Sing it with me, folks:
“I wear my sunglasses at night
so eyes can, so eyes can
not burst in flames from the computer screen…”
What, that’s not how the song goes?
It would seem after throwing myself into the workload last mentioned in my State of Zoo-nion Address (and continuing to do so over the following week with manuscript revision and query research, day to night, day after day) that I have not only been successful in meeting my deadlines, but in royally straining my eyes as well. Am having a persisting vision issue with my right eye involving what I think is somehow an afterimage of my pupil (???)—and rendering it virtually impossible to accurately align any of my targets with my fecal matter. So, the computer monitor and I have parted ways for a while, as much as we can. Other than to write daily blog posts for work and check email, I’ve relegated my eyes to the paper-printed word. And when I do work at the computer, I dim the monitor all the way down and wear my sunglasses.
As I am now. You’d think it makes me look cool, but not so much.
Anyway, for all my best intentions to finally see an eye doctor today, I’ve been thwarted with a typical case of sinusitis as we start to kiss Winter’s arse goodbye and greet Spring’s pollinated delights…so am that much more encouraged to rest by sticking my nose into a good old-fashioned book or bringing pen to paper when feeling the itch to write. That part of it all has been marvelous.
Honestly, I only post this now not because I think my absence is causing you all to stop spinning round your respective axes, but to apologize for any lack of commentary I’ve left on your own blogs. I have snuck a quick peek at many of the ones I regularly follow (and enjoyed them immensely), but haven’t left comments and just want to promise that I’ll do so when my crazy eyes are back up to it. Your camaraderie means much, and I want ya to stick around—or else then I’ll give you the Stink Eye. š
In the meantime, happy reading and writing, all! I can’t think of any pursuits more worthy of the strain.
The Fallen Monkey 
March 10th, 2011 at 22:31
Okay, first of all, I have to thank you for the great laugh, those song lyrics were great. Secondly, I am so sorry you’re having problems with your eyes, I went through a similar thing back in August last year, it was self-induced, when I decided I was going to edit my novel and finish it once and for all, and had 12 hour days, for 2 weeks, where I ONLY edited novel (and hardly went out, slept, or ate) by the end of that, my eyes were in awful shape.
Here’s wishing you a speedy recovery to your poor tired worn out eyeballs…
March 23rd, 2011 at 12:53
FINALLY tending to my blog again and want to thank you for sharing the empathy! I remember following your blog when you were cranking day and night on your ms and feeling really envious of your discipline. Guess that’s the crazy period of revision that hits us all at one time or another, but, yeesh, I need to learn my less… Hope your eyes are faring better these days as well!
March 10th, 2011 at 22:34
Oh and meant to say, like you, I also ended up wearing sunglasses whilst typing…but that’s because I’m kewl…ha ha
March 11th, 2011 at 09:58
have you never heard of text to speech?
March 23rd, 2011 at 12:54
Genius as always, Glen. I’m so old-fashioned for not thinking of it. š
March 11th, 2011 at 13:29
Oooooh, so sorry to hear that! Wishing you and your eyeballs all the best. Don’t worry about your fans, they will stick around for sure. Can’t wait for the results of all that reviewing and researching!!
And you might be finding writing by hand most inspiring. As you know, I am all for it…. š
March 23rd, 2011 at 12:58
Thank you for the well wishes, as I think they helped to restore my eyesight. š The writing-by-hand has been amazing, so I’m almost happy this happened to finally give me the push to return to it.
March 12th, 2011 at 02:09
That is AWFUL, CK. I’ve had bouts of eye strain in the past, but nothing so severe. And a sinus infection on top of it? Reminds me of the Book of Job… You must be doing something right! Anyhow, I hope you recover soon; your comments are always the best. =]
March 23rd, 2011 at 13:01
It really was awful! But thanks for the smile (and perspective) by the allusion to Job; I did come down with my sinusitis immediately after attending an Ash Wednesday service, so hmm… š
March 23rd, 2011 at 15:27
[…] last post, my eyes healed (thank you for your well wishes on that!), and I’d come to trade my sunglasses for a different mask of sorts…one that had tried to preserve an eternal grin to bear the POV […]