Friday, February 28, 2014

VISION IS SUCH A BLESSING...

Hi, all,

I hope everyone had a good week and is looking forward to the weekend!

I'd like to thank you all for you prayers and good wishes during my eye ordeal. Each day it gets better. I had my appt. yesterday and all is looking well. I do have one more before I return to Chicago on Wednesday... BACK to the FROZEN TUNDRA... Temps dropped again up their, and it's even cool here in central Florida, BUT, I'm not complaining. It's actually beautifully sunny. A light jacket or sweater weather.

This whole situation also got me to thinking how important our eyes are to us as writers. Since the first surgery, I've had limited time on the computer because my eyes just can't take the strain. I remember the days when I could do sixteen hours a day. Sadly, not now. If I get through an hour, it's a lot. But in time it will improve. Before the second surgery, I was building up, now I'm back to square one.

Having clear vision is worth it though. I am a VISUAL ARTIST in EVERY sense of the word. Without my sight I'd be beyond consolable. So NEVER take your eyes for granted. Get those yearly check ups and try not to strain them TOO much with writing on the computer. My doctor says, put in natural tears every few hours to keep the eyes moist and that will really help with computer strain. Some EXCELLENT advice.

I hope to get around and visit you all soon. I've been wanting to make an announcement about my participation in the A-Z. I had hoped to repeat my theme from last year which was such a HUGE success. Plus I loved helping those authors announce their books. SO, by MONDAY... I should know. If you have a book you'd like me to feature PLEASE pop back on Monday. I hope to know by then if my eyes can handle it. If so, send me your books. Last year I did first come fist serve, but this year I'd like to have all your submissions and do a draw on multiple levels. I feel that is a more fair way. You'll have until Sunday, March 9th at midnight to get them to me. ON Monday, March tenth, I will contact the authors I plan to feature.

I REALLY hope I can do this. The only way I can is if I start writing the posts ahead of time. March will give me a good head start and if I can manage to get through the first half of the alphabet, I'll be able to get the other half done in April.

SO let's all keep positive, as you know I always do.

I'm still trying to finish my edit, which are really putting me through the paces. My editor's time is becoming more limited, so I really need to PUMP out the rest, so if you don't see me around, you'll know why.

Take care, everyone and have a WONDERFUL weekend!

Here's a pic of sunny Florida for my friends in the frozen north. I hope this brightens your day!


34 comments:

D.G. Hudson said...

Florida was our family's favorite vacation spot. Just wondering what beach that is in the image.

Glad to hear you're healing, Michael. Our eyes are precious; we have to take care of them. I learned about keeping the eyes moist and blinking more often as one of my previous jobs entailed long hours of computer work (editing internal documentation at a corp)

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

Hey Michael! Good to hear it was a success and every day gets better. Our eyes are so important. It would be difficult to read blogs without them and I can't imagine playing my guitar when I can't see what I am doing.
Hope you are good to go Monday for the A to Z. Your theme was a big hit last year.
Stay warm!

LD Masterson said...

Great to hear all went well. Thanks for letting us know. I was wondering about you.

Steven said...

After suffering an injury to my eye a week ago (a piece of fiberglass flew into one -- long story) I completely understand. Get feeling better and never take seeing for granted again.

L. Diane Wolfe said...

Michael, that is wonderful news! I'm a visual person, too and couldn't take photos if I couldn't see.

It's chilly here in NC. Ready for winter to end!

Susan Gourley/Kelley said...

Glad it's getting better. I would be lost if I couldn't read for long periods of time.
More snow for the tundra regions on Monday. Take care.

Cathrina Constantine said...

Always glad to hear your on the mend. And thanks for the sunny warm pic of Florida. Like you said, still a tundra in Western, NY.

Elizabeth Seckman said...

Good eye advice! I'll have to get some of those drops. I hope you get well quicker than predicted! And yes, the northeast is still cold and it looks like we have more snow coming. But maybe that will be our last?

I'll stop by on Monday...do what is best for you. I don't want you to over tax your eyes. not worth it, no matter how wonderful those posts were!

Robin said...

Glad that things are improving vision-wise. I don't use eyedrops like I should. Excellent reminder. Optive is a wonderful lubricant for the eyes... for anyone interested:) And, no, I don't have stock in the company!

Carol Riggs said...

Keep healing, Michael!! and don't overdo it! Glad to hear your surgery went well.

