For all you gals that need a smile and you guys that can take having a little fun poked at them. After all you are always trying to poke a little something at us…

Men’s Restroom Mural ——– Read before looking at picture

Edge Designs is an all-women run company that designs interior office space. They had a recent opportunity to do an office project in NYC. The client allowed the women of this company a free hand in all design aspects. The client was a company that was also run by all women execs………….

The result? Well, we all know that men never talk, never look at each other….and never laugh much in the restroom….the men’s room is a serious and quiet place…but now, with the addition of one mural on the wall……lets just say the men’s restroom is a place of more laughter and smiles…

And they say women don’t have a sense of humor…

From the Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB) website:

What is Posterior Vitreous Detachment?

Posterior Vitreous Detachment (PVD) is a common condition which occurs in about 75 per cent of people over the age of 65. As people get older the vitreous, a jelly-like substance inside the eye changes. This can cause Posterior Vitreous Detachment.

What is the Vitreous?

The vitreous is a clear jelly-like substance within the eye which takes up the space behind the lens and in front of the retina, the light sensitive layer at the back of the eye. It is 99 per cent water. The other 1 per cent consists of substances which are important in maintaining the shape of the vitreous. The outer part of the vitreous (the cortex) has the highest concentration of collagen. The vitreous is attached to the retina, more strongly in some places than others. When a PVD starts the jelly comes away from the retina.

Why does the vitreous detach?

The firm jelly-like substance of the vitreous changes with age. The central part of the vitreous becomes more liquid and the outer part (cortex) peels away from the retina. As it comes away from the retina it can cause the symptoms of posterior vitreous detachment.

What are the symptoms of PVD?

Many people are not aware that they have developed PVD but some notice symptoms such as floaters or flashing lights. Floaters can take many forms from little dots, circles, lines, to clouds or cobwebs. Sometimes people experience one large floater which can be distracting and make things difficult to read.

The flashing lights that occur are also caused by the PVD. As the outer part of the vitreous detaches from the retina it can pull on this light sensitive membrane, especially where the vitreous is attached quite strongly to the retina. The pull of the vitreous in these areas stimulates the retina. This stimulation causes the sensation of flashing lights since the brain interprets all stimulation signals from the retina as light.

Can anything be done to help with the PVD?

Unfortunately at the moment nothing can be done medically for this condition, usually people find that the symptoms calm down after about six months and people do eventually get used to living with the floaters. The brain tends to adapt to the floaters and eventually is able to ignore them, so they then only become a problem in very bright light.

Will I lose any sight?

Posterior vitreous detachment does not in itself cause any permanent loss of vision. Your visual acuity should remain the same that is you will be able to see just as you could before the posterior vitreous detachment started. You may have some difficulties to begin with because of the floaters and flashing lights though these do not cause permanent sight loss.

The only threat to vision is the small chance of a retinal tear leading to a retinal detachment.

It is important to stress that retinal tears and detachments are much rarer conditions and that very few people with PVD go on to develop either of these problems

Are retinal tears serious?

Sometimes the vitreous is so firmly attached to the surface of the retina that as the jelly collapses it pulls quite strongly on the retina. In a few people this may lead to the retina tearing which in turn could lead to a loss of vision because of a retinal detachment.

Warning signs of a retinal tear or detachment could be an increase in size and number of your floaters, a change / increase in the flashing lights you experience or a blurring of vision. If you experience any of these symptoms you should seek medical advice within 24 hours. This is particularly important if you notice a dark “curtain” falling across your vision, as this may mean that the retina has already partially detached. Early intervention may allow treatment of a tear before it becomes a detachment and increase the chances of a good recovery from a retinal detachment which has already occurred.

It is important to remember that PVD has been estimated to have occurred in over 75 per cent of the population over 65, that PVD is essentially a harmless condition although with some disturbing symptoms and that it does not normally threaten sight.

Will I need to keep seeing my doctor?

Your ophthalmologist (the hospital eye specialist) will give you a thorough examination during your first visit. They will pay special attention to whether or not the retina is in any danger. If it isn’t then they may not need to see you again. However if you begin to experience the symptoms warning of a possible retinal detachment, such as increased or definite change in floaters more severe flashing lights and / or a ‘curtain’ falling over your vision then a trip to the doctor is again necessary.

Is there anything I can do to cope with these annoying symptoms?

Floaters can be particularly annoying. They get in the way of seeing things and can make some things difficult, for example reading a book. There is a way of trying to cope with this that some people find useful. If you move your eyes around you can create currents in the jelly within your eyes this can sometimes move the floater out of your direct field of vision.

This works best if you have one large floater rather than lots of small ones. Making things bigger can also help while you have floaters so that you are able to see things around the blank spots the floaters cause. However most people find that with time the floaters become less and less of a problem.

