New Comics released this Wednesday 3 May 2017..

The cover of Aftershocks "Pestilence"

 And there are a ton of them! Of note as the summer reading push comes out, many publishers are offering discounted prices, vintage print and coloring and it seems everyone is pumping out new series, one-shots, events, anything to get your reading dollars. Some worth it, some not. Here on this desolate virtual isle of blogspace, we attempt to give you the word on the ones we feel are worthy of your hard earned bucks and time. And as always we start with our…..

COMICS GROUP “HAWT” PICK OF THE WEEK: Aftershock Comics presents “PESTILENCE”, a highly interesting tale set in the 14^th century. What if the “Black Death”, the Great Plague, was not what we were told it was? What if it was something else entirely? What if it was the first unrecorded zombie infestation of mankind??? Wait…what?!?!? First?!?!? “Unrecorded”?!?!?! And what if your crew had guys named “The Church” and “Fiat Lux”?? Then you would know you are in store for some kick ass readin’. Especially considering this is all from the crazed mind and pen of Frank Tieri, the guy that brought us Deadpool and Wolverine. With art and covers from Disney’s Oleg Okunev and Eisner Award nominated Tim Bradstreet (The Punisher, HellBlazer) this is going to be a HAWT summer series and most certainly our pick for this week.

We have several titles out this week that I think warrant our coming out with a new category, “THE COMICS GROUP TITLES MENTIONED IN HONORABLE TERMS”! These are actually “HAWT” picks as well but my OCD instructs me to never have more than one HAWT pick and I am a sucker for the panache of a new category!!! Anyway, check these out:

Lion Forge's "AB Irato" cover

LION FORGE comics usually comes out with some great stories and “AB IRATO” is yet another! Set dystopian future of rising sea levels, mankind, or at least the rich portion of mankind, has developed a “vaccine” that prolongs human lifespans by hundreds of years. And of course, the rich control it and the city where our heroes live and it’s up to them to wrest that control and make the vaccine either go away or be available for everybody. The basic question exists “Is that vaccine a good thing in a world of diminished resources?” Thierry Labrosse writes and provides his own artwork for this series. His efforts sound and look rich and very entertaining.

MARVEL gives us “JANE GREY”.  I like X-Men well enough but I have not read a lot of their exploits. I am a sinner, I know. But for me, JANE GREY is probably one of the more interesting characters from Professor X’s coven. That’s right. I said coven. But in this series, a teen-age and time travelling Jane is stuck in an endless life and death cycle, now in the present, she learns the horrible fate which befell her. But she is escaping! And her captor might be aware of it and in hot pursuit! The story by X-Men writer Dennis Hopeless promises to keep you enthralled!!! I am not however, all that happy about the price tag for this issue. 5 bucks a book is a tad much Marvel!

 

Marvel's "Jane Grey"

These great titles are also coming out this week and most deserving of your attention! Check these out:

 

Alterna Comics "Croak" cover

ALTERNA COMICS gives another good sounding story! “CROAK” is a 3 part story about the Boogie Man! Well maybe not him exactly but these teens go in the forest on a camping trip whereupon their deepest darkest nightmares come to life and crazy stuff happens!!!!! Another highlight to this is that Lion Forge has fixed a price tag of $1.50 for this book AND printed it on nostalgic newsprint with a glossy cover!!!

ALTERNATIVE COMICS asks this week “What happens when a young data-entry clerk discovers her own sexuality and a penchant for blood meets a wheel chair bound nerd who has done the same?” You get a book titled “SLASHER” that for 5 bucks a book cuts into your comic’s allowance!! The story does indeed sound promising but…NUFF SAID!!!

DARK HORSE publishing is starting a new series “PREDATOR HUNTERS”. If you are into comics based on movies and the characters from them, and I generally am not, then this might be for you. Humans turn the table on the Predators and hunt them instead. This one features a special metallic ink cover presentation by Francisco Ruiz Velasco and Doug Wheatley.

DC rolls out a new 12 issue series featuring Bane! “BANE CONQUEST” has the man who broke the Bat taking on the challenge of new cities and new enemies as he strives to become the ultimate most powerful crime lord in the world!

 

Dynamite Entertainments "SwordQuest" Cover

DYNAMITE ENTERTAINMENT always lives up to its name and this week is no different! “SWORDQUEST” is a story based on the old Atari game from the late 70’s/early 80’s that obsessed young Peter Case back in 1983 and it apparently has done so again in present time! It’s a good story and at 25 cents a book, how can ya go wrong?!?!?!?

