Easier said than done

So many adventures, so little time to write. Today you get to join me on a grand shopping adventure. Mexico is an interesting blend of Old World (each shop selling one thing and one thing only) and the Us (WalMart, Costco etc).

Join me as I search for contact solution....

Trip 1 (giant mega grocery store a la Fred Meyer): I wander around the Farmacia section and finally discover the eye care. Hooray! My excitement is short lived as I discover that they don't sell me brand (I wasn't really expecting them too) AND they don't sell saline.

Trip 2 (downtown to the land of tiny shops): I stop in the first farmacia I pass. I tell the young woman that I'm looking for liquid for my contacts. Hmm, does 'solucion' mean contact solution in español? We negotiate a bit and then she points me to the selection. Same as at Megastore. Oh well. I move on.

Trip2b: Optical store. This seems promising! They sell glasses and give eye exams, they definitely must have what I'm looking for. Same conversation ensures (but I learn how to say 'multipurpose'!). I enquire about 'salina' for my eyes. The young woman gives me an odd look. No, she says, we just have this. Ok, I reply, do you know where I can find 'salina'? She directs me to the next farmacia down the street.

Trip2c: Farmacia. We start over with the conversation. The young woman directs me to the display of eye care. Hmm, again, not my brand and no saline. I ask her, do you have 'salina'? Strange look on her face. You know, I plunge ahead, water and salt? Like tears? Why do you want that she asks? Well, I say, it put it in my eyes sometimes. You don't want this multipurpose stuff? she wonders. Well, I use a different brand and I don't think I want to mix them. Hmmm... this conversation is getting strange. She consults with an older woman and then goes to the back. She returns with a clear bottle of liquid. This is salina she states. I look at her funny. Hmm I say. She explains that the salina is used to give IVs. Oh, I exclaim, that's not quite what I want! I begin to wonder if I have a vocab problem. I explain that in the US, the companies that make the multipurpose liquid also sell salina in the same boxes just for the eyes. They look at me like this is the weirdest thing they have ever heard. The older woman says that this bottle is just water and salt, so I should be able to use it, if I want to experiment. I laugh and say that I'm not quite ready to experiment on my eyes.

Trip 2d: Another optical store. I've resigned myself to not finding anything, but now I'm just curious. People here don't use saline? But it's so cheap! And this is a fairly dusty place, you'd think that people othe than me would want to wash their eyes from time to time. So, another optical store it is. I've gotten comfortable with my topic, so I know that I can express myself. I confidently walk in and explain what I'm looking for. The young woman explains that no, they don't have my brand or the elusive saline. But, she confidently explains that I should have no problem switching to a new brand, just maybe a little irritation at first (!). I sigh a little, express my thanks, and head off to my second mission (where the hell is the post office and how can 5 people not know?)

Trip 3 will probably be to WalMart (sigh). I've never been inside one, but I should probably check. Just because no one else has encountered the mysterious saline, does not mean that it doesn't exist.

Patience is indeed a virture.

my eyes....

This week has been a killer. I've left by 9 every morning and don't get home until about 9 each evening. I'm actually on a 10 minute break from my Wednesday evening programming class right now. Yep, you read that right, I'm taking a programming class. Wouldn't Dad be thrilled! I have to confess that (a) I really wouldn't have signed up for this except for the fact that it's required, and (b) it's actually cooler than I thought it would be. It's odd because I'm kinda the third generation in the family to be working on computers. My Grandmama worked with the old punch cards (back in the olden days). Dad and Mom were both programmers for a while. It's been cool to talk "shop" with Mom a bit.

Alas, between this class, the numerous papers I'm writing and grading, and the two research projects I have going on, I'm spending 6-9 hours a day in front of the computer, 6-7 days a week. My eyes are not appreciating this activity (or lack thereof) very much. I may need to invest in saline company stock, the rate I'm going through it.

One of these days, I just know that they'll invent a screen that doesn't hurt so much. Until then, well, I guess I'm suffering for passion.

Back to class!

I get the wierdest things.....

I'm not sure a) why this is related t0 the wrestling team and b) why they'd be sending this to me but here it is for your viewing enjoyment.

Yep, That's right... a facial hair competition!
The person who grows the best facial hair wins a Cyclone shaving prize pack!

According to the American Mustache Institute... "it is important to note that the greatness of a mustache is that a new style can be created each day by any mustached man... and sometimes a woman." As the AMI often notes, "A mustache is a terrible thing to waste."

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Here are the rules:

1. Email a picture of yourself freshly shaven to (deleted)
   no later than Feb. 7 (please include your name).
   
2. Send an updated photo of your progress by Feb. 14.
   
3. Submit final photo of your three week facial hair
   growth by Feb. 21.
   
4. Be creative and have fun!

Winners will be selected during intermission of the Iowa State vs. Nebraska wrestling meet (Feb. 24 at 2 p.m.). Contestants must be present to win.

For complete guide to growing and grooming your facial hair, click here.

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Check out these great examples...

"Honey, Stay Away From the Creepy Man"

My eyes, they're kind of messed up. I wear hard pieces of plastic in my eyes, known as scleral lenses; after reading that first wiki entry, this apparently means I have "advanced or very irregular keratoconus." I thought I had a mild case. Crap.

[That first wiki article is actually very interesting, especially in regards to treatment alternatives.]

Anyways, the doctors and contact lens specialist I visit usually put some phosphoresce chemical in my eyes, then shine a cobalt/black light on it and can tell if the lens is sitting on the eye properly. To me, the chemical has always given the room an amber hue.

But today, they wanted to do some extra stuff, so they actually had me fill the lenses with this chemical before putting them on. Apparently, it doesn't dissipate as quickly when applied this way.

When I got in the car, I freaked myself out pretty good.

Disclaimer: No photoshop was used to doctor these images, except for cropping.

Apparently, it will eventually dissipate, but until then, I look forward to messing with people on the street.

I think it would be cool if I could do this whenever I wanted. It looks way creepier in real life.