For the record, I am no where near age 65…

Finally got around to getting some work done in the yard that has been getting more and more jungle-like while I have been occupied elsewhere. (Met with daughter while she chose her wedding gown the day before. She has picked a real winner!) Temps have been in the 80′s and 90′s here already, so I had to get myself out the door before my usual midday time…

Around 2 or so, I was getting a bit weary, so I began looking for a “stopping place” but yard work for me kinda like eating a taco–really tough to stop until the job is done. About that same time, this big ol’ bug seemed to drop down in front of me from nowhere which really gave me a fright–especially after the “close encounter” I just had with this gila monster-like lizard living in the pile of rocks near our fence. Then it was like a whole bunch of bugs were flying around me, some with long, squiggly tails…

It did not take too much longer for me to figure out that something wierd was going on with my eyes. I assumed it was my gimpy left one that has had one of central Texas’s top corneal specialists scratching his head for a couple of years now, but I discovered it was my GOOD eye…

My eye doctor was booked solid for the day, so they referred me to this other guy. Other guy was busy, too, so I got this new eye doctor. After booking an appointment to get it looked at, I realized that driving with all of those wiggly things in my field of vision might be just a bit irresposibile and inconsiderate to folks that would be sharing the road with me. Donkey to the rescue!

The good news:

• I was reminded that I have wonderful people in my life to help me when I need it.
• No signs of detached retina now and after six weeks or so, it would be even more unlikely that it would happen.
• I still got to go to my Mary Kay event later that evening and everyone loved my cool shades.
• There were a number of lovely ladies (including new eye doctor) that would probably like to learn about Mary Kay when I go for my followup appointment.
• Rest after emotionally eventful day(s) is like a slice of heaven.

Life is good!

Usually my sisters, Mary Kay customers or coworkers supply me with plenty of funny stuff to share here, but this time, my MOM sent me an oldie but a goodie:

GOD ENJOYS A GOOD LAUGH!

There were 3 good arguments that Jesus was Black:

1. He called everyone brother

2. He liked Gospel

3. He didn’t get a fair trial

But then there were 3 equally good arguments that Jesus was Jewish:

1. He went into His Father’s business

2. He lived at home until he was 33

3. He was sure his Mother was a virgin and his Mother was sure He was God

But then there were 3 equally good arguments that Jesus was Italian:

1. He talked with His hands

2. He had wine with His meals

3. He used olive oil

But then there were 3 equally good arguments that Jesus was a Californian:

1. He never cut His hair

2. He walked around barefoot all the time

3. He started a new religion

But then there were 3 equally good arguments that Jesus was an American Indian:

1. He was at peace with nature

2. He ate a lot of fish

3. He talked about the Great Spirit

But then there were 3 equally good arguments that Jesus was Irish:

1. He never got married.

2. He was always telling stories.

3. He loved green pastures.

But the most compelling evidence of all – 3 proofs that Jesus was a woman:

1. He fed a crowd at a moment’s notice when there was virtually no food

2. He kept trying to get a message across to a bunch of men who just didn’t get it

3. And even when He was dead, He had to get up because there was still work to do

Can I get an AMEN!!

Mary Kay Career Conference in San Antonio was awesome! I finally got to eat at a place that my daughter recommended quite a while ago with two of my bestest MK buddies before the Friday evening session. Your prayers are really working wonders–one of my traveling companions was the one I asked everyone to pray for a little while ago as she dealt with her breast cancer. She is getting her last chemo treatment on Wednesday and she did just great during our trip. Strangers would come up and compliment her on her hair, not even knowing it was a wig!

My other galpal invited us to stay at her dad’s home in a suburb just outside of the city, so we saved tons of money on that trip (We did put together a little set of men’s products that he likes as a thank you gift, but, hey, we can get it wholesale!) and he even drove us into the city on Saturday so we would not have to deal with the hassle of parking and getting over to the Convention Center, then he stopped and bought us dinner on the way back to his home before we left that evening. It felt as though we were being treated like royalty! Here is a picture of our whole group at the very end of the last day:

The two tallest ladies on each end were my traveling companions and I am the only one (besides our director in her brown suit) not wearing mostly red & black since I wanted to use the new coastal color collection with the Bahama blue eyeliner while I was there. Usually I do not get all that jazzed about new color collections (especially the eye colors that pretty much hide behind my glasses anyway) but I really have really enjoyed wearing these! 

Things have really been piling up around here while I was gone. (Exception being the yummy chocolates than Donkey got me for our anniversary–they are nearly gone!) Besides the MK orders to fill and taxes, there is still stuff from last weekend when we hosted meals for almost 30 people before it was over, along with my little furniture repair/refinishing project I have going on right now, so, as one of our offspring likes to say:

Hasta la bye-bye!

