving, but it happened quickly and the staff was very reassuring and professional, warning and telling me what was happening every step of the way.

I got up and was lead out to a chair where they checked that everything went okay. They said perfect. They put me in another exam room with a reclining exam chair. I waited fifteen more minutes and they checked again. They said everything was fine and I walked out the front door. I had forgotten to take of my green, over the shoe hospital booties, I had a large name tag stuck on my chest. I was wearing clear goggles that came with my kit of drops and instructions that I now know that I was only supposed to wear while sleeping. The valium that they had given me before the surgery had begun to kick in and I shuffled across the parking lot towards my waiting husband. He lamented that he didn’t have a camera to document to occasion. Apparently, I looked pretty funny.

Andy was waiting in the RV. We had stayed in the parking lot of the Clear Vision center the night before. I told Andy not to come in for the surgery because it was seven in the morning and I thought he should sleep.

I fell asleep in the back. We drove home and I continued to sleep in the driveway (in the RV, not the actual driveway). After three hours I woke up, opened my eyes and saw everything clearly. I thought that there would be some pain later in the afternoon. But there wasn’t any. Every once in a while it feels like there’s sand in my eyes, but they actually feel better than before the surgery. I think that the anti inflammatory drops are helping with my daily eye irritation from allergies.

It’s my third morning of clear sight, and I feel like I have been granted some sort of miracle. I feel like I have superpowers. I always felt that my prescription was never completely right, and now I realize just how irritation that was. I now know that sometimes I would feel uncomfortable because I was not seeing everything as clearly as I should have been. I felt like a weak animal not being able to see a predator jumping out of the bushes with teeth and claws shining.

All of the minor discomforts are gone. Discomforts that I now realize when added up were kind of a big deal. It was annoying not being able just to flop down in bed after going out for drinks. If I left my contacts in (even without the drinks), my eyes would have hell to pay in the morning. I never realized that my body was always in a slight panic as to the location of my glasses. Even after the surgery when I was seeing just fine, I would feel a small jolt and try to recall the location of them because “I couldn’t see”. No more tearing contacts, loosing one, running out of them, eye irritation, buying solution, stuck on lenses to dry eyeballs. No more waking up in the morning to a undefinable blur. My husband’s face is in focus. My face is in focus for that matter.

Over all, I could not be happier. I wish every issue in life could be corrected so easily and quickly.

I know this isn’t very exciting to anyone not involved in this process but, the new shower in the RV has been installed. It was a long and painful process, mostly for Andy, but for me too. It was hard having to watch my husband struggle with wood, pipes and plastic walls that refused to cooperate almost every step of the way. Several trips to the hardware store, countless returns and a full strength hammer blow square on Andy’s right thumb later…It is finished.

I was going to update about Toonces the cat. I’ve been sick, and my friend Troy wrote it so perfectly, I’m just going to repost it. Troy and Heather are good friends with big hearts and much love to give.

Wednesday morning I knew my life was going to change one way or another. Life as I knew it would never be the same.

About six months ago my “sister” Cindy and her husband Andy adopted out to us these two beautiful cats, Toonces and Jason.

We knew at the time that Toonces had a kidney issue which affected her weight and general health.

In the last week Toonces had seemed to go down hill. She would jump off the couch and lay in a ball on the floor for a good thirty seconds before mustering the energy to get up and walk away. Same with walking down the stairs. She would walk down the stairs and just collapse at the bottom for a minute then get u and walk away. It seemed like she had a challenge actually stepping into the litter box. She would still eat her full can of food during the day but now it took three sitting instead of the normal two.

I asked Cindy to come over and have a look at Toonces. When you are around someone or something every day it is harder to notice changes that take place over time. When Cindy came over her initial reaction to Toonces’ size and weight was pretty strong. It was obvious it was not in my imagination.

The three of us had just come back from an event with F.L.O.C.K. (For the Love Of Cats and Kittens) and Andy spent the next few hours working on Heather’s computer trying to figure out our wireless internet issues. Around 2am he had it done and we all had decided they would stay the night. They also agreed to take Toonces to the vet in the morning and see what we could do for her although options had already been discussed.

I woke up around 4:30 to get ready for work and around 5 I fed Toonces like I always do at that time. Our kitchen has a night light which illuminates the room as well as any good night light would including the area where Toonces’ food is. When it was time to go I walked over to the light switch to turn out the main light on my way out. Toonces stopped eating and meowed very loudly at me. This is not usual for her. I went to where she was and stroked her for a minute then returned to the light switch in another attempt to turn it off. Again she meowed at me. This time I had to turn the light off as it was time to go.

I wonder what she was trying to communicate to me? I would like to think it was something like, “Thanks for breakfast. Oh yeah, and for taking care of me. Have a nice day today.”

I turned and looked at her silhouette as I walked out of the room. I suspected it may be the last time I see her.

