Quick post- Donut Info

Just a quick post regarding stats for the McCarran Donut Hole Challenge.

McCarran Donut Hole Trads by Owners/Sizes 4/21/2011
Owner	Micro	Small	Regular	Large	Total
2WildCatz	-	-	1	-	1
3je	3	-	-	-	3
4crowsandadog	-	-	1	-	1
4McElfish	2	1	-	-	3
6079smithw	1	-	-	-	1
abeyoni	1	-	3	-	4
Adrockfluke	3	1	-	-	4
akathedaver	3	3	-	-	6
Alamogul	1	-	-	-	1
applejohn	3	-	-	-	3
barefootfamily	-	1	-	-	1
basquenv	1	-	-	-	1
bballReno	3	2	-	-	5
Beanie519	-	-	1	-	1
Becca_	-	-	1	-	1
Bird Watcher 8	1	-	-	-	1
blocko1000	1	-	-	-	1
bobthecat	2	-	1	-	3
bulldogdad	-	1	-	-	1
bumble22	1	-	-	-	1
Burre48	-	3	3	-	6
byjer	8	2	-	1	11
candy corn	4	1	-	-	5
catedad	1	-	-	-	1
CAVIACO	-	1	-	-	1
caylero	1	-	-	-	1
CharliePop	1	-	-	-	1
cheops83	5	1	2	-	8
chritch	-	1	-	-	1
cookie&faith	3	1	-	-	4
corneliusroot	1	-	-	-	1
CSRML_Explorers	1	3	1	-	5
cyclism	1	-	-	-	1
dah2owitch	1	1	-	-	2
decktree	-	3	-	-	3
disney4us2	-	1	-	-	1
Dizfiz	18	3	3	-	24
Doctor Stalsis	1	-	-	-	1
Doodad	1	-	2	-	3
drofrockology	6	-	-	-	6
Dwayne_	4	3	-	-	7
ebolla	1	1	-	-	2
ecochx	2	1	-	-	3
Ella J	1	-	-	-	1
elway7	-	7	1	-	8
eph5vs20	4	3	-	-	7
explorin	-	1	-	-	1
fallax	-	-	1	-	1
find waldo	1	-	-	-	1
Flying Potatos	-	-	1	-	1
Forever Newlyweds	-	1	-	-	1
ForeverChaos	2	-	-	-	2
GBESGeocachers	1	-	-	-	1
Geocacher Magazine	-	-	-	-	-
GeoDeeno	1	-	-	-	1
GeoEdYOUcation	-	-	1	-	1
GeoGhosts	-	2	1	-	3
Geo-Jeeper	2	-	-	-	2
geospyder	3	-	-	-	3
GHillers	1	-	-	-	1
gmaxis	-	-	-	-	-
Good Time Charlie	-	-	1	-	1
gooey	-	-	1	-	1
Goone Squad	6	1	-	-	7
grimmie895	9	-	-	-	9
GunslingingHousewife	-	2	-	-	2
Half Way There	-	1	-	-	1
hide-N-seek2000	7	-	-	-	7
J&kids	-	2	-	-	2
jack l hyder	1	-	-	-	1
jdog89509	3	-	1	-	4
jeditrekr	2	2	-	-	4
Jeepin'cachers	2	-	-	-	2
jimmyreno	2	2	2	-	6
Jinxed95	2	-	-	-	2
Jon Dom Knight	-	1	-	-	1
Knights of Lee	-	1	-	-	1
Kokomohottie	1	-	-	-	1
LaughingGravy	23	5	-	-	28
laurabakes	1	-	-	-	1
Leaky Spoon	14	4	4	-	22
lee.barford	1	-	-	-	1
lil miss muffit	-	-	1	-	1
lilbuggers	1	-	-	-	1
LLLX2	1	-	-	-	1
LostinReno	2	1	-	-	3
lyon2062	1	-	-	-	1
MassRadio	1	-	-	-	1
matbluvenger	1	-	-	-	1
mikeymckay	-	-	-	-	-
minstrelboy	1	-	1	-	2
MK2010	1	-	-	-	1
mobiletrekker	2	2	1	-	5
mondou2	1	-	-	-	1
Moonchaser	-	-	-	-	-
Moongirl_05	-	-	1	-	1
mtm6000	1	-	-	-	1
n7zx	2	-	1	-	3
n8cache	1	-	-	-	1
NevadaWolf	1	-	-	-	1
Nexus-Wanderer	-	1	-	-	1
NV Cache Bandits	1	-	-	-	1
NVGeoscouter	-	-	1	-	1
NVGreenGecko	7	1	-	-	8
nvpizzaboss	-	1	-	-	1
nvsrvyr	17	1	1	-	19
nvtatman	-	-	1	-	1
OctopieBlack	-	-	1	-	1
Outatwn	-	-	1	-	1
PAFC	1	-	-	-	1
PalisadePirates	-	-	1	-	1
pedaltothemedal	1	-	1	-	2
Pirate Cach	2	-	-	-	2
Puttnuts	2	-	1	-	3
Puzzleman	1	-	-	-	1
randallh	1	2	-	-	3
RangerDanger11	-	1	-	-	1
ray461	1	3	1	-	5
Reno PRCS	-	1	8	-	9
RenoGem & RenoStar	1	-	-	-	1
RenoRaiders	9	4	-	-	13
RenoRogues	-	7	-	-	7
RockRabbit73	1	2	-	-	3
RykoalaTeam	10	-	-	-	10
safe1	1	1	2	-	4
Saltysamaritan	-	-	1	-	1
SeattleSpoke	2	-	-	-	2
SherriAx	-	1	-	-	1
shvaew	1	-	-	-	1
Silver Queen	1	2	-	-	3
sujojeepers	2	-	-	-	2
sylverthorne	-	1	-	-	1
TatDaddy	5	-	2	-	7
Tavo	-	-	-	-	-
Team Dawgg	2	-	-	-	2
Team Reno	-	1	1	-	2
team_goobie	17	10	3	-	30
The clowns fly @ 3...	8	3	-	-	11
The Razz Tazzz	1	-	-	-	1
The Unknown Nieces	1	-	-	-	1
the_count_of_reno	2	-	-	-	2
TheFortuneFinders	-	3	1	-	4
TheWheatleyteam	6	1	-	-	7
tostler	-	1	-	-	1
Trdball	5	-	-	-	5
Troll # 5	1	-	-	-	1
tstu15	-	1	-	-	1
Tumbleweed Family	-	-	1	-	1
Unknown_2_You	1	-	-	-	1
VanDavey	-	1	-	-	1
water	-	-	1	-	1
Windarii	-	2	-	-	2
wingnut16	-	1	-	-	1
wizardjr	1	1	-	-	2
xdusterx691	7	-	-	-	7
XJ Crew	1	-	-	-	1
xxxsparkmanxxx	14	3	1	-	18
yasowat	1	-	-	-	1
youandme8809	8	5	1	-	14
young1s	4	2	2	-	8
Total caches in database:	342	137	71	1	551

