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Some changes in how things get covered the next couple of weeks

By Howard B. Owens

For at least two weeks, I'm going to be unable to do much work.

Friday morning I was diagnosed with a detached retina in my right eye. I'm having surgery this morning. I get to spend the next week in a constant facedown position. It will be at least two, possibly three, weeks before I can return to work.

Billie is going to step up and provide more news coverage. Our corps of freelance contributors are also ready to pitch in, as is our news partner WBTA.

You can help, too: If you there is something going on you think others in the community will be interested in knowing about, email photos and information to billie@thebatavian.com.

Anything related to advertising support, contact Lisa Ace at lisa@thebatavian.com.

I'll have access to e-mail. I'll forward anything work related to Billie or Lisa.

As for me, I'll be fine. It's not going to be fun, but I get to catch up on all the movies and documentaries on Netflix that I never have time to watch. There's also the NCAA tournament starting, which I usually can only watch portions of here and there.

Chris Ariyaratnam

Howard,
So sorry to hear about your eye. Take care of yourself and enjoy your forced "vacation"!
Chris

Mar 14, 2016, 7:32am Permalink
Lori Silvernail

Hope you have a quick and uneventful recovery, Howard! My Mom had a macular hole and had to do the face down thing as well. We were able to secure a massage table and set up a mirror underneath it so she could comfortably watch tv. It's a long time to have to lay down!

Mar 14, 2016, 7:57am Permalink
Ed Hartgrove

Best wishes, Howard.
If you get a chance, while watching Netflix, catch "Making a Murderer", their "docu-drama" (but, only if the doctors allow a rise in blood pressure). It's 10-hours of an "eye-opening" drama.

Good luck on the "face-down" thing. I've heard tell that some people in that position experience a "happy ending". Hope yours ends as well!

Mar 14, 2016, 8:17am Permalink
Tim Miller

Here's hoping for a successful surgery and quick recovery...

Borrow a massage table - one with the face pad with the hole in it. Rig up your tablet or connected TV so you can see it clearly. Veg out on Netflix/Amazon Prime/Hulu/etc.

Make sure the rigging can handle books.

Ignore politics (blood pressure thing)

Mar 14, 2016, 8:52am Permalink
Doug Yeomans

Take care of yourself, Howard, and do what the doc says! It's going to be tough for a guy that's always on the run, but you're a determined person. Take it easy and get well soon!

Mar 14, 2016, 12:23pm Permalink
Steven Roth

Feel better my friend. As photographers, it's probably our worst fear. Glad to hear all went fine. There is some thought that the issue is caused by shooting Nikon instead of Canon :)
Let me know if I can help you in any way....

Mar 15, 2016, 6:09am Permalink
Scott Ogle

Howard, I've heard there are two things that will cause a man to go blind, Nikon being one of them. I'm pretty sure Yeomans will back me up on this. . .

Be well!

Mar 15, 2016, 9:38am Permalink
Ed Hartgrove

So, Scott. You only listed one thing that'd make a man go blind.
What's the other one?
Oh yeah! That's right. I forgot!
So, let me ask you. How's my "speech recognition" software working?
Sorry, but I can't see my keyboard very good, anymore!!

Mar 15, 2016, 10:47am Permalink

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