I got the call I was waiting for around noon. It was Cindy and I could tell instantly that she was crying. I knew what the story was. She told me the vet said maybe this or maybe that and cat’s can’t really demonstrate to us the level of pain they are in and sixteen years old and whatever else we already knew. Cindy said the vet said it may be time. Cindy agreed but wanted to hear me agree as well. Fighting back the tears that had so easily flown the previous two days when reality was setting in I said it was my opinion this may be the best thing for our little one.

Wednesday afternoon our precious Toonces was taken from us. I only had her for six months but had grown very attached to her.

I feel for Cindy who had the cat its entire 16 year life I believe. I also feel for Heather as this was her first real pet. The only solace I could give Heather was to remind her of the fact that sometime in the early morning after I left, Heather wasn’t able to sleep. She got out of bed and went downstairs and held and stroked Toonces for ninety some odd minutes. I had to remind Heather how lucky she was to be able to have that time. So many pets are lost everyday and the owners never have the chance to say good-bye.

I will never be able to express to Cindy and Andy how blessed I am to have them as friends and how grateful I am to have had the chance to take care of Toonces and Jason. As well, I do not know how I would have been able to handle that trip to the vet. As my eyes grow glassy even now as I type this and as they did several times again earlier today, it reminds me that I am not the bad ass I would have you all believe.

Our little Toonces will always be in our hearts.

toonces
Originally uploaded by cindigodotcom.

Happy V day to all of my friends, acquaintances and familiars.

Tonight my beloved and I are going to a fundraiser for F.L.O.C.K (For the Love Of Cats and Kittens). Since we have two more stray kittens living in our spare room we need to stay in good with these people so they’ll keep taking our charges. We seem to be stray magnets.

On a sad note. I think I will have to put Toonces the cat I’ve had since my sophomore year in high school to sleep. I know you guys are finding it suspicious that two beloved animals will be going to the great beyond in such a short span of time but I swear, it’s just the universe and it’s ways. I am not becoming a serial pet murderer.

Toonces the cat is sixteen years old. About six months ago Toonces and Jason the cat were taken in by our good friends Troy and Heather. Toonces’ kidneys weren’t doing well. She was always an underweight cat and began to lose more. We put her on special food, and the problem seemed to stabilize. We’re going over there tonight to see our furry friends, but from the description that Troy has given, it sounds like Toonces is in a lot of pain and uncomfortable all the time. We’re staying in the RV at their house and taking T to the vet tomorrow. I don’t want to write the spunky old gal before her time, but I’m almost sure that it’s the right thing to do. I was thinking it may have been the right thing to do months ago, but I didn’t want to think about the reality.

cyndi & murphy-1
Originally uploaded by cindigodotcom.

Murphy the dog was born in Manhattan and lived her life as a chic, urban puppy walking in Central Park chasing pigeons. She moved to the midwest with her first owners and lived in Detroit for the majority of her life. She spent her summer days protecting the yard from squirrels and making sure that no one messed around with her food bowl. In the winter she loved catching snowballs with her mouth and frolicking chest deep in the snow. She was always a happy go lucky dog that was happiest when she was around people. With her easy going ways and love for the road, she took the move to Las Vegas in stride and even though there were no squirrels or snow, heartily enjoyed going for walks. At the mention of the word (or even the spelling of the word), her ears stood at attention and her soft brown eyes turned intense laser beams of eagerness and anticipation that burned right into your heart. She spent her last days in beautiful San Diego with temperate weather, human and dog companionship, plentiful treats and a patch of grass to call her own.

Murphy’s suffering was ended when she could no longer tolerate her arthritis medication, or the disease itself. Murphy the dog your beautiful soul will be missed.

We have two more kittens.

A few days ago, our eight year old neighbor told us that there were two kittens in the storm drain. We started putting food out for them. It was decided that the best thing to do was try and catch them, so they could be put up for adoption. They look like they’re about four months old.

Tonight, Andy made a trap out of a rubbermaid container propped up by a piece of wood that was tied to a rope. Very low tech. So low tech, I had my doubts that it would really work. He put some cat food underneath and we sat ten feet away and waited. It didn’t take long for them to come out and start eating. The grey and white one went in right away, but the fluffy white one knew something was up and it took her a few minutes for the lure of food to work.

As soon as they were both clear of the sides, Andy pulled the rope and the box came down perfectly. I know I’m probably not describing just how effective and cool that it was, but I’ll just say, that I was really impressed. I also now feel secure in the knowledge that if we are ever in some sort of apocalyptic situation and the only food around was radioactive squirrel, we could catch them with this set up.

There was a large piece of particle board on the bottom, so he just picked the whole thing up and we carried it to the spare bedroom and let them loose (The spare bedroom that we just paid to have the carpet professionally cleaned). I don’t think they touched the floor for at least two minutes. There’s nothing in the room, except a bookcase, tall lamp and a closet, so they just ran fast and furious laps. We put a litter box, some blankets and sheets around the room and sat with them later after they calmed down. The white one is particularly skittish, but I think after they calm down they’re going to do fine.