IMAGE is re-releasing the first issues of some of its top titles and charging only a dollar for them. It’s their way of enticing you to try out some titles you may have missed and want to try out. I have no idea if they intend on doing this for the complete run of those series at present. But doing so for a dollar is a nice effort on their part. Some of the titles they are re-releasing include ‘BLACK MAGIK” “G*DDA*NED” and “SEVEN TO ETERNITY”.

 

Image's "YoungBlood" Cover

IMAGE is also going through its own sort of REBIRTH. “YOUNGBLOOD REBORN” kicks off the return of this epic, vastly over-printed, series from their days past.

MARVEL is busy this week! Read on True-Believers:

Do you like “GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY”?? I don’t but MARVEL is releasing three new GOTG offerings this week! If you are a fan you have to check out the new “ALL NEW GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY” series and a one-shot featuring The Collector in “GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY: MISSION BREAKOUT”. Theres also a new 5 part mini-series “GOTG: MOTHER ENTROPY”, which is oddly named after my exercise routine. Anyway, if you are a fan of these guys, this is a summers full load of readin right here!!

 

Marvels "Black Bolt" Cover

For our INHUMANS fans, of which I am, MARVEL is releasing “BLACK BOLT”, his first solo series and this one has him imprisoned and immediately has a fight to the death with “The Absorbing Man”. Along the way we will find out who is imprisoning him and where!!!!

MARVEL’s first issue of its 9 part “Event” “SECRET EMPIRE” finally comes out this week. Steve Rogers comes out as a Hydra agent and calamity, hysteria and outrage ensues. But as usual, it comes out with a 5 dollar a book price tag. That tends to make me want to revolt myself!!!

 

Oni Press INC's "Damned" cover

ONI PRESS INC has a good one out this week! “DAMNED”, a story by Cullen Bunn (DEADPOOL, HARROW COUNTY and many many other titles) that I believe draws out of a story he published in 2007 “THREE DAYS DEAD”. This chapter is titled “Ill-Gotten” and the lead character Eddie is a mortal with the power to return from the dead in a prohibition era world where demonic princes control all the crime families and he, runs a club where “No Demons Allowed” is about to get all messed up by somebody he trusts that he cannot trust! ONI PRESS is slapping a 1 dollar price tag on this book to help you decide if it’s read-worthy or not.

Like I said, there are a lot of new stories, new titles out this week. Be sure to visit your local comic shop (LCS) and grab that which grabs you!!!!

Here is this weeks link to Previews World New Releases:

https://www.previewsworld.com/NewReleases?cat=1

New Comics for Wednesday 29 March 2017!

DKIII #8 Bill Sienkiewicz Variant Cover

 DARK HORSE has some kind of story about a pirate searching for a NY mob boss and yada-yada-yada mayhem ensues. “LOBSTER JOHNSON: PIRATES GHOST” hits the shelves this week. Could be good reading if you like stories about pirates chasing NY mob bosses.

Adam Strange/Johnny Quest Crossover

  

Theres some new things in DC this week. The DC/Hanna Barbera crossovers hit full force this week….After the events of “Death of Hawkman”, we find Adam Strange on earth looking for a way home. No heroes around but there is Johnny Quest and his Dad to help him out! “ADAM STRANGE FUTURE QUEST SPECIAL” #1” is a one-shot and Batman does indeed make an appearance!..... “BOOSTER GOLD FLINTSTONES SPECIAL#1” is another crossover one-shot coming out that pits Booster and Fred together in the 25^th century, since when did Fred start looking like Superman??.....”GREEN LANTERNS SPACE GHOST SPECIAL #1” and “SUICIDE SQUAD BANANA SPLITS SPECIAL #1” wrap up DC’s cavalcade of interesting HANNA BARBERA crossovers and matchups. Let’s hope that’s the end of that…..“BATGIRL ANNUAL #1” comes out with a Supergirl appearance…… “TITANS ANNUAL #1” pits our young heroes with their mentors and guess what? They intend to save earth and the day!!!!......We get the 8th installment of “DARK KNIGHT III: THE MASTER RACE” this week. It comes with a lot of good looking variants but what gets me is how this storyline is taking so long to get published!!! And now we get 9 issues?!?!?!? WHEN will this crap be over?!?!?!?!?!!.....

