💕 ' come sit by my side ...

💕 ... come as close as the air ' ala ' Changes ' Gordon Lightfoot
           share in a memory of gray

Ah. Today is the high school reunion. I am ride sharing to save parking congestion. This function is class of '68, in person meet and greet. 

Optomologist visit. Overall, an excellent report. There was a moment when the Dr seemed concerned about a slight risk of cataracts.
But considering the age, almost a given.

My major problem has been insufficient oil production from the lower lid. The condition is called Blepharitis. Recently, over the past few years, this condition is falling under the category of ' dry eye '. 

The immediate symptoms. Redness, itchyness and general eye discomfort. Often give way to more serious irritation and vision loss.

Staring at a computer screen can inhibit the blink reflex - taking down the normal blink rate from 10 or so a minute to a few every 10 minutes.

My specific issue is that my oil gland pores fail to yield the coating oil to lubricate the eye surface. Dry eye. Plus the accumulation of debris and bacteria.

I have diligently, warmed the eye w/ a heating mask, followed by a gentle finger massage of the lower lid. Finally, a wipe w/ a oil dissolving tissue. This has bcome a Sunday and Thurdsay ritual.

The upshot is that I have continued to improve, based on the number of gland pores that yield oil on gentle finger pressure. The Dr is satisfied w/ 10 in each eye. My scores were 18 and 19. Dr claims that these were the second highest scores this year. Yeah.

Anecdotally, he has patients under 15 who have scored, 0 / 0.

This warming and cleansing eye program has been on going and tweaking since 1997. The current Dr has been assiduous and informative [ the last 10 yrs or so ]. Thnx Dr

Sidebar. Dr recomended krill oil [ Omega 3 ] to inhibit acid breakdown products in the oil. The added benefit, might be pain reduction in the joints. Double, yeah !!!

Class of '68 : You know, on the drive up to the site, John, the driver, remarked that the people in this group were welcoming.

Just what I thought, 5 minutes in and all afternoon. A marvelous Italian [ homemade ] spread and wine too !

Delightful

💆 Busee [ bizee ? ] Spell Check gone awry

 💆 another one
when would you send this

The week. 
Tuesday - a drive north to find the outboard is stuck
Wed.     - Dim Sum lunch w/ A.. and Costco shopping
Thursday - Eye Dr [ M..  has a blood test as well ]

Friday - a high school re - union, class of '68

Today. Up at 5:30 AM Coffee and Typing

11 AM out and back from blood testing. Dodged accidents and traffic cones, street sweepers and backhoes --- plus a coyote, running on the street and boulevard. Scraggily SOB, too

Medically, we are a go. Optically, speaking, my amobium glands are leaking oil - good. However, white bits in the oil indicate raised acidity. Cure ? Krill oil.
Plus, krill oil [ omega 3 ] alleviates knee pain.
Added benefits include swimming in salt water ability

👫 Confession ( s )

 👫 are dangerous

here goes

I wear the same clothes [ yes, I wash } Currently, my favourite is a short sleeve hoodie [ gray ] w/ the logo for the Netflix series " Stranger Things ". The logo is a copyrighted Netflix image. Of course, on sale at the Tiger.
Initially, I thought the material was scratchy but I, now, have an long sleeve undershirt beneath.
Stranger Things has been fishing and shopping.

As at now, two white long sleeves w/ the motif of Flagler College [ St Augustine, Fla ] are just about worn through. Purchased in 2020, these shirts have been basic tops for the whole time. The shirts have been dribbled on, splattered etc. At $ 10 [ yes, on sale ], the white LS shirts have done yeoman duty

Dark. Coffee and typing

👤 ' Land of Hope and Glory

 👤  not today.

At the Q', gorgeous day. BUT the outboard wouldn't tilt up [ power trim ] which means that the boat cannot be moved on the trolley.

Things were going well, until 9 AM.
Started the normal beginning stuff EXCEPT the motor will not raise.
In this condition the trolley cannot move.

I did attempt to raise the motor myself [ Ha ]. Finally, canvassed the street for a volunteer. W/ their help, the engine was up.
I took a peek and the screw cover for re - filling the hydraulic reservoir is parlty covered by the trnasom support. Someone did a ' boo boo ' there.

