SPECIAL NOTE TO MY READERS: You may have noticed that my blog posts were slow in coming the approximately four months. You may have also seen my many references to my health. It started about four months ago when my testosterone got too high and it caused my red cells to produce to a high rate. That lead to reverse transfusions to drain off blood. About the same time I had problems with my blood pressure raising out of sight. That lead to having my blood pressure meds changed. That new med, with a bunch of side effects was what caused me the many problems. Constant light-headedness, disorientation, to feeling like I could pass out any minute. I could never trust myself to walk very far. I would have a day that I thought I was back to normal, then the following day it was reversed again. The doctors would change the doses frequently, assuring me that I would get used to them and the side effects would be gone.
So, finally, after four months of ER visits, changing or adjusting meds, and many doctor visits, I feel like a normal human being. But there were costs. One was that I had to discourage a dear friend to not visit as she had planned back in mid-July. I was unable to help Ann with the yard work, but she carried on without me. I never knew on any given day, which Bob would show up. I was not a happy person. I was bothered with depression at times, having crying jags for no reason.
But that is all over now, and wish to thank all of you readers for your continued support and your get well wishes throughout my ordeal.
So now I am happy to be back to happy birding and blogging!!
Texas Tweeties by Bob Zeller 
Glad your back Mr. Zeller. I could tell you were back with all your great post and pictures. I’m happy you can be active and birding again. 🙂
Thanks, Troy. It’s great to be alive. 🙂
Sorry you had to go through all that, but I’m glad it’s all lined out. The body organism is a very complex thing; you are fortunate to have isolated the causes and bounced back to good health. Cheers!
Shannon, you don’t know how much better I feel. I appreciate your thoughts.
I am SOOOOOO glad to hear that they’ve finally got your meds straightened out and that you are feeling back to yourself, Bob! You’ve become one of my favorite people and I love your blog and photos, so I miss you when you aren’t around! 🙂 Take care of yourself and I’m looking forward to enjoying many more years of your photographic talents.
Amy, believe me, I feel like a new man. It was a long ordeal, and I had almost forgotten how it felt to be ‘normal’. Now I can look forward to a few more years of doing what I like to do, birding and photographing birds. 🙂
Since I’ve newly discovered your blog, I didn’t know about your health issues. That sounded like an ordeal. I’m happy you have found the Bob you know and things are looking up! And I’m happy to go birding with you 🙂
Glad that you are checking out my blog, Helen. If you check out my different pages at the top of my posts, you can learn a heck of a lot about me. Welcome to my birding trips. 🙂
Bob, I have missed you and Ann at Stango’s on Friday mornings. I hope to see you before I move in two weeks. I am so glad you are feeling better. I have thought of you often. Laurie
Hey,Laurie, thanks for the comment. We will try to make it there before you leave.
Bob, I knew that you were not feeling well the past few months but did not know the underlying cause. So glad you are much better now. I so enjoy the time I get to spend with you & Ann. Y’all are an amazing couple. See ya soon!
Thanks, Christie. Ann and I have really enjoyed birding with you. Hope to do again soon.
Hi Bob. So glad to read this news! You have been such an encouragement to me. Stay strong my friend!
Hey, Dave. Great to hear from you again. I am glad you consider me like that. I am feeling great again, so I am ready for a few more years.
Wow. I admire your tenacity getting through the drug stuff and am so glad you have a good physician to figure it out. There’s nothing I hate worse than side effects (the cure being worse than the ailment). Glad to have you back! 🙂
Thanks for your nice comment, Lisa. It is so great to back to feeling normal all of the time now.
Bob, Do you use Adobe Bridge with your 70D’s? I uploaded some raw files to bridge from my new 70D and they uploaded fine the way it looks but I can’t open them??? Anything you could suggest?
Gene M.
Hi Gene. I discovered that when I tried to open my RAW files in Photoshop, that the ACR (Adobe Canon Raw), won’t support the RAW files from the 70D. I imagine that is the problem you are having. After doing some research, I found that the latest Lightroom would comvert the files if you also had Windows 8. Well, I don’t have or want Lightroom or Windows 8 yet.