Nothing new comes from Image this week. But we do get finales from “MAYDAY” and “MOONSHINE” this week. I’ve been reading “MOONSHINE” and it was a good read! “MAYDAY” wasn’t so much…

 

Inhumans Prime #1

 MARVEL starts The “Resurrexion” storyline with the opening issues of “INHUMANS PRIME” and “X-MEN PRIME”. It’s gonna be good so yer gonna wanna hook yerself up!!!!!

DYNAMIC ENTERTAINMENT hits another out the park, that is, if you like stories set in the 1930’s-40’s. “DOC SAVAGE: RING OF FIRE #1” kicks off a 4 part miniseries with Amelia Earhart, Navy bases exploding from volcanoes, FDR and all kinds of cool stuff! I have no idea what the storyline is.

AMERICAN MYTHOLOGY PRODUCTIONS is releasing another Adam Green story about Victor Cowley, “HATCHET”. If you are into horror, gore and scary stuff you might like this one!

BLACK MASK COMICS is bringing back the infamous Space Riders crew in “SPACE RIDERS: GALAXY OF BRUTALITY #1” as they reform to fight an ancient evil power from getting too much power!

VAULT COMICS hits us with a doozie this week!!!! “KARMA POLICE #1” features a compassionate assassin and some Tibetan monks! You can not go wrong with that!!!

New Comics for Wednesday 1 March 2017..

This week I guess I am switching things up a bit. I’m gonna talk about a couple of titles coming out and they are kinda getting my ire up a bit! It touches on two things I see a lot of in comics these days. The “taking a classic and adding a modern twist” to a story and the dreaded multi title crossover of a storyline.

Dark Horse will get a lot of press and praise for “THE ONCE AND FUTURE QUEEN” which gives us a 19 years young chess champion who pulls Excalibur from the stone and is transported to the world of magic, King Arthur, Merlin, love and I am sure some dark knights in there somewhere!! They take the old and give it a new modern twist because, well, it’s easier than coming up with something original!!!! However, the creative team of Adam Knave and D.J. Kirkbride, who gave us Amelia Cole and her continuing adventures, along with the impressive art of Nick Brokenshire should give us a new twist on something old with a bit of class and respect. Still, I think I will pass.

One thing I am not a fan of is storylines spreading across titles that I don’t normally read. That’s exactly whats happening with DC’S  “SUPERMAN” #18 as they begin the “Superman Reborn” storyline that’s kicking off with this issue and the next and will crossover with ACTION COMICS #975 AND #976. The artwork will be done by Patrick Gleason and Mick Gray and I am a big fan of their work on Superman. As for the story, that launched some 18 issues ago!!! Back in “DC UNIVERSE: REBIRTH” #1 Mr. Oz told this Superman that he and his family were not what they appeared to be and neither was the fallen Superman. Now with this story we find the truth behind Mr. Oz’s cryptic words. 

                  However here is the kicker and it’s something I am pretty sure is gonna tick me off. The covers and the VARIANT covers will interconnect to form one single vertical image. Now this is a nice little gimmick but it’s designed purely to get yer bucks, especially if they charge a higher price for those variants. Now, to be fair, I have no idea as of yet if that is going to be done. I would think not as I don’t get that sense of need from DC as I do with Marvel. The variant work will be done by Gary Frank who I consider one of the premier artists in DC’s stable of talent. However, I recently stopped ACTION COMICS subscription so it looks like I will be grudgingly restarting it.

Basically I see this as an exercise in laziness and gimmickry. The comic industry suffers greatly from a lack of original thought in its main powerhouse publishers, DC and especially Marvel. And taking a story as legendary and fabled as King Arthur and Excalibur only to “create” a story based on it is nothing more than bait-and-switch, changing the names and the times. It is not original and it is not creative. It’s cheap and insulting.

Anyway, there are some good titles coming out this week. Click on the Previews link below and check them out.

Link: https://www.previewsworld.com/NewReleases

New Comics on Wednesday 15 February 2017

I think I'm going to change the format and contents of this particular post. Instead of listing every single new release coming out, per Previews World, I’m going to include only the ones I think are the “HAWT” pick or picks of the week and the ones that truly sound interesting to me. Wherever possible I will try to include the releases that I think others may find read worthy as well.

The goal here is to provide content worthy of reading and content that serves a purpose as opposed to a diarized list of all the titles I see. With that in mind, here goes…

The Comics Group “HAWT” Pick of the Week: I’m not a fan of the X-men or of Wolverine for that matter but this week OLD MAN LOGAN, concludes its series with its 18^th release. Jeff Lemire wraps it all up and hopefully will have some questions answered for his faithful fans. Will those questions be answered or will there be a sequel?