Julie Flanders said...

So glad to read you are doing better, Michael. Take care and I hope things keep getting better each day.

dolorah said...

I'm feeling so far behind. I don't blog much lately, and it seems every time I log on to catch up some disaster has befallen another friend. I hope you are doing well after your surgery, and you will be able to tolerate the screen enough to complete some of your revisions.

I am happy to see your profile update with your happy news. Good luck with the revisions and I'll keep my fingers crossed for your eventual publication. I'm so pleased for you Michael.

Have a good weekend. Stay warm and protect your precious eyes from too much glare. I would miss your creativity.

......dhole

Melissa said...

Oh no! Not your eyes! I *have* missed a lot while on hiatus.
Glad you're feeling better. Hope you're able to do AtoZ. :)

Roland D. Yeomans said...

I have been praying for you, Michael. So many wonderful things we possess that we little think about until they are gone. Each day your vision will improve, and what a place to see more and more clearly: Florida. Even Chicago will seem prettier when seen clearly, right? Only good fortune and better health for you the rest of this year. :-)

Jo said...

Delighted your eye is getting better. I have one 'duff' eye, I can see peripherally but not straight ahead clearly. Been like that for many years now so don't want anything to happen to the other one. Have a friend who lost one eye in an accident and he manages very well, has done for years. So it can be done, but I hope you don't have to. I might say, I know several legally blind people who bowl up a storm whilst I can see what I'm doing and don't bowl nearly so well. Tees me off LOL

shelly said...

Glad to know you're doing well.

Rachna Chhabria said...

Very very happy to see that your eyes are getting better. Vision is so important for all of us. Hugs Michael. Don't worry about visiting us, take it easy for a few days.

Susan Oloier said...

Michael, I'm glad you're on the mend. You're SO right about the eyes. My grandfather (from Chicago) was a photographer and painter. He wound up with macular degeneration and was unable to see well any of the paintings he continued to make. It was so sad that such a gifted person had to lose his sight. So we shouldn't take sight or anything else for granted. Thank you for reminding all of us to appreciate what seems to be the little things.

Michael Di Gesu said...

HI, D. G.

The picture is of Fort Lauderdale Beach....

Michael Di Gesu said...

Thanks, LD... I so appreciate your concern.

Michael Di Gesu said...

Gee, Steven,

I hope you'll be alright! Take care of it and I hope you heal super fast!

Michael Di Gesu said...

Thanks, Diane...

No kidding. Me, too. I take photos, illustrate, write, craft. My eyes take a beating, but I LOVE visuals....

I have to go back to a FOOT of snow. Snowed all weekend. After two weeks in Florida, I DEFINITELY want winter to end!!

Michael Di Gesu said...

Stay warm, Cathrina... I return to FROZEN Chicago on Wed.... NOOOOO!

Michael Di Gesu said...

I agree, Elizabeth. But I don't want to let anyone down and I really do enjoy helping others. Plus my theme is such great practice for my blurb and intro business.

Michael Di Gesu said...

LOL... Thanks Robin for the suggestion.

Michael Di Gesu said...

I hope so too, Julie... So far so good! Thanks!

Michael Di Gesu said...

I will. Thanks so much Donna! I appreciate your warm wishes and concern.

Michael Di Gesu said...

Hi, Mellissa... SOOOO good to see you. Thanks for dropping by!

Me too... It looks like I may be able to.

Michael Di Gesu said...

Thank you, Roland. Your prayers are woking. Each day I get better. I am praying and hoping that you heal swiftly with little pain.

Florida has been lovely. I dread going back to Chicago on Wed. But I still have THREE more days!

Michael Di Gesu said...

Thank God, my eye is seeing clearer each day... Thanks Jo.

Michelle Wallace said...

I'm glad to hear that the procedure went well, Michael!
Thanks for the reminder to have our eyes checked. I know that I'm overdue for an eye test...
... and I REALLY hope you'll be able to do A to Z... fingers crossed... XX

Nigel G Mitchell said...

Definitely take my eyes for granted. I hope your eyes recover quickly, and congratulations on the surgery

JJ said...

I am very happy for you. May your vision improve daily! Best to you.

Al Diaz said...

Glad to know you're doing better! I know what you mean. I also have imagined a world without sight, it would be the end of it for me. How can art be done without sight? Take good care of yourself