So I use FastStone Image Viewer. It is a neat program, that displays your RAW (CR2) files
in thumbnails that you can click and enlarge. You can convert your RAW files to JPGs, save them, then you can open them in Photoshop (I have PS5), and do your editing there.
FastStone Image Viewer is FREE! I have been using it for years for organization and minor touchups, but discovered after I bought my 70D(s), that i could also do my RAW conversion, too. An amazing program.
Just google FastStone Image Viewer, and do the free download. Call me at 325-944-1839 if you want to discuss it more. I would be happy to talk to you about it.
Thanks Bob, I do not like Lightroom at all either but I am using it temporarily till a couple of my PS/Bridge computer geek photographer friends can figure it out for me. I came up with my filing system in 2001 ( before systems were invented) and it works well for me and I will not change to Light-room’s system. If these guys can’t figure it out I’ll give you a call.
Thanks again
Gene M.
Didn’t mean to mis-lead you. I, too, have a very simple method for organizating my photos. I don’t need to ‘tag’ my photos. If someone wants a particular photo, I know where to find it. LOL
I only use FastStone for converting my RAW files, because the Canon Raw doesn’t recognize RAW images from the 70D..
That’s great Bob hope all stays well for you because the birds are thinking about migrating and don’t want you to miss one little bit of that!
Good to hear, Bob. Glad you are feeling better.
Thanks, Dave. Now Ann and I are going back to the Davis Mountains again. We’ll see if we can get it right, this time. 🙂
Sounds like you’ve been through the mill, Bob, and I’m glad to hear that you’re back in top form! Hoping you’ll treat yourself to lots of birding/photography by way of therapy!
Yeah, I had some rough patches with some good periods sprinkled in. It was amazing, the change for the better, seemed like it just happened overnight.
Dang. I was wondering. You take care. I may not always converse but that don’t mean not think of old friends. Hope you don’t mind if I mention you tonight in my prayers.
Duane
Hey, Duane, I am sorry I missed this comment of yours. I don’t mind at all if you mention me, just be kind. 🙂
It’s good to hear that you’re doing better, I hope that the trend continues!
Thanks, Jerry. I am sure it will. 🙂
Glad to hear you are doing better!
Thanks, I am feeling absolutely great.
Excellent! Looking forward to your photos.
Thanks, Jason, now I can get back to blogging on a more regular basis.
I do look foward to your blog an I am praying that your health will improve. By the way I was going to Austin sometime back down highway 71 and there were some bussards feeding on something just off the road. One looked different than the others and as we pass by it realized it was a caracara! I could not believe my eyes, my binoculars were in the trunk so we went on down the road a safe distance so as not to spook the bird and turned around so I could retrieve the binoculars.
I drove as close to the feeding birds as I dared too and sure enough, one of them was a caracara.
I’ve seen one in Melbourne Florida but I did’t expect to see one here, I check their range and sure enough there is a small population in that area. I would estimate the bird was a few miles west of where highway 71 crosses over highway 271. You just never know what you are going to see.
Thanks, Melvin. I am looking forward to getting my first photo of a Crested Caracara. I’ve seen one from a distance but that’s it.
Glad you’re feeling better!
Thanks, Linda. Now to get back to some regular full time birding. 🙂
Great news – good luck.
Thanks, Anonymous.
Health issues are always trying – so glad you are feeling stronger and back to yourself – always look forward to your beautiful photos and hearing about the TX countryside – makes me homesick! K
Thanks for your nice comment, Kathleen. I hope to continue having you enjoy my work.
Bob,
I’m really glad you’re feeling better again. That’s great news. I hope that good streak will hold and that you’ll be your old [not referring to your age! 😉 ] self again. I’m looking forward to seeinf more great pictures and reading inreresting posts.
Take care,
Pit
Thanks, Pit. I am ready to get back at it. I am still a very young almost 80 year old. 🙂
Good luck for the next 80! 😉
Welcome Back!
Thank you very much.
So glad you are feeling your normal self. Love you and Ann…hugs
Thanks so much, Beth. I appreciate it.
Great news!
Thanks, Victor.
This is outstanding news, Bob! It’s great to have you back to (ab)normal! 🙂
Ah, Toby, you know me too well. Abnormal is my normal. 🙂