Titan Comics presents “THE FOREVER WAR”, an awesome sounding and possibly even a potential classic science-fiction story of war that spans across space and time itself! Live the experiences of one soldier who is caught up in this galactic level war. The story is superbly written by Joe Haldeman who actually won both a Hugo and Nebula award for this story. This amazing story is beautifully supported by the majestic art work of Marvano. A guy who is good enough to be known only by his last name, like Cher!!!!!

There were a few other titles that sounded very good to me but I noticed that they listed the release date as June 28^th. I’m not sure if that’s an oversight on Preview Worlds part or if they are indeed coming out in June. Those titles “Reich” and “Cerebus in Hell?” are definetly read worthy titles but I didn’t include them in this post because of that discrepancy.

As for your main house publishers releases for this week, check out the link to see those and as always, if there’s something I didn’t talk about and it sounds good to you, then by all means buy it! I’m just one old man with an opinion and a blog site account!

Link: https://www.previewsworld.com/NewReleases?releaseDate=2/15/2017

New Comics Releases for Wednesday 8 February 2017

Here is the Previews World new comics released for Wednesday February 8^th 2017!!!! YAY!!!!

THE COMICS GROUP “HAWT” PICK(S) OF THE WEEK: Comes from the folks at VAULT COMICS! “FISSURE” describes the events when El Sueno Texas is swallowed whole by a massive crack! A young couple fights to escape the sinkhole and the force that beckons from within it!!!!

ACTION LAB – DANGER ZONE: gives us yet another government hires team of assassins to go do some dirty work. But what happens when a teen-age boy wants to join the team and proves it? The story could get interesting!

ASPEN MLT INC: gives us a new “FATHOM”! It’s the rebirth of late creator Michael Turners series. If you followed that series this one might be a good “jump in” point.

BOOM! STUDIOS: continues to provide quality stories and art this time with “DEATH BE DAMNED”. This one probably should be a HAWT pick of the week too. Miranda Cole cannot be killed until she exacts revenge against those that killed her and her family. However, each time she is “killed” part of her memory goes soooo…she’s gonna need some help to kick ass and get her revenge!

BOUNDLESS COMICS: Do ya think all’s well in Hell? Everybody gets along down there? Nah! Here we have a Boundless Comics tale that’s bound to entertain you! “HELLINA SCYTHE” is Hells adjudicator and she is out to bring order to chaos in an epic battle against Hells top assassin!

DARK HORSE: Gives “EMPOWERED: SOLDIER OF LOVE” kicking off as a new series. Sounds to me like a lot of whats wrong with comics today but I admit bias here so, if it itches yer trigger finger, shoot!

DC: DEADMAN “DARK MANSION OF FORBIDDEN LOVE” wraps up what many are saying is THE under-rated and awesomely classic story of the year! A lot of questions get answered!!! ….DETECTIVE COMICS #950 is a celebration of this series first volume run making it to 950 issues. As such it is action packed, plus sized and filled with some key historical info that all Batfans should read! It’s back on my pull list, much to my wife’s dismay but hey, I’m all about the Bat! …

DYNAMITE ENTERTAINMENT: Gives us what could be, possibly, maybe, the last chapter in the the “JOHN CARTER” saga, with ‘THE END”. It’s been chaos on Mars proper so a search is made for the hero of Mars, John Carter. He’s found but is he is the answer?

KEENSPOT ENTERTAINMENT: “THE HUNTERS OF SALAMANSTRA” gives us a tale of hunting monsters and finding your inner strength.

MARVEL: The 4^th installment of “FOOLKILLER” features a visit from everyone’s favorite merc “DEADPOOL”, the insanity that ensues could be legendary!!!!...”UNCANNY INHUMANS #1.MU” gives us an epic battle between Monsters Unleashed and the royals of Attilan….

SCOUT COMICS: a one-shot, “TERMINAL PROTOCOL” explores how far a woman will go into the technologies of robotics and artificial intelligence to save the life of her terminally ill husband.

VALIANT ENTERTAINMENT: continues to knock them out of the park with their Stalinverse saga “DIVINITY III: SHADOWMAN AND THE BATTLE OF NEW STALINGRAD”. It’s a battle for America set in America and the Soviets have monsters and super soldiers!!!

Tons of good new releases! Get some and enjoy!

