Better Than New, Worse than Old

More tidbits for you. First, comparing the new vision to the old vision ... and lest I terminally confuse you, I mean the new lens in the left eye to the "normal" one in the right ... The new lens is already better, sharper, clearer vision than the other eye, and both used to have nearly 20-20 vision, just reading corrections. This is after less than a week, and the only other difference is that the natural lens has a bit of a yellow tint to it and the artificial one leans a tad bluish. Not a big deal, just interesting. I'm told the eye will stabilize in a few weeks, but if it stays just as it is right now, I'm more than happy.

The tree is up and decorated, as decorated as it will get this year. That always means bubbler lights, and we have three strings of the good old-fashioned kind, hooked up end-to-end. If there's going to be a tree, there have to be bubblers. If we don't feel like all the work of a tree, there will still be bubbler lights, somewhere. This year it meant that my craft table got moved, aka put away, and the futon got put in its place by the patio window, making room for the tree on the lanai with its lights shining in the dining room window. It also means Steve did the heavy work this year, since I wasn't allowed. Mustn't bump the new lens.

I hope I don't have to tell you what all that heavy work did to Steve's knees, especially the one that got the big knock last year, the one that never was much good (oh hey, that means both, actually) but never really healed in the past year. Just as well then that today was his scheduled lumbar block. That means in-and-out , aka day surgery, with an injection on one side of the spinal column 'cause they can't do both sides at once. The point is to numb his knee to block the pain so he doesn't need painkillers all the time and can approach functioning on that leg.

We don't know if it worked. For some folks it does, some not. What I can vouch for is  that it took two of the medical staff to walk him out to the car and sit him down in it so I could drive him home. I can also vouch that while he was out from under the general anesthetic, he was higher than a kite for past the time we got home, and after a little supper, went to bed. High for Steve is a combination of motor-mouth and having to be persuaded frequently that when they tell him he can't drive for 24 hours they do NOT mean tomorrow morning when the procedure was at 6 PM! But at least for tonight he was literally feeling no pain.

Halleluia!

One of the satellite TV networks has been offering what they call the "Battle of the Nutcrackers", where 5 different ballet companies from around the world put on their version of The Nutcracker and you can watch them all and pick your favorite. OK, I love the music, so I really could listen 5 times in 5 days. However, not a single one of them was up to snuff for me.

I have been thoroughly spoiled. I took the kids to see it in Minneapolis several times, back when they were little. Lloyce Holton (apologies if it's spelled wrong) put it on each time. It was charming, magical, perhaps a bit on the cute side with the little budding ballerinas in mouse costumes, but told a very distinct story that none of these supposedly "world class" companies managed to do, and showcased real talent. The children were children, not just short dancers, and acted as bratty as children can do at a formal adult party. Their Cossack dancers actually managed to do that squat-kicking  move throughout their dance. The Arabian dancers knew how to undulate rather than just wave scarves around.  The Spanish dancers looked like they knew something about Flamenco rather than just wore something-like costumes but did ordinary ballet steps. The toys weren't puppet shows but actual dancers in costumes, and it always opened with a scene in the magical workshop of Godfather Drosselmeier where he's making the toys before the party.

All of that is what the Nutcracker is to me, and everything else comes short. Maybe I should just settle for a good complete soundtrack and memories.

Meanwhile we've been enjoying upper 70s down here and watching the blizzards on TV. Eat your hearts out. Better yet, come visit!