Gettin' the asteroids out

Computers made a big difference on how I felt about Asteroid Hyalosis - it was still possible to ignore them, but they ceased to be totally in the background. I had gotten to a point where I felt like I really did wanted  to get rid of them. Time for another appointment.

Dr. DeMers was in semi-retirement then (I don't think he ever actually stopped going to his practice completely), and I had started seeing someone else in the office. I still can't remember his name, and don't think he even lasted all that long there before grandson DeMers and his wife took over. I asked him if anything could be done about them- yes, there is a procedure, he informed me... and no, he would not recommend it.

I wonder now if he even glanced to see my condition. Maybe he thought I had floaters. Still, I was not happy with this (or his prescriptions) and after Laura told me that she didn't care for this doctor either, we decided to change offices. I missed Dr. DeMers but retirement is retirement! We started going to a practice in the south area that Laura had used in her first marriage. That's when I got to scare the Assistant.

The now standard-in-my-experience tests were repeated on my first visit. But, when we got to one particular machine the assistant became, well, a little agitated.

First she looked in right eye and made a few notes - then the left. Then she stood up, checked all the different doodads on the machine, sat down and went back to staring into my left eye and twiddling knobs.

She started tapping her pencil. Eventually she was putting out a beat I could dance to. She got up and asked me to lean back while she cleaned the eyepiece on my side. Then back to tapping, adjusting, and finally she gave up altogether and called for the doctor on the intercom.

He was taking awhile so she left to seek him out, probably thinking the machine was busted. It didn't occur to me at all that she was flummoxed by my asteroids.*

*I'd always assumed that this new doctor would have my charts from the last (after all I had signed a form saying they could have them). That's not the same as reading them, though.

When the Doc appeared he set her straight - everything was fine (with the machine). She looked at me like she had just discovered a new kind of bug, and I got kind of creeped out. Yeesh.

I asked him later if I could have anything done about them.

"Do they bother you?", he asked.

"They didn't used to, but they do now. The glare from computer screens really sets them off. I'm finding it harder to concentrate, and harder to drive at night. Can anything be done?"

"There is a procedure, involving lasers; I would not recommend it. Too risky. And your insurance would not cover it."

That last statement surprised me. "Wouldn't cover it?" Weird. If my knee started giving out, that would certainly be covered. Or if I needed a root canal. What was the disconnect with eyes? 

Five years later, on to Doctor #4, Dr. Conkey at Nevada Vision Group.  I had turned 51 and the dang asteroids had bugged me SO much in the past year - work especially, and I would find myself covering my left eye while I worked, trying to concentrate on what I was seeing. In my personal life, driving at night was on my list of Things I Hate to Do. I just had to revisit this situation, even if the chances were not in my favor.

Dr. Conkey was still not really sympathetic but he had a surprise for me - the procedure was NOT all that risky (anymore, apparently) and, he had a colleague who did many of them, right next door at Nevada Retina Associates. 

Still more of a surprise - "Will my insurance cover it?" I asked. 

"Since it's giving you all this trouble, it should" he replied. "You could give it a shot."