Link: https://www.previewsworld.com/NewReleases

New Releases for Comics on Wednesday 1 February 2017...

 On Facebook, I am part of a comic book collectors group, The Comics Group, where we discuss comics, comic book collecting, and all things related to comics, superheroes and other such fun stuff. Anyway, every Sunday, the Previews website issues a list of upcoming new releases from most publishing houses. I like to post the new releases I think are special in one way or another or of interest to the people in our group. I will endeavor to publish here as well!

  

The Comics Group “HAWT” pick(s) of the week: And I do have two this week! First up, BOOM! STUDIOS and DC have combined their creative talents to bring us “PLANET OF THE APES GREEN LANTERN” a major crossover event wherein a ring is discovered on the planet by Cornelius and the Green Lantern Corps, led by Hal Jordan, must retrieve the ring and help save the day before Sinestro gets his hands on that ring!!! Our second pick is always a crowd favorite and it comes from the folks at DYNAMITE ENTERTAINMENT!  From the mind of award winning writer and artist Francesco Francavilla, comes “THE SPIRIT” to solve a series of apparently unrelated deaths and disappearances in Central City. It’s Chapter 1 of “THE CORPSE-MAKERS” and it could be a MUST READ, or at least a “Maybe ya oughta”. Anyway it’s the work of a great comic writer and artist so it is surely worth a look!

AFTERSHOCK COMICS: Brings forth a new series, “BLOOD BLISTER” about an evil man whose evil deeds begin to manifest themselves on his body. He sets out on a journey to combat the evil spirit that possesses him to commit such foul deeds! But what does he do when it’s his own soul????

DARK HORSE: If you’re into vampire tales dark Horse brings us another story in the “Baltimore” series where the evil Red King is taking over the world and it’s up to Lord Baltimore to gather what’s left of his split team to go forth and battle the forces of evil yet again!!! “Baltimore: The Red King” kicks off this week.

DC:  Not much “new” coming out of House DC this week. “AQUAMAN”, “BATMAN” and “GREEN LANTERNS” kick off new story lines this week. “NIGHTWING” and “SUPERMAN” wrap up their ongoing storylines.

IMAGE: If you read the 2012 miniseries “PLANETOID”, you might be wanting to peruse through the sequel “PLANETOID PRAXIS” where an unexpected visitor threatens the calm and peaceful way of life on the mechanized planetoid!!!

MARVEL: “BULLSEYE” kicks off with a look at what the so-called “Worlds Best” assassin does for fun when he finds himself in South America. “KARNAK” wraps up its series run with the finale, the long-awaited finale, to “The Flaw in All Things.”, “STAR WARS: DARTH MAUL” kicks off a 5 part introspective and story into the life and times of one of the more darker dark side denizens.  In an effort to apparently gain sales, House Marvel is reissuing certain titles and issues from their storied past under the “TRUE BELIEVERS” headline. This week we have “WOLVERINE” #1 and “WOLVERINE VS HULK” #1. I am not a fan of reprints and reissues as they seldom do much from a collectors point of view but they are a great way to get copies of old favorites for cheap and these go for a buck! Also in Marvel this week we get a lot of Tie-ins of several titles into the current “MONSTERS UNLEASHED”

and “IVX” (Inhumans vs X-Men) series. “ALL NEW X-MEN” are featured in tie-ins to both series and “DEADPOOL AND THE MERCS FOR MONEY” sees some action in the IVX series.     

 

Here is the Previews website link:

https://www.previewsworld.com/NewReleases

Suh What???

It’s always hard being a Miami Dolphin fan. We just always seem to be a few tweaks away from a consistent contending, winning team…then something else pops up.

So far this season our team has looked unmotivated, undisciplined and uninspired. The Washington game wasn’t too bad but the Jacksonville and the season home opener against Buffalo were the worst displays of no confidence play I have ever seen. Or play of any kind.

One thing I do know. The problem on the Defensive line is NOT Ndamukong Suh or even Cameron Wake. I’ve watched all three games and paid particular attention, as much as TV coverage would allow, on that line. Suh most times is getting double and triple covered. Wake almost always draws double coverage. So we have 5 offensive line bodies on Suh and Wake and if you know the composition of an offensive line and a basic blocking scheme on a basic pass rush who’s left to block and cover the rest of our defensive line? With that above scenario, if Suh and Wake are not the problem here, who is? THAT is where we should be focusing our attention on. The guys being covered by tight ends and running backs need to step up and beat that coverage. Why we ever let Odrick go is beyond me.