Now, I'll go Sturday when there's help and give it a go

💖 ' all you really need

 💖 ...... is heart ' from Damn Yankees 

[ this is * sparkling heart * emoji ]

" the great folly of grownups - wanting to last and wanting things to last. two things last, shoes too small and foolishness '
 young Fr author

I saw the clock at 5 ..... oops ! I'm awake
Typing and coffee - ' Vat else ? '

And I am getting very good at ' Wordley ' which I'm sure is a ' Wordle ' knock off [ from Asia, isn't everything ??? ]

Well, Amazon has a sucker hooked and landed [ fishing analogy ]
I have ordered 2 packs of stiff - ish knee braces [ subsequently, given and sold to next door ] 
AND a pack of 2 less stiff knee braces.

The stiffer brace were a tad small for me. Really, a plasticized compression tube.
However, the original intention was, one brace for me and one for D.. who tore [ ? ] his MCL.
 D.. was having pain and mobility issues from the left knee. While fishing, I noticed his discomfort and limp. I wanted him to try a brace and he loved the stiffness and support.
 Yesterday, D.. bought my stiffer knee brace for the other knee.

I saw the less stiff compression sock braces and was in the mood for    ' why not - give it a go '. The upshot - very pleased.

" the scenario does not always work out the way you planned - for every dictum, there is a contradiction " Fletcher Jones

Unfortunately, one could ask ' why did you wait so long to try them '

Dunno. Dumb and dumber ?

I ordered the less stiff knee braces [ really a compression sock ] that suits just fine, thank you. Thus, Amazon sold knee braces galore to me.

Yes, I wore the compression sock brace for staining the deck [ on my bum and knees the whole time ]
AND except for achy - ness all over, I did quite well. No Pain, tho'

I don't think that I'm meant for that type of job anymore. I summarize by saying the chore was ' too low and too long a time '
OMFL. this aging thing !

There is a store called Princess Auto that sells car, farm and work supplies. I go and wander around in a semi - daze. Plus, there is a section for ' reduced ' or miscellaneous [ cheap ]. I went for hydraulic oil booster and stop. Success. Then I picked up gas cylinders for propane tools, squirt bottles and suction bulb. All in, I saved $ 12 on the oil and then spent more than that on the others.
Briiliant ! However, for a ' tinker ' or improvisor, the sanding detailer and squirt bottles are useful.

💤 ya' think ?

 💤 an emoji that suits me and this time of day

          Sun is going to predominate [ xxxxx fingers ] and M.. found some red in the foliage, one yard over. The shores of the 'bee have yellow and a touch of amber colour.

I've changed my mind re : ' Rings of Power ', Galadriel is wearing that armour and everything else on Prime and Netflix is un - noteworthy to the max.

" bring me my bow of burning gold" from ' Jerusalem '

This day is ' beauti ' and I get to stain the ' missed ' parts of the rail.
Took a break, grab a beer and re - group [ give my knees a rest ].
Did I say, I ordered new knee ' braces ' from Amazon. And I wore them out on the deck to re - stain. Unfortunately, the knees are old - real old.

👭 an unsettled morning

 👭 here in the 6ix [ ala Drake ]. Not an inspiring AM and I am  groggy.

Bless YouTube. I searched for ' trim tilt or hydraulic lift, outboard ' and yes several videos on :
a ) hydraulic fluid resevoir
b) lube the pistons

Rightly, one of the solutions should be the ticket - we shall see said the Zen Master

Loooking ahead. Most probably, I will try and fish Tues, the week coming.       I've been invited to the Q' for Thanksgiving weekend        [ national holiday ]. I'm  still in the pre - planning stages w/ nothing definite.
But for me the season is closing soon. The two jobs for winter sleep time are to fog the engine internals w/ oil [ 5 minutes to 1 h + , if you don't bring the instructions ]
and exchange the lower gear case oil [ again, 15 minutes to an afternoon session if the weather is too cold - yes, an afternoon in November ] Ever hear the expression ' like molasses in winter ' ?
well, I saw it, my molasses was ' lower gear case oil '

The sun is growing in strength and I believe that it has reached Categoty 4 [ b/c they do Hurricanes like this ]

Before:

After or Now :

B/c the fall is here. And leaves will fall