The list is quiet, so I might as well share some OT news with the dozen
or so old friends here.

The ailing Kiwi bird was the first to know that I am now the new
Seeing-Eye Feeesh.  :-)  In spite of the fact that I had owned Mercedes,
BMWs, and Continentals, my opthomologist insisted I had Cataracts.
For several years now I had needed more and more light to read
menus at restaurants and I figured it was just a natural thing with
growing old, until lately I have to cover my left eye in order to
read better with one eye what's on my 20" monitor that Sue insisted
taht I go see her eye Quack.  :-)

It turned out the Quack was right.  After the surgery on my left
eye, the first thing I noticed was how BRIGHT WHITE the walls and
steps in our house was -- almost like infrared light on white!  I
promptly told Sue that the surgery was better than having a new
paint job in the house.  :-)

NOW when I close my NEW left eye and look at the monitor with my
"former good eye", the screen look so yellow and fuzzy that I am
going to have THAT eye done to match my new good seeing-eye, as
soon as I can schedule it between my trips.

NOW I know why sometimes the DM would point and asked if I saw the
shark in the distance, and I would say, "what shark?"  Even with
just ONE Seeing-Eye, I can already read menus at dimly lit
restaurants without a flashlight.

I definitely look forward to have a PAIR of eyes restored.  :-)
Too bad the ear Quacks can't do the same thing to my hearing.



OT 2.  I now know the most expensive one-day car-rental of the cheapest
car!  Seward, Alaska!  Hertz is the ONLY car rental company there,
and their monopoly made them charge $156 for a cheapo-economy-compact
for one day, from Anchorage (which has at least a dozen car rental
companies) to drop off at Seward, where a CRUISE SHIP embarks.  ;-)

We'll be doing that next month.  Besides the glaciers, fjords, and
other obvious Alaskan sightseeing tours, there is actually a
SNORKEL event for $79.  :-)   No scuba or ice-diving though.


OT 3.  The "baby" of our family, my sister in Los Angeles, surprised
everyone by winning a prestigeous award of $90K (with no strings
attached :-)).  For our next stop at LA, she'll be buying the
dinner for Sue and me.  :-))

http://www.surfsantamonica.com/ssm_site/the_lookout/news/News-2003/July-
2003/07_29_03_Head_of_Community_Corp_Honored.htm

July 28 -- Proving that non-profit work pays, Community Corp's executive
director, Joan Ling, has been awarded a $90,000 grant for
her "overwhelming" contribution to affordable housing.

Ling was one of six community development leaders honored by the Fannie
Mae Foundation last Tuesday in Washington D.C. with the prestigious James
A. Johnson Community Fellows Award, sought by more than 100 nominees
nationwide.

< snip rest of news>

She wasn't doing too badly on her own house either.  Some years ago
she bought what she called a "shack" (indeed it would be if it were
in Choo Choo) in Santa Monica for about $100K.  Now here neighbors
with similar shacks were selling them near half a million USD. :-)
Real estate in Los Angeles and many parts of California are UNREAL!

That's enough OT for now. :)

ElPezNeuvo.