Our linebackers need to blitz a lot more as do our safeties. THAT is one problem. You want to loosen up double/triple coverage on your start passing rush line? Blitz their asses a few times. That’ll loosen them up. Rashad Jones is a blessing to have on this team right now. Let him blitz more. Our linebackers have been a sore spot for some time now. Our linebackers need to pass protect better. They can not cover Tight Ends and when we play New England, you can best bet the Pats will score 50+ on us. The Linebackers are the field commanders on defense. They should be the one calling the play, setting/adjusting the coverage. They need to lead.  We have two good linebackers in Misi and Jenkins. We have two rookie linebackers on the roster and I don’t know why. We need to draft better linebacker’s ad we need to be willing to pay the money for better linebackers through free agency.

Our secondary is a definite “work-in-progress”. We play the softest coverage ever. Our secondary allows for pass completion and then hit after the catch. While that might work with an experienced quality set of Defensive Backs, it ain’t working here in Miami. If you are going to play a soft coverage, you need to be able to hit and tackle effectively. We aren’t doing that. We need to cover the receivers. Press coverage, man coverage whatever. They need to stick on them like flies on poop. We need to hit the receivers as they come off their line. Can’t do that from 5-10 yards away. Our secondary basically allows for opposing offenses to have near complete air superiority over us. You can win no battle without air superiority. So take it away from them.

I don’t know what to say about the leadership. I think our defensive coordinator needs to be let go. I haven’t seen anything to reflect the influence of a respected coach here on this defense. I don’t see any kind of inspired play calling. I think it’s simple here. Coyle is past due and needs to go. We need an aggressive coach. One that will sit there and tell a player “If it were up to me I would cut you this day” and mean it. One that when having said, the player responds in a positive, disciplined manner with respect, professionalism and a desire to do everything to change that coaches mind about him. Prove him wrong. Coaches do more than call plays. They lead. They inspire and they motivate. They see the potential of a man and they bring it out of him and make it second nature.

It just seems our defense lacks in motivation, discipline and aggressiveness. I know they lack leadership. We shouldn’t be high fiving the other team during the game. We should be talking smack to the other team, we should be bumping them, we should be pissing them off. We should walk onto any field with confidence and take over the place. Our guys walk into the stadium and it should be apparent to Gawd and everybody watching that we own the place, the game is ours and the other team is getting their ass kicked this day. We have a solid block to build on. We need to build.

I started this post off with the statement that “being a Dolphin fan is hard.” I need to change that. It’s not hard at all. Dolphin fans have faith, we have patience, loyalty and we are some of the more passionate fans in the league. Our team has reached the highest pinnacle that a team can ever get. We may never get there again but I, as do all my fellow real Fin Fans do, believe our team will see continued greatness once again. We will be a winning team again and I will be there supporting in every way I can.

Yogi said “It ain’t over till it’s over” and it ain’t over. We can win. We have not played a better team yet. We’ve played two teams that played us better but they are not better teams. A well-coached Rex Ryan team never lasts a season before fizzling out to nothingness. For our team we have what it takes to win and I truly believe the playoffs can be in our grasp if we bring up our play a little more. 

Our team is just a few tweaks away…..

My Blind Mind’s Eye – Part II

20 August 2012

Back in early April this year I wrote about my blindness and how I related that to the heart disease. Earlier this month, I had my annual ophthalmology appointment here in Converse. So today I wanted to briefly update my status in regards to my blindness.

The good doctor did the normal examination and found that no further damage to my optic nerves has occurred and that my eye pressure remains as always, normal. No evidence of glaucoma or any kind of tumor/injury/abnormality to the eye itself exists. So that’s good. 

My condition is such that some of my optic nerves have died. It is a rare condition and I’ve tried to research some myself and there’s not much out there that really describes much about it. I have had two different doctors tell me that this is a rare condition, no cure exists and there’s not much information available about it. 

Every year I get an “Automated Perimetry Test”. With this test the doctor and I can check for any significant changes in my current field of vision (FOV). To briefly recap, I have had vision loss since 1980. In 2003, after my heart attacks and surgery I noticed that it seemed to have gotten worse.  Every year since then, my FOV has remained unchanged, with a few minor fluctuations here and there, basically the same. This year’s results were no different and with every visit with my eye doctor the news is always the same. That my vision is not getting any worse, my FOV is not degrading further and that what I do see, I see very well.