Schedule me in!

Getting in to see Dr. Dhindsa was quick. After describing the procedure - Vitrectomy - and all the associated risks, he sent me home to discuss it with Laura and come to a decision. A few weeks ago, we returned to his office with a few more questions, got them answered, got insurance preauthorization, and  as I write this, I am 90 minutes away from checking in to the hospital for the procedure. 

Dr. Dhindsa describes the patients that get this procedure as being his happiest post recovery. I'm hoping to be one of them!

to be continued...

Am I an old dog or a chinchilla?

The story of my left eye.


I didn't get glasses until 3rd grade, even though I could have used them sooner. Like right out of the womb sooner. I was nearsighted then and even more so now. But no-one (including myself) noticed much. I like to read, so it was not unusual to see me with my nose in a book; like most little kids I was obsessed with creepy crawlies so seeing me studying something on my hands and knees on the lawn was also commonplace; and, not knowing what I was missing, it never really bothered me. Until Third Grade. Until... Math. Dun-dun-DUN.

Once the lessons graduated from times-tables and other work that I could read out of the book, to fractions and lessons that took place on the chalkboard, it was clear that I had a problem. But, it was caught quickly and I was marched on down to the base optometrist to get my first pair of glasses. This was 1968, so of course we're talking tortoise shell rims, and being eight years old, I'd recently got my front teeth in too -  so there I was, a big ol', buck toothed, bespectacled nerd (though that term hadn't been invented yet). 

But I still had a secret that I kept to myself, very much in the same spirit as my ignorance of needing glasses. Something that I thought everyone experienced, just goes without saying, not worth mentioning. And I was almost right. Almost. 

I have an old dog's eyes, or a chinchilla's. Specifically, one eye, my left. For fifty-one years I've lived life ignoring what my left eye tells me. Because it is full of soap. Phosphates. Isn't yours? Probably not! I have a condition called Asteroid Hyalosis. Now before you click that link, let me tell you that it's not  floaters. Those, everyone gets, at some time or the other, and they're nothing like the stars in my eye.  These stars - galaxies, strings, whatever you call them - formations of phosphates and calcium are the equivalent of seeing through very dirty glasses, all the time, while jiggling them with one hand. Really.

I didn't realize just how strange my soapy eye is until my 30's, when I started seeing Dr. Albert DeMers at Sparks Optical instead of going to the "Eyeballs at the Mall" chain stores. On my first visit to his office I went through a series of tests at various stations before landing in one of the exam rooms to see the good Doc. Some of these tests I hadn't done since I was a kid. A few, probably hadn't been invented yet.

Among Dr. DeMers many virtues was an almost childlike glee in pointing out life's little absurdities, and my soapy eye fit the bill and made his day. After introductions, he asked me if I knew what was special about my eye. My left eye. At first I didn't understand. Then he brought pics of my right eye up on a nearby computer.

"This is the inside of your right eye. You see, the fluid is fairly clear. Just a few floaters here, and there–" he then changed pics. "This is your left. Dramatic, isn't it!" His smile lit up the room as he pointed at the screen. This may seem off-putting at the telling, but then, it was OK, his mood was contagious. *

*This was almost always the case with Dr. DeMers. He knew how to work a room!

Up to then I had never had a clue that this was not normal. I hadn't even realized that the galaxies of "stuff" that I'd learned to look around and through all of my life was confined to one eye. And the picture was dramatic - barely recognizable as a picture of the inside of an eye, after seeing the other. I'd have sworn it was a picture of space from a National Geographic article. It was very striking.

"Does this bother you?" he asked.

"No- well, not really. I guess I've learned to ignore it."

"Well, it's benign, so you should not worry that you are in danger of losing sight. However, it is unusual to the extreme in your case. I'll probably show this to some colleagues. Is that alright with you?"

"Sure". And from there we moved on with the exam.

Now, I was sincere when I told the Doc that they didn't bother me. I'd been tuning them out for decades. My jobs up to that point were also very active - restaurant and retail management. But just coincidental with finding out what these things are,  I bought a computer, and everything changed.

to be continued...

11,001

Eleven thousand and one. 


That's where I stand at this moment, in this first month of '11, for the amount of tweets I've written. Assuming I've used at least 2/3rds of the 140 characters allowed, that would be just over 200,000 words. Wikipedia says that's about the equivalent of four novels. Really?

11,002. There, just tweeted a "way to go man" to a fellow geocacher that FTF'ed (first to finded) a cool mystery cache.  So it continues, and I'm now either starting a new novel or finishing that fourth.

The cacher I tweeted (@D_Wayne) posted this pic just before tweeting his find. That's a great example of why I've loved Twitter so much. Just look at it. That's not just a "look where I'm at" like you might get in an email from someone, that's a "hey WORLD lookit ME" moment. Wow.

Of course they're not all as grand as that. There are a lot of the "what I'm eating / or cooking", "where I'm shopping", et cetera. I'm good with those; they start a conversation, especially the restaurant tweets.

Back on subject. 11,003. Still counting. That novel isn't writing itself, you know.

Peace!