Further Update

Another day without a computer. The new hard drive that was supposed to arrive today . . . . didn't.

The service man said "We'll try again Friday."

So begins week two with me computerless at home.

Thanks to the town for the use of Internet computers at the public library.

Stay tuned.

Update

Finally got word from my computer fixer this morning. Hard drive is shot. New one needed. He doesn't have them in stock so it will be at least two more days before my baby is fixed. He doesn't think he can retrieve anything from the crap hard drive.

Woe is me.

But I shall survive and hope to be back soon.

Oh sh . . . . . ucks!

CATALYST'S COMPUTER WOULD NOT BOOT UP THIS MORNING.

IT IS IN THE SHOP FOR EXPENSIVE TREATMENT AND REPAIR.

ODDBALL OBSERVATIONS WILL THUS BE DOWN UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE.

(BEHAVE YOURSELVES)

The continuing saga

It is my interest to keep you, my readers, up to date on the continuing saga of my eyesight.

For example, Miss Kitty asked today if I was using all of my eye drops. So I just wanted her to be assured that I was. SWMBO assisted by taking a picture during a brief nap.

I have survived!

PROGRESS REPORT!

I have lived on. My right eye is that of a newborn babe. I can see small objects at a great distance. I see the ancient kduru grazing on the mountainside. I see gnats around the flanks of cattle in the distance. I see naked ladies through the walls of their houses. (Well, okay, that might be a bit of a stretch.) But my ripped and torn eye is working better than ever. (It's the right eye here, slightly reddened, probably from trying to see through the walls of houses in my neighborhood.)

Here's the best part: The doctor and his nurses told me not to bend or stoop, not to lift over 20 pounds, to take care of myself. And all of this FOR A WEEK OR MORE!!!

Do you realize what that means?

No nasty duties for old Catalyst. SWMBO has been doing stuff that she hadn't even thought about for years. Because she is so caring and doesn't want poor Cat to hurt himself.

Heh-heh-heh.

But I don't know how long I can keep this "oooooooooohhhhhhhhhh" moaning getting its money's worth.

In the meantime, here's a photo of the Rajah to tide you over.

By the way . . .

Sheesh, I should have mentioned this before.



But I tend to spend way too much time expending crap about myself.



So, today is different.



In 1971, I was a young radio news reporter in Indianapolis. Well, not so young. I had about 11 years experience in the business. But I was pretty naive. I had dreams of being a writer. I mean, a big writer. Like Hemingway. So I answered one of those ads in magazines that said something like "Famous Writer's School" will teach you to become one of the greats!



Some time later, I got a call from a young woman who said "I'm from the Famous Writer's School and I'd like to talk to you!"



Wow! I thought.



But. I said (thinking that this woman had come all the way from Connecticut or somewhere to sign me up) where are you?



She said she was at a local hotel.



I said "that's a coincidence because a friend of mine is playing drums with his combo at that very hotel tonight and I was planning on coming there." So, uh, can we get together there?



Yes, she could. At 8:00 or there abouts.



Well, I hadn't told her that I was working something like 4 to noon at the radio station so I slept in the afternoon so I could go out at night.



I overslept.



But...I got to the hotel about 45 minutes late . . . or so.



She was wearing a black turtleneck sweater and a blue topcoat.



I was wearing a black turtleneck sweater and a blue topcoat.



We recognized each other immediately. We spent an hour or so while she pitched me. AND let me know that she hadn't come from Connecticut to recognize my talent. She was a local representative.



But I was captivated by her beauty and her intelligence and her charm.



.



.



.



89 days later I married her.



And she has been my love ever since.

Judy (SWMBO) . . . 38 years ago today . . . I love you.

My new look

More signs of my advancing years. Today, I went in for my first cataract surgery. SWMBO has already had it done on both eyes. Friends have had it done. One friend had to wear "coke-bottle-lens" glasses since birth. After her surgeries she suddenly had 20-20 vision without glasses and was, and is, thrilled.

I'm not so happy but then this is the first day and here is how I look.

Now if I could just get SWMBO to stop hiding my white cane . . . .