Spontaneous Musings

So, I saw the retina specialist aka ophthalmologist who specializes in retina today (he does other things too of course in ophthalmology. He's the only retina specialist at that location, however, so it took forever. I got there around 3pm, and he saw me at 5:15pm (although there was eye dilatation and testing on three different machines in between, including two that took pictures). The visit wasn't as bad as the Optometrist - who shined lights in both eyes for about thirty minutes, with a mirror and iodine solution. This was about five minutes with a small yellow lit flashlight, not a bright white light. So, I don't think a migraine was triggered by the visit. I wore my anti-nauseau bracelets - and I'll wear them tonight and tomorrow. Also, I was able to read, and I've gotten used to waiting for doctors. I've waited for four hours once. This was only two hours. When seeing doctors? Best to pack plenty of patience.

Some good news? Per the doctor, I'm a very lucky woman. No retina damage, no tears, and no detachments. It's just a detachment of the gel over the eye from the retina which has become a floater. It happens a lot with older eyes, and should sort itself out over time. Annoying but nothing serious, and it'll eventually go away. He basically confirmed what the optometrist told me in June.

He told me to keep the appointment in November. (I see him annually now for retina checks - one of the potential developments from diabetes is retina detachment. It's why I am working to keep the ACI down.)

I'm relieved. I was worried. I also like this doctor better than the previous two ophthalmologists. I've seen at least five different ophthalmologists in NYC. The worst eye exam was the Wilson's Disease specialist in 2003 (no, I do not have Wilson's disease - thank god). That test is horrid - they basically stick a needle in your eyes, while you are looking at them, after pressure tests. Then there was the one who was kind of creepy and wanted to take my contacts out of my eyes for me. Their offices weren't clean and looked like a professor's study. I much prefer NYU Langone's doctors.

I had to race out of work. Time got away from me - so I ended up leaving for it later than planned. But I shouldn't have worried - the eye doctor takes forever. It did get me ahead in line though - they had three people scheduled for a 3pm appointment, and I arrived second.

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Started watching Rooster on HBO Max. It definitely has its moments. I realized I'm old - when Steve Carrel's Dad with the grown forty-something daughter, said he was 57. Also I found Steve Carrel to be more attractive than his daughter's husband, who looked like a kid to me.

Anyhow, Rooster had me laughing hard in its third episode - the episode where he finds out that his British son-in-law had gotten the university student pregnant. He attacks him with a soup ladle while the son-in-law is attempting to do a live discussion of Russian politics for the BBC.
BBC upon witnessing the take down? "You do realize this is live?"

My difficulty with it - is well the difficulty I have with 90% of American comedies? It relies a wee bit too heavily on humiliation/embarrassment humor or slapstick, and that humor tends to make me cringe or want to switch channels. That said? It's more restrained than most, and I was able to ignore most of it? The fourth episode goes a bit overboard with it, but the fifth seems to redeem itself?

My brand of humor is much dryer?

****

R.I.P Sam Neil

New Zealand Actor Sam Neil Dies at 78

I loved Sam Neil. This hurts as much as Anthony Stewart Head, if not more so - since I've been watching Sam Neil films since I was 14 and fell in love with him in My Brilliant Career. He was just lovely. A fantastic actor who could play anything. And a lovely human being. He was into rescuing animals, sustainable farming, environmental causes, and one of my favorite actors. Another actor I followed around. I even followed him on social media from time to time. The man was genuinely kind and caring and an all around wonderful human being. I may have to do a Sam Neil movie binge in homage.

Sam Neil's best movies

Neil's best Roles

And on television? He was in Peaky Blinders, Merlin, the Tudors, among other things.

Everyone he worked with adored him. I shall miss him.

****

Regarding Lindsey Graham, apparently his sister is taking his Congressional Seat until the election. The Governor appointed his sister.

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Off to bed. And hopefully sleep.