I’ve fixed the PHP image generation error that was preventing me from uploading new scrapbooks to the site!

I’m working hard to get the photos online and will have a new and greatly improved scrapbook site up sometime in the next week!

I’ve also fixed this error on DOUGMEADE.com and HicksFamilyOnline.com, so make sur eyou stop by both sites and see the latest pictures of Sterling, Carson, and Avery!

Well, I downloaded a snellen chart from the internet, hung it on my wall, marked off 20 feet, and gave myself an eye test.

While it’s probably not going to be as exact a measurement as if a doctor had given me the test, it made for an interesting evaluation.

It seems that (so far) my left eye is slightly more powerful than the right. This will likely continue to change as each eye heals from the corneal ablation. But even if it doesn’t change… both eyes seem to be reading at about 20/20! A little hesitation on the right eye, but not enough to complain about. With both eyes working together I can easily read the 20/20 line and even read about 50% correct on the 20/15 line!

Since the vision is supposed to continues to normalize in the first few weeks after the procedure, it’s too early to say that this is as good or as bad as I’m going to be. But so far so good!

So far so good! The procedure went well and I can see!! I’m probably not at 20/20 just yet (although really close), but the Doctor said that my vision should continue to get better of the course of a week or so.

Now I just have to keep up with the eye drops and not rub my eye!

More news later… I need some drops and a nap.

Well, today is the day. I go in for LASIK in 5 hours.

It’s 7:15 am Thursday and I’m sitting at my computer wearing my glasses…and the count down to the time when I will no longer have to wear them - EVER AGAIN - has nearly reached zero hour. I figured I should blog really quickly in case something goes horribly awry and I’m unable to see the keyboard in 6 hours.

I’m nervous, but I’m not really afraid that the procedure will go badly. I’m more than aware of the many ways it could of course having signed the informed consent forms. But I’m really more afraid of my screwing up somehow and damaging my weakened eyes after the surgery.

I’m a chronic eye-rubber and not rubbing my eyes is gonna be ROUGH. In fact as I’m sitting here my eyes are begging to be rubbed. The need to rub my eyes awake is driving me crazy… but I’m going to try to not do it…even this one last time. sigh (I mean seriously…they itch and are sleepy and need a good rubbing…this part is gonna suck).

Now obviously at some point in the recovery the eyes will heal to the point where gentle pressure and the like wouldn’t be disastrous. But the Dr. will never give the ok to rub your eyes…so who knows when that actually will be. So, I’ll live in fear of anyone or anything touching my eyes from today (at noon-ish) to the end of my days.

But despite that, I’m glad I’m getting it done. I’ve had several “Man, I hate glasses” moments over the past few weeks - and you know all about my deal with contacts (if you don’t, then check it out in the archives) - so I’ll be glad to be rid of the glasses.

Anyhow… I go in at noon and the procedure is at 12:30. So, by (roughly) 1:00pm I will be walking out well on my way to near perfect vision (lets hope). So the next time you see me, I will be seeing you better than ever! I’ll be seeing you thru my newly improved, dry, itchy (but can’t rub them), but visually acute eyes.

That reminds me of the other part of this that’s gonna suck… eye drops. I’m pretty bad at those things. Half my medication will no doubt run down my face having missed my eye entirely. And, dryness is a very real possibility (and a large probability) after the surgery … which means I’ll have to do the fake tear drops too. Not only am I bad at this, I’m gonna have to touch my face very near to my eyes … and I’m gonna hate that. I suppose I’ll get really good with eye drops, however, in the very near future.

Thanks for all the well wishing on the last blog (even though I had to beg for it )

I most likely won’t blog after the procedure since I’m supposed to come home and sleep as much as I can until my Friday 8:30am appointment. But… sleeping for 20 hours is difficult even for me - so it’s possible that I will take a few minutes and blog later today. In any case, I will blog on Friday after my 1 day check up.

(Does anyone else hear that ominous music?)

See you later! (Please, God, let me see them later.)

Did I mention I’M GETTING SURGERY DONE!?

I did mention it…quite specifically in my last blog. And still no well wishers!? Where is the out pouring of public support and encouragement?!

Have you all forgotten about the little “Comments[]” link at the bottom of every blog where you can type a little message to me in regards to a blog!?

sigh…what’s the point of blogging?

