Another TGIF

Well, I got my annual review today (they love me, BTW) and then I had to leave work early to get my eyes examined. Results? Eyes have weakened a little but not so bad I can't wait until December 1 to get new glasses (insurance will pay for them, then). Good news? No signs of deterioration from my diabetes. My right eye has more "floaters" in it, but that's the eye that is too far gone to use corrective lenses to get me to 20/20 vision, anyway. Other good news? There are absolutely no signs of a re-occurrence of my glaucoma.

I called today to get an appointment for my yearly checkup and was told my doctor, who I have been going to for 30 some years (he delivered both Jeremy and Jake, BTW) is now semi-retired and only sees patients on Tuesday and Wednesday, and sees them with his other physician so he can hand them off. Sad. I will definitely miss him. He's been a good doctor and a good friend. But I can't get in until the end of October!

And, the kicker? His other physician is a woman!!! But, truth be told, beginning with heart problems in my early twenties, moving on to my motor cycle accident and almost losing my knee, then on to my knee replacement in my late 40's, a gall bladder removal, prostate cancer treatment with radiation, my second artificial knee replacement (and a bunch of smaller incidents that I, thankfully, no longer remember), I have been around enough strange (to me) doctors and nurses with me being half-dressed in hospital gowns or undressed completely that I no longer have any shame or embarrassment. A lady doctor? Hey, bring her on!

EDITOR'S NOTE: The following should be a separate post and labeled as one of those "touching" stories from "back in the day." However, the Captain bypassed the usual review process and inserted it directly into his daily Blog.

I do remember the last incident when I was embarrassed, though. I don't remember where or when (senior moment) but I was in the hospital for something, had already been given a couple of "happy" shots and was strapped in a gurney in pre-op. There was nobody there but a very young, very cute, nurse and me (I have always been able to deal with a 50 year-old grumpy nurse shaped like a fireplug, but the young, cute ones always threw me). It was then that I realized... Damn! I had to pee.

So, I said to her, "Can I get up and go to the rest room? I have to pee." She said, "No, just hold it. I can't let you up." I said, "I'm serious! I gotta go, NOW!" So, after a long moment, she looked around, found a plastic urinal jug, then grabbed my penis and stuck it in there, turned her head and said, "Go ahead!"

Needless to say, it took a while...

EDITOR'S NOTE: End of touching story from back in the day.

Okay, so back to this Friday. I got out of the eye doctor's office at 4:30, so I swung by the Kroger's at 5 mile and Middle Belt, sure in my belief I could remember my grocery list. I blew through that and was home by 5:05 PM. I put away the groceries and checked the list - Damn! I forgot four items! I changed my clothes and went outside to pick up small branches the high winds had littered my yard with.

Around 7:00 PM, I started a simple pasta sauce, using olive oil, two minced yellow onions and five garlic cloves. I went out to the herb garden and picked, then chopped and added, some fresh oregano and basil. I gave a rough chop to some roasted red peppers (I keep a jar in the fridge) and added those, too. Then I threw in two 28 ounce cans of whole tomatoes. Now, I know (and you probably know) most recipes for a quick pasta sauce call for a 28 ounce can of "crushed" tomatoes and a smaller can of "diced" tomatoes. However, I like the visceral sensation of grabbing the whole peeled tomatoes and squishing them! (It's like, oh, I don't know... hmmm... it may be I'm just weird...)

Anyway, back on track, I cut up the five Italian sausages I grilled earlier this week and added those and let the whole thing simmer an hour. Then I made some penne pasta and, when they were al dente, added the sauce (reserving one big jar that went into the freezer for some other time. Ate two bowls (after topping with grated Parm-Reggie) while watching Friday night TV, then went to bed around 10:00 PM.