An errand day

Today was the day to pick up my new glasses and get the frames fitted. I was probably more excited than I should have been, but it’s been a long boring stretch for the last eight months or so. It’s also been a long time since any of our flex spending account went to my needs.

I’ve got to say my driving glasses are wonderful. I’m one of those who needs tri-focals these days, but I don’t wear them. I used to have one pair with computer length focus and another for driving. Each one had a reading bifocal installed.

On my last go around, the doctor talked me into progressives for my work station. It took me forever to get used to them, and I was determined to go back to the old way. The doctor talked me into trying it again. Something about a new company with a wider field of view, etc.

To be honest, they do have a wider field of view, but I still hate them. I only took the risk because there was a guarantee that I could get different lenses if I didn’t like them. I hate them this time.

For some reason, letters are smaller to my vision and fuzzy. They also are trying to force me into a walleyed vision in order to see out of them. The biggest disappointment is in myself. I don’t know why I listen to people, but I try to accept the fact that technology marches on, there could be new things, all that jazz.

I’m writing this while wearing my old glasses. The ones I was supposed to be replacing. If this were my first go at progressives I’d give it more time, but it isn’t. Love my driving glasses, love these frames, but I hate the progressive lenses.

I spent some time working through my last batch of critiques. That was a chore with the new glasses and the reason I backed up to the old pair. No new words today, but I might manage some tomorrow.

Life takes precedence

I never even opened my manuscript today. Not one new word, or bit of editing. My wife and I were both off and decided to dedicate ourselves to other things, like each other.

The day started off with peach waffles.

Fresh from the backyard, these were awesome. There is a waffle in a baggie, and a few more spoonfuls of peaches in the refrigerator. I might do this again tomorrow.

It’s getting to where finding a good peach on the tree is a challenge. The birds are having a field day back there right now. There are probably about ten bushel baskets left on the tree. It grows enough for all of us, and I’m about finished with peaches for this year.

We had to get my wife’s car serviced today, so we spent an hour at the dealership. Service is free there, and free is important to us right now.

After that, we went to Old Chicago for pizza, and I had beer. There were a few stops on the way home to get Otto a new ball, and my wife some lemon cucumbers.

I pulled an odd stunt today. My out and about glasses are bifocals, and they darken in the sun. I elected to leave them home in favor of the progressives. All the material says you have to wear the progressives, or you’re never going to get used to them.

I would have liked to have the shades, but I’m determined to get used to these odd lenses. It’s working out really well. They have a distance correction, and that’s very clear. So far so good.

Drinking a couple of heavy dark beers, then heading out to 100 degree bright sunlight, was pretty strange. The peripheral vision on these things is dismal at best. Everything moves in an unreal fashion off to the sides. I may, or may not have said something to my wife about how her jelly was jiggling.

Honestly, I’m getting along well with the progressives, but there is a reason I have the other glasses too.

It’s looking like new fiction over the coming weekend is on thin ice. I only have two days this time, and we’re both off together. This story has no deadlines, so I’m not going to let it bother me.

Eye Exam

In the USA, I’m allowed to set money aside from my paycheck to cover medical expenses. The money is pre-tax, so there is about a 30% savings by doing it this way.

Every year, my wife and I pull a number out of thin air and create what’s called a Flex account for this purpose. My employer handles the rest for me. I never touch the money. I am given a card to use when paying for medical stuff.

The insurance through my employer is very good, but I use my Flex card to cover my portion. The year runs from July through June in my case, and most years we spend it all by October. This brief explanation is for my non-USA readers.

This means that it’s rarely my turn and I tend to skip things. I got some specific things checked that everyone is supposed to get at fifty. I got mine at fifty-three to give you an example.

This year we had money left, and I’d been griping about my eyes. We decided to get me an appointment, and that I could spend freely. The reason is when Flex money is left over, the government gets to keep it. No arguments, the ability to budget is my sole responsibility. This causes us to be careful how much we put in the Flex account, and we try to put slightly less than what we need in there.

Turns out, I haven’t had an eye appointment since 2012. That was the year I learned about tri-focals and refused to get them. I’m on the computer so much that a sliver of correction isn’t good enough. I chose to get two sets of glasses; one for regular use, and one for computer use. Each pair of glasses is bifocal with a reading chip in them.

Turns out things are worse. Not a big surprise, since I was complaining about my eyes. All three corrections are going up, with my reading and computer vision correcting +2. I am kind of excited, because the testing machine clarity was so much better.

With Flex money to burn, I decided to get two new pair of frames too. I currently have a squarish pair for regular use, and an oval pair for workstation use. I hoped to do this again, but that isn’t the case.

Turns out ovals are out of style. It’s just nice to be able to know which pair is which, even by touch. I really like my tiny glasses, but it looks like the new ones will be bigger too. I like more of what I call a cowboy style; wire frames, small, etc. I got as far as wire frames.

I really freaked them out when I asked for glass lenses. Turns out they are not en Vogue either. I’m rough on glasses and plastic lenses would get all scratched up in no time. As such, it’s going to take about four weeks to get my new glasses.

I asked about Lasik, and learned that I am a poor candidate for the surgery.

Who knows, maybe my new glasses will cut down on eye strain. I might be able to write longer without feeling like someone is shoving hot bamboo splinters into my eyes. Maybe I’ll even spot the occasional typo that slips through.

Do any of you skip medical maintenance issues? Do you take a back seat to the rest of your family? Is anyone able to be an author with tri-focals? Do I have to change my Moai banner when the new frames arrive?