A lot of amazing things happen to me. Two occurred just yesterday.

Lasik surgery

First, after more than 15 years of painstaking mental consideration, I had made the decision a week ago to get Lasik surgery  on my eyes. I’ve wanted the surgery for all that time, but held off because of the very small risk of something going wrong. After all, one of the small, but possible, outcomes is that you lose your vision.

A week ago I finally made the decision that the risks were now so low that I would go ahead and get Lasik so I could dispense with my bifocals and computer glasses and all the cleaning and care they required. I have been unlucky over the years in the number of times I have sat on or stepped on my glasses. So I got all the eye exam prep work done last week, only to learn yesterday that I am not a good candidate for Lasik because I am so far-sighted. A better option for me would be to have a lens implant, like they do for people who have cataracts. The doctor recommended against it unless I really couldn’t stand wearing glasses. I could always have such surgery in my 70s, when and if I do get cataracts. But why risk any kind of surgery now if it’s not necessary, the doctor said. My doctor, John Rush, won a Bronze Star in Vietnam and I had a lot of respect for his opinion.

I realized immediately that I really didn’t mind wearing glasses that much. It had never before occurred to me that Lasik, which is a relatively simple procedure lasting 5-10 minutes per eye, might not be an option for me. I had not bothered to have the necessary eye exam to see if I was a candidate. I somehow assumed that anyone was a candidate. So I ordered a new pair of glasses since I had had already gone through all the eye exams. It was an amazing release of tension for me to realize that all my mental anguish about having surgery on my eyes was finally at rest.

The best computer keyboard ever

The second amazing discovery of the day occurred just before midnight. I couldn’t sleep, even though I had volunteered to go to bed early so I could get up early and take the kids to school, thus relieving my wife of that task. Lenie has been very tired lately, due primarily to overwork, so I thought I should let her sleep in for a day. So I reluctantly got out of bed, poured a hot toddy, and tried out a new computer contraption Eric Ragsdale, our local Gold Beach computer geek, had sold me earlier in the day. It was a “USB to PS/2” cable that he said would allow me to use my old IBM keyboard with my new Toshiba Tecra laptop. Like all laptops, the keyboard is not so good for a fast heavy-handed typist like me.

My IBM keyboards have been retired in my garage for years, and I have never found a device that would make them work with the USB ports that are standard on most laptops. I pulled out the new cable, then went to the garage and retrieved an IBM keyboard. It worked flawlessly. Wow! You have to type as much as I do, and pound the keys with the big heavy hands I have, to realize what an amazing discovery this is. It will make me far more efficient writing because I won’t make as many typing errors. I am so delighted at this discovery I’m going to buy Eric the Subway sandwich of his choice tomorrow when he comes to the office to work on an ailing database desktop computer.

It has occurred to me that these amazing discoveries for me may not be so amazing for other people. I guess it’s a matter of perspective. I’ve just had two significant long-standing issues in my life resolved.

Now to get back to sleep! It’s 1:17 am. The alarm is set for 6:15 am. I’ll make it, then I’ll take a nap at the office. I’m the boss. I can nap at the office!

My predictions can’t get much better. I nailed the Green Bay-Giants game, right down to 3 points and 2 picks by Brett Favre. I was a little off on the point spread in the New England-Chargers game, but at least I didn’t lose $20 by giving that poker player 10 points.

At the poker game Thursday night I had a chance to bet $20 on the Patriots if I gave away 10 points. I only offered 7 points so the bet didn’t take place. I probably should have taken the bet, but I tend to be conservative and 10 points seemed like a lot. Nevertheless, I think the Patriots will win by three touchdowns. It’s easy to make predictions when you have no money on them.

Here are my picks for Sunday’s games:
Patriots by 21 over San Diego; New York by 3 over Green Bay.

What! You bet against Brett Favre? I like Favre too, but Eli is coming into his own. Brett will probably throw a couple of interceptions, and Eli will be as “on” as he’s been in the last several games. I may be going out on a bit of a limb with Eli, but I think he’ll lead the Giants to victory.