Well How much do I see? Well I’m going to show you how much. When people look at me, you can’t really tell that I suffer some blindness, or that I have a heart condition, because I am, for the most part, able to get around. I can see some things. Below are the results of my latest Automated Perimetry test.  The left pic is the left eye; the right pic is the right eye:

 

The black areas represent the areas of complete blindness. Bear in mind that I don’t actually see this way; this is a digital representation of the results of that test. It’s hard to explain but what I see, I see. What I don’t see, I just don’t see it. It is neither black nor blurred out. It just doesn’t exist. The white shaded areas are what I do see with the brightest being clear vision and degrading from there. To put it in a context that may be relatable, if I am sitting in the driver’s side of a vehicle, and driving, I can see the entire front windshield area and some of the area to my right. Any passenger would be mostly invisible though I see their legs. I cannot clearly see the dashboard while driving so I have to look at the speedometer or other meters, the same with the mirrors. I cannot see my own lap. I could see vehicles sitting to either side of me. I may not see vehicles approaching me to either side if I was turning into traffic from say, a parking lot, unless I turn and look to check for approaching traffic. And even then, I have to be very careful. I would have to be very careful changing lanes and my reaction time to traffic conditions and obstacles is minimal. I absolutely could not drive at night as I have major night blindness and my eyes are real sensitive to light.

What caused it? I think that my heart disease plays alot into the why of this. I assume that like anything else nerves need blood to survive. I have nerve damage and pain in various parts of my body and have had that for a very long time. I have circulation problems as well and it could be an aspect of diabetes. At any rate, my optic nerves are damaged because my body could not get adequate blood flow to those nerves and therefore dried up. You can’t fix that. There’s also an outside chance that it’s hereditary. A condition called LHON (Leber's Hereditary Optic Neuropathy) that attacks people between the ages of 13 and 30 causing a painless loss of vision in both eyes. It’s associated with a mutation in mitochondrial DNA, which is inherited only from a child’s mother.

The good news is I am not presently losing any more vision. The bad news is the probability exists that I may lose more vision in the future or I may not however, there is still no cure for this condition. And that’s ok. I have had this since 1980 and I adapted then. I have adapted to the increased loss now and will continue to move on through life not worrying about something I have absolutely no control of. Why am I writing this today? I’ll get more into that later.

Related Links:

A good article covering the different tests used to check your vision:

http://www.webmd.com/eye-health/vision-tests

An article on a possible explanation to my condition:

 http://www.webmd.com/eye-health/leber-hereditary-optic-neuropathy

Eat A Peach

3 July 2012

These early days of summer have been hot everywhere!!! You know whats good on a hot summer day? Some spicy salsa!!!!! This is a sweet and refreshing salsa that has a bit of a kick to it and as it is served cold, it not only wakes your mouth up but it also cools you down. It can be served with chips or as a relish on grilled meats like pork chops or loin, fish and poultry. This salsa is now on my list of refrigerator staples!!! Its something I came up with the other day and I hope you try it, and like it, too!! Enjoy!

“Eat A Peach” Salsa

Recipe by Don “Big Daddy” Devine first prepared on 1 July 2012

 

Recipe Summary:

Yield:   Makes about 2 cups

Ingredients:

2 husked, cored and diced tomatillos

3 diced jalapenos ( I keep the seeds and inner stem)

½ diced yellow onion

2 skinned, diced peaches

½ to ¾ cup apple juice

¼ white or apple cider vinegar

½ tsp white sugar

Salt and pepper to taste

Preparation:

Combine and thoroughly mix all ingredients in a glass mixing bowl and cover. Allow to sit, refrigerated for a minimum of 3 – 4 hours or overnight before packing into mason or other type of jar.

When adding your liquids you want to combine them separately first then add the liquids to the mixture to the point where it almost covers the fruit and vegatables. It can be served freshly made if you desire.

Serve with grilled meats as a relish/salsa, I recommend pork, fish or even poultry

© Copyright, Don Devine, 2012.

The Love of a Mother

11 May 2012

Did ya know it’s Mother’s Day this Sunday? Oh yes it is. I’ve always had a hard time with Mother’s Day. I get along with my Mother but we have our issues. It is seriously challenging to know and love my Mother and yes, I know it is seriously challenging knowing and loving me too. Well, I get it from her!!! Regardless of history, issues and familial strife, every year I play the dutiful son and I honor my Mother on Mother’s Day. I do so gladly I guess, despite my grumblings. She is, after all, my Mom.

