I’ve been a bit irritable when working on the computer with Attila, and have not been sure why, nothing has changed about the way we do things.
Today we are exploring the income tax return software, and I found that I have a very short fuse for providing Attila with assistance. Odd.
As we sat in front of the monitor, it dawned on me why I am so irritable. I can’t see, and have been avoiding admitting it to myself.
Attila can read the screen, no problem there. Attila does not understand how to navigate the software, how to problem solve the technical issues to accomplish the task. This is something I find easy to manage, so I assist him. I’ve always been pretty quick with this process. Now I am not. I have to squint, or get my face up closer to the screen to read the print, and so I am much slower to respond to his requests. When I am slow, he starts to ask many questions while I am trying to read the screen. This irritates me, as I am unhappily trying to focus my eyes to see what is going on.
My eyesight is definitely not what it was!
Until today I’ve been unable to admit how significant this loss of vision has been. But what is different about today?
Ah, what is different about today is that I received a letter from the eye surgeon’s office, scheduling my first appointment, an assessment for the cataract surgery, in a few months time. This is very good news! I think that with that news I am suddenly able to admit to myself how much my eyesight has deteriorated, and with that comes irritation with the not being able to use my eyes as I always have. I have been regretting not purchasing those new glasses when they were recommended years ago!
Transitioning from winter to spring can bring some unpleasant weather. We have some freezing rain tonight, which by all accounts will clear by morning and will melt. Warmer weather coming our way, then the temperature will dip again to possibly bring us more freezing rain, even snow.
The volume of snow is diminishing now, this afternoon we saw bits of grass on the lawns during our walk, not many bare patches, but even one feels encouraging. The snow banks are high now, rather than towering.
I feel heartened, because I prefer this roller coaster weather to the extreme cold, and very snowy, winter we are just coming out of.
The kitchen has been busy! Today I baked bread and made a batch of Cream of Tomato Soup Base, then made myself a bowl of soup for lunch with it. I am still enamoured with Miso, adding a teaspoon to the single serving of soup is an improvement on something I already loved.
I’ve been slowly blending the Miso into the soup using a measuring spoon and a small spoon. This works well, but is time consuming and fussy. I hemmed and hawed about purchasing a Miso sieve. I tried to use the sieves we already had, but they were awkward to use, the wrong size and shape, and not an improvement on using two spoons. So a few days ago I ordered a Miso sieve, another gadget to store. We use our gadgets though, continuously.
Of course there is nowhere locally to buy such an item, but Amazon had quite a variety for sale. Most were made in Japan, and were quite expensive. I found a small one from Japan (where this is a common gadget) at a comparatively reasonable price, and ordered it. When it arrived there was not a word of English on the packaging, everything was in Japanese, which is desirable in this instance. Using it is simple and straightforward, the illustration is all the instruction one might need.
The Miso sieve works like a charm! The use of Miso is expanding with time, so it will be put to good use over the years to come.
Worldly
Weather
-1°C
Date: 7:00 PM EST Thursday 5 March 2026
Condition: Cloudy
Pressure: 102.6 kPa
Tendency: Rising
Temperature: -.7°C
Dew point: -8.4°C
Humidity: 65%
Wind: NE 33 gusts 48 km/h
Wind Chill: -10
Visibility: 24 km
60% chance of rain or freezing rain early this evening. Periods of freezing rain beginning this evening and ending overnight. Risk of freezing drizzle overnight.
Quote
“I’ve grown to realize the joy that comes from little victories is preferable to the fun that comes from ease and the pursuit of pleasure.”
Lawana Blackwell
1952 –
from The Courtship of the Vicar’s Daughter, 1998
Note: I think more joy comes from sane expectations, than from great expectations.
Maggie, I read as far as, “I’ve been a bit irritable when working on the computer with Attila,” and said aloud, “Maggie, that’s because you can’t see!”
I had my cataract surgeries more than fifteen years ago and I still recall the frustration leading up to them. You have my full sympathy for the delay but am glad there is some progress.
Wendy, you caught it right away! https://s.w.org/images/core/emoji/17.0.2/svg/1f642.svg
I first noticed the decline in sight when doing jigsaw puzzles, I work on them now with a magnifying glass at hand. It was a relief that the magnifying glass improved the situation.
Although I am not looking forward to the procedure, I am very much looking forward to the results!
Although I am not looking forward to the procedure, I am very much looking forward to the results!
I’m glad you were able to find a useful tool. (I love the Japanese tongs we have.) I hope you won’t have to wait long for the cataract surgery.
Joan, the tongs sound interesting! I have always loved cooking and baking, and some of the gadgets that make all that easier to accomplish. Our kitchen is chock full of such things, most of which we use frequently. We do have a few that we do not use, but keep for sentimental reasons, such as the fondue set Attila got from his Mom many decades ago.
I hope to have good vision by the summer, barring unforeseen circumstances.
I learned from an online friend that with cataracts you can opt for either close vision or distance vision. She opted for close vision, since she had had that all her life and felt she would miss that. DH, OTOH, opted for distance vision as he’d always had very poor vision with anything even a few feet away.
My friend seems very happy with her close vision, and DH is thrilled at all the things he can see now at a distance that he couldn’t before. He doesn’t need glasses to drive anymore. And for reading up close he uses $36 cheater glasses from Walmart that have 3 focal lengths for computer use, regular reading, etc.
Teri, the health care system only covers monofocal lenses, as you describe close or distance vision. Good to know that there are options with that!
I will probably choose those for distance and continue to wear glasses for reading and computer work. But will make a final decision in consultation with the surgeon.
There are a LOT of fancy lenses available that cost the sun and the moon, offering perfect vision at all distances, no need for glasses. BUT many people report nighttime halos etc. so there can be issues with these. I do not imagine I will try for any of the expensive multifocal lenses. Interesting to consider, but rough on the pocketbook, and if they don’t work you would have to pay full price to have them replaced with monofocals… double ouch.
I will stick with the health care system options, tried and true.
I did not know that there are 3 focal length glasses available anywhere, so handy at Walmart!
My friend is from the US, so I guess I don’t know if Canada has the close-up vision lens option.
DH’s surgeon actually recommended the Walmart cheater glasses to him and told him which focal strength would probably work best for him – but you can try them on in the store, so no guesswork involved.
Thanks Teri, good information to have when my turn for surgery arrives!