Right about the time that I began to wonder if my righteous indignation and downright disgust with all those financial leaders who value their expertise in the millions of dollars but could not seem to figure out how to avoid tanking our entire economic system was the sort of thing that Jesus might be thinking, I come across this blog.

My younger sis has done it again. In view of the current situation, this one she sent to me really tickled my funny bone: 

Dear Sir:

I am writing to thank you for bouncing my check with which I endeavored to pay my plumber last month.

By my calculations, three nanoseconds must have elapsed between his presenting the check and the arrival in my account of the funds needed to honor it.

I refer, of course, to the automatic monthly deposit of my entire pension, an arrangement which, I admit, has been in place for only eight years. You are to be commended for seizing that brief window of opportunity, and also for debiting my account $30 by way of penalty for the inconvenience caused to your bank. My thankfulness springs from the manner in which this incident has caused me to rethink my errant financial ways.

I noticed that whereas I personally answer your telephone calls and letters, — when I try to contact you, I am confronted by the impersonal, overcharging, pre-recorded, faceless entity which your bank has become.

From now on, I, like you, choose only to deal with a flesh-and-blood person. My mortgage and loan repayments will therefore and hereafter no longer be automatic, but will arrive at your bank, by check, addressed personally and confidentially to an employee at your bank whom you must nominate.

Be aware that it is an offense under the Postal Act for any other person to open such an envelope. Please find attached an Application Contact which I require your chosen employee to complete. I am sorry it runs to eight pages, but in order that I know as much about him or her as your bank knows about me, there is no alternative. Please note that all copies of his or her medical history must be countersigned by a Notary Public, and the mandatory details of his/her financial situation (income, debts, assets and liabilities) must be accompanied by documented proof. In due course, at MY convenience, I will issue your employee with a PIN number which he/she must quote in dealings with me.

I regret that it cannot be shorter than 28 digits but, again, I have modeled it on the number of button presses required of me to access my account balance on your phone bank service. As they say, imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.

Let me level the playing field even further.

When you call me, press buttons as follows:

IMMEDIATELY AFTER DIALING, PRESS THE STAR (*) BUTTON FOR ENGLISH

#1. To make an appointment to see me

#2. To query a missing payment.

#3. To transfer the call to my living room in case I am there.

#4. To transfer the call to my bedroom in case I am sleeping

#5. To transfer the call to my toilet in case I am attending to nature.

#6. To transfer the call to my mobile phone if I am not at home

#7. To leave a message on my computer, a password to access my computer is required. Password will be communicated to you at a later date to that Authorized Contact mentioned earlier.

#8. To return to the main menu and to listen to options 1 through 7.

#9. To make a general complaint or inquiry. The contact will then be put on hold, pending the attention of my automated answering service.

#10. This is a second reminder to press* for English. While this may, on occasion, involve a lengthy wait, uplifting music will play for the duration of the call.

Regrettably, but again following your example, I must also levy an establishment fee to cover the setting up of this new arrangement. May I wish you a happy, if ever so slightly less prosperous New Year?

Your Humble Client

Remember: This was written by an 86 year old woman. YA JUST GOTTA LOVE THOSE SENIORS!!!!!

And also remember: Don’t make old ladies mad. They don’t like being old in the first place, so it doesn’t take much to set them off…

When I get multiple sources of information and/or ideas and they are mostly telling me the same thing, it helps me to feel like I am heading in the right direction. The “theme” for this week seems to be listening. The following is one of the nuggets of information that was mined from my day-to-day tasks: 

Donkey and I attend Bible study one evening a week and our group usually picks a “theme” for each semester. For this one, we decided to “continue the story” after studying about David last time, so our primary focus is 1 and 2 Kings. So far, the “main character” has been David’s son, Solomon. Most folks (including myself) cannot think about Solomon without thinking of wisdom.

In a time and place when wives, sons, land, livestock, armies, weapons, precious stones, gems and metals were the desire of nearly every living human soul, Solomon asked God for wisdom. I have often wondered why. If Solomon was smart enough to ask for that which had the potential to bring him all of those other things, he must have been pretty wise to begin with. So did God actually give Solomon wisdom, or did Solomon just take the time he spent in relationship with God to help him to more effectively use the wisdom that he already possessed?

Either way, wisdom is a very valuable commodity. Many of the situations in our world that bring us grief are ones where we have either not taken responsibility when it was necessary or we have tried to take responsibility when there was no need for us to do so. Perhaps that is why the first four lines of the “serenity prayer” adopted by AA is such an effective tool. Here is the entire thing:

I find the possibility that the potential for greatness lies in each of us and that spending time in relationship with God could develop that potential quite inspiring…

Okay, Spazzz….

enjoy!