Landscaping Men
They frequent many neighborhoods throughout San Diego County. Bringing their tools, these workers disrupt the most peaceful areas with noise and more noise. Who are they?
Often the men who mow lawns and push leaves around with their motorized blowers come early in the morning, though many come in the afternoon following their day jobs. Their tools are standard. In addition to the above, they haul weed whackers and hedge trimmers, and some like to arrive with a nice chain saw.
I read a piece in Nextdoor, the local neighborhood communication, by a woman who complained of landscaper noise from morning till night. I first thought she was silly, but I started paying attention and realized she was right. We have become habituated to landscaper noise.
In addition, many neighborhoods feature homes under renovation. We have been part of that problem, having done numerous upgrades over the years. With change come trucks, workers, deliveries, dust, and more smoke. And then are the constant presence of Amazon, UPS, and FedEx vehicles buzzing up and down our street. Is there no end?
Urban/suburban living is attractive due to the proximity of restaurants, friends, recreational resources, and theaters. Noise and change come with the territory. Sometimes I long for country living, but a weekend in Descanso is probably enough.
Cataracts: They are Coming
I was lying on the OR table, wondering when my surgeon would begin removing the cataract from my left eye. At that point, he said, "We are just about done." What, how could that be?
Many people will develop cataracts as they age. The eye lens becomes cloudy, and vision is compromised. Glasses don't help the condition. I knew I had a problem when I had difficulty driving at night. At one point, I insisted we get out headlights checked since the low beams didn't seem to be working well. I was right, and I was wrong. The dysfunctional headlights were mine, and it was time to see the eye doctor.
The operation is simple, quick, and safe. The old lens is removed, and a new one is placed in the eye. I had a distance lens inserted in my eye. The operation allowed me to get rid of my distance glasses, though I still needed my reading glasses. The recovery period is fast and straightforward. I wore a patch for a few nights when sleeping and avoided swimming for a short time.
The results of the surgery were striking. A month after I did one eye, I did the other. I told my wife that the ski area we had been going to for 40 years was beautiful. Colors were vibrant, and the world seemed to open up in a new way. Most importantly, I could now see where my golf ball landed.
If you are thinking of addressing a cataract problem, do it sooner than later. It is a painless process that can improve the quality of your life.