I’m not the only one who has problems relating to their mothers. I think everyone in the world does to some extent. Mothers are our biggest fans and our fiercest critics. Our biggest supporters and our toughest coaches. Everything that we need in life we get from our mothers, every bit of our essence today is built through our mothers. Mothers give us life, as do our fathers, but I have always felt that it is the mother that nurtures that life and has the most far reaching effect or impact on our lives. Young children need their mothers and in all reality, that need does not diminish one iota as time goes on. Our persona and how we face and handle life in the future is influenced and forged at an early age by our mothers. If we are lucky, that influence is positive. When it is positive, then all things can be achieved. When it is negative, it is perhaps the most devastating thing one can have vested upon them. There is no denying the impact a mother has on one’s life.

I’ve had the benefit of several Mother influences on my life. First of all of course is my Mother and I don’t want to get into issues or negativity here because that’s not what this is about today. My mother gave me life for which I am eternally grateful. She cared for me as best she could despite some personal challenges of her own and though I don’t agree with a lot of things, I know that she loved me completely and without question. I struggle here so I’m going to end this phase of my topic today but suffice it to say, it was a struggle growing up and if nothing else, I know there was a mother’s love there and I am thankful for that.

For me, many good things in my life spring from my Grandmother Devine. She helped raise me off and on throughout my childhood to include a stretch of about 2 years where my brothers and I had to live with her and Grandpa because our parents had other things to do besides raise us or even visit us during that time. This time with Grandma was life as it should have been. She imparted on us good family values, traditions, responsibility and of course, love. My brothers and I learned about God and what it means to work to help support the family. We did that by doing chores and working out on the farm. We dug taters, shucked corn and snapped beans! We helped plant them fields too and I remember it being hard work. I will never forget our times there, it was a time when my brothers and I could live, work and play as children should.  My sense of right, my judgment and my morals were forged here and are a direct result of my Grandma Devine’s influence and tutelage. I am truly blessed to have had her in my life and I believe that everything good inside me, comes from her.

Norma Cook is my best friends’, from my teen years, mother. She was very much a motherly influence on me then as well. Most of the neighborhood kids flocked to her. She was a divorced mother of three kids and she worked hard to provide for her family and for all of us “adopted” kids as well. For me, she provided safe haven and she provided guidance. She often times would talk to me and help me through perhaps some of the most difficult times I have ever dealt with. She loved all of us kids and she was an angel to me. I am not so sure what would have become of me had she not been there. I love her dearly to this day and I thank God for her presence in my life.

I celebrate and honor my wife, Terry, on Mother’s Day. Terry and I were childhood sweethearts and I believe that we both we always in each other’s hearts. She is pretty much my caretaker even though I am way too stubborn to admit that I need one.  She’s more than just a caretaker to me, she’s everything to me and I don’t think I can really imagine my life without her in it. I don’t think of her as my mother or anything but I take Mother’s Day to show respect and appreciation for all that she does for me. Mainly I celebrate the job she has done and still does being mother to her two children. They are both grown and now live their own lives.  For as long as I have known her, she has always had to adapt and overcome her unique challenges and hurdles that life often times put in front of her. But she met every challenge and cleared every hurdle. She has done so with grace and always with love in her heart for those around her. She truly has a heart of gold and is one of the most giving persons I have ever known. Raising two children under normal circumstances is hard enough. To do so when you have a lot of odds stacked up against you takes someone of exceptional courage and strength. Terry is all that and is without question, the bravest and strongest woman I have ever met in my life. Throughout her life, she has been subject to derision and people pushing her away and still weathers it to this day from alot of different people and I never understand why. She continually endures disrespect from people that I don’t think deserve to breathe the same air as she does or even be in her presence. Still, she takes it all and handles conflict with the grace of royalty. I have the utmost respect for that and for her. Ultimately though, I am thankful and respectful of the manner in which she handles one of her biggest challenges, me. Living with me is not easy and I am very thankful that she does. Happy Mother’s Day Baby!

I hope that everyone takes time to remember Mom on Mother’s Day. Even if it’s just a phone call or a visit, a little time taken out of your day to give to your Mom is time well spent. Because no matter what, no matter how happily married you are, no matter how many people you think love you, no matter what you do, have done or are doing, nobody in this entire universe loves you more than your Mother. Nobody else ever will.

Have a Blessed Day, a Blessed Weekend and a very Happy Mother’s Day Ya’ll!!!