Well, I did it. I scheduled my LASIK procedure. I’m freaked out quite a bit by it, but I’m also looking forward to it.

I’m scheduled for the pre-op visit on the 23rd and then the actual procedure on the 24th, and a post-op on the morning of the 25th.

Scary!

Well, it’s been some time since my last blog. But honestly, I’ve been really busy lately. Still, I don’t have a whole lot of news to tell you, unfortunately.

I did get a coffee table (finally) the other day. It’s pretty cool… a guy here in my building was having a moving sale, and I bought his coffee table.

I have also made a definitive decision… I’m getting LASIK done. I’m gonna call the people tomorrow and see about scheduling a date for the last week of this month. *gulp*.

It’s kinda scary (two words for you “Dave Story”) … but I’ve decided it’s good for me and I’m gonna do it.

I’ve also decided to re-commit myself to eating healthy and working out more. Which means I’m not gonna be going on the epic lunches that have become so popular in my office. But that’s for the best too. (And yes you-know-who, I’m serious… I’m not going.)

So, before too long I should be a lean, mean, 20/20 seeing, machine.

In other news, I also have to call the credit agencies… it seems they have merged my credit report with my brother’s again. They think I have a mortgage — which I don’t. *sigh* Kinda scary to think that an organization with so much power over the masses can make so many mistakes.

Anyway, for those of you who didn’t go to Kimberly & Scott’s party… you missed out, it was a blast. I only took like 1 picture sadly.

Speaking of pictures… I’m working on posting all the 2003 pics. The problem is that there is problem on the server, and the hosting support so far hasn’t fixed it. Have faith I will post them soon…one way or another.

I’ll try not to go so long without a blog this week. In fact, I’ll probably blog tomorrow after I hear from the LASIK people.

Last night Gina and I went to Hollywood. We drove down from Pasadena, and the drive actually is pretty easy.

We saw the Hollywood sign on the hill and got very excited, naturally. Shortly aftward we hard parked at a little lot at the famous Hollywood & Vine.

Then…we got out of the car. Hollywood… IS A PIT! Hollywood — which is a small section of street — is just one dirty, bum infested, dangerous block after another. There is of course the stars on the sidewalk that lead to Grauman’s Chinese Theater … but you can’t really read them for fear that someone might jump out and attack you at any given moment. And if you are brave enough to read them… you discover that it’s one big cheat… Perry Como has AT LEAST 4 stars.

But, on we walked toward the theater…because we are fearless Chicago natives. Wading thru the bums, and crazy people (one of whom was very concerned that people weren’t willing to J-walk despite the fact that there were diamonds covering the street — I had to explain to him that I didn’t see any diamonds, and I would let the traffic stop first).

Finally we arrived at Grauman’s Chinese Theater. This turned out to be (as one might expect) the bright shining star of our Hollywood experience.

It was 6:30pm when we got to the theater and had to cross the street because the side walk was closed. It turns out it was closed because the premier showing of a new movie was about to take place (at 7:30) and the red carpet would soon be covered with Hollywood super stars.

The movie that was being premiered was A Man Apart staring Vin Diesel. So we stood across from the theater and waited for the convoy of limos to pull up. We saw all the stars of the film and waited with the crowd for Vin Diesel (who very nearly was late for his own premier…nice).

Finally when Vin arrived — driving him self in some sleek, black, overly tinted truck like thing — he bolted across the street to where we were standing. It was then that we realized that we had a GREAT spot in the line up! Vin came right over to where we were standing. He was maybe three feet from us. Gina leapt over the crowd and attached herself to his neck. Ok not really…but Doug believed it. (April Fools). Seriously tho, he was RIGHT there. I have some GREAT photos which I will post in the near future.

Overall it was a worth while trip to Hollywood. Although when we got back to Pasadena and told the natives where we had gone… the common response was “Oh…and you didn’t get mugged?!”.

For those of you who are star watchers, here is a list of the people we saw…

• Vin Diesel



• Larenz Tate



• Steve Eastin



• Timothy Olyphant



• Jacqueline Obradors



• Geno Silva



• Juan Fernadez



• Jeff Kober



• Mike Moroff



• Emilio Rivera



• George Sharperson



• Santiago Verdu



• Laura Salem



• Julia Lee



• Richard Gross



• …oh…and Magic Johnson