Gollllly - life is ...

I have been writing less, doing less, and having less exciting and successful news the past few years.  Seems like a life of work, sleep, eating, and doing it all over again!  

But before I get into Debbie Downer writing, I will write about something good.  I took my work computer away and vacationed for the first time in five years.  I have been losing about two weeks of vacation a year.  Since I decided to retire soon (more on that later), this is an excellent start to transitioning me out.

So, my girlfriend has seven grandkids!  And in the spirit of how we live, they are very active!  We spent a week at Grandview Lodge, six adults and seven kids ages 7 months to 7 years.  Even though it was busy, it had memories—good memories, and that is what keeps the body young!  Here is a photo of the troop!

I also spend a week in North Carolina with my son.  I was able to help with household maintenance, which was a nice break from the monotonous life I led.  While there, I visited one of the oldest abandoned racetracks.  The Historic Occoneechee Speedway Trail!

Here are a few photos:

However, when I returned from each week away, I worked a 65-hour week just to get above water and another 50 hours per week to get caught up.  This emphasizes that it is time to leave, but so much more made me realize I needed to escape. 

Hard to believe the health decline started almost 7 years ago.  Been a fight since.  For the past few years, I have been unsure if it is COVID stress, my very TOXIC workplace, my father's passing, aging, or what, but everything seems a little more complicated, and the mind is less emotionally prepared for an issue.  

My latest trip to the physician made me realize there needs to be a change.  I had been on oral iron supplements for 6 months and had slight improvement.  The oral iron has me in so much stomach pain, but I have all the classic anemia symptoms, and blood work shows the issue.

• I am tired all the time, but I can't sleep.  Four Advil PMs and I might sleep 4 hours!
• I have extreme shortness of breath
• Chest pain is a daily occurrence
• My hands and feet get cold easily
• My heart will race
• For decades, a headache was rare, but now it is widespread

After 6 months, I was hoping for better results, but almost everything is well below the low end of the recommendation.  While nowhere as bad as 2017, it is still clearly creating issues.

So, after I got the June 2023 blood test results showing the less-than-expected increases, I was shocked to have an EKG and to make the following appointment.  

At that appointment, he explained that long-term and untreated anemia puts pressure on the heart, and if untreated, the outlook is bleak.  This was odd as I feel best riding a bike and have a heart rate over 120.  Is the body happy it is getting more oxygen?

So, in a few weeks, I am scheduled for three infusions.  In the past, I had two at one time and another where it was just one.  But now it will be three.  I am hoping it gets me on the right track.  Retiring will also help significantly reduce stress, which does not support the health situation!

As far as employment, I know there are changes in workplaces all the time, but to have over 33% of all employees new within two years.  In my division, 70 percent of all employees who have not been in their position for two years should say something when it is caused by people being unhappy and quitting.  But it always seems to stay the same.  My workplace is so bad I decided to retire well before 62, and I hope to succeed financially.  If I do not leave that hell hole soon, I will die.  I have no doubt that it would kill me to stay for a few more years.  That is one of the very few accurate outcomes that I can control.  My job has been posted and should be filled in the next few weeks.  Then, I will take time to train the new supervisor in my role.  When that is finished, it will be retirement!

May the infusions work (the first one is in the middle of August), the ticker gets better, and the reduced stress will make life much more enjoyable!

Carry on, my friends, carry on!

Erik's Bike shop experience, twice now

I should have known better! This is not my first time having issues with Erik’s Bike Shop. The last time I had terrible customer service and issues was about 20 years ago when I got my son his first bike. So I had hoped they would improve, but they have not. So here I sit with a $3,400 bike and have only been able to ride it 11 days this year and 8 weeks in the shop.

Last year, I wanted to replace my 8-year-old e-bike (Surly Long Haul Trucker with a Bionx D-500 kit). That bike has over 10,000 miles on it with only minor repairs.  I also have a Juiced Bike RipCurrent S and a RAD Mission.  Being a heavier rider, I have always been cautious about the spoke strength.  On June 7, 2022, I went to Erik’s Bike Shop in Eagan, where they had a sale.  There, I found the Diamondback Current (https://www.diamondback.com/current-4661), which was on sale for $3,450. 

 

Before I purchased the bike, I spoke at length with the sales staff about my concerns over my size, strength, and fear of spoke breaks.  I explained that 20 years ago, I started focusing on the spoke strength as I had issues with breaks and sought a beefier wheel.  In four of my last five bikes, no problems with the spokes.  The one issue is that I built a custom wheel and have had no issues since.  This wheel looked similar to the one I had problems with and had a rebuilt wheel completed.   The salesman said, “A properly tensioned wheel will not be an issue.” I asked again, and a second time, he said it was not an issue. So, I trusted the statements and purchased the bike.

Since my Bionx was still working well, I rode the Diamondback less than 300 miles the first year.  Then, in April of 2023, I started riding the Diamondback more.  After about 400 miles, I noticed a spoke broke at the hub.  Since I was away on vacation, I had the spoke replaced but could only ride 2 of my 7 planned vacation days!  I came home, rode about another 100 miles, and spoke broke.  That was four commutes to work on paved trails and no rough patches. So I took it to Eric’s, and over 24 days later, I got it back.  

 

I rode it less than 150 miles (6 bike commutes) and another spoke break.  On June 20, I took it back to Erik’s, expressing my disappointment about the spokes and suggesting a stronger wheel.  I was told they would call me “tomorrow” with options.  On June 23 (days later), I got a call and expressed my issues and concerns, just like when I bought it.  He suggested installing stronger spokes and said the bike should be ready on July 5.  I told them I would hope to have it for my trip out of town starting on the 8th.  I called on July 5 and was informed that the rim can handle more oversized spokes. I have also suggested a new wheel (over $225 fixed).  I told I was leaving on vacation and wanted to take the bike.  He said it should be done on July 12, but not before I leave. 

 

Frustratedly, I accepted the staff’s statements and hoped to have the bike when I returned.  Since I had not heard from them, I called them on July 16 and was informed they expected to have it ready on July 24.  The bike has been in the shop for over two months, and I rode it 11 days this year.  

  

My moral is not to trust Erik’s Bike Shop staff. I’m’ not sure how they stay in business. I have found that my bike knowledge may exceed their staff’s (who I think are more concerned with making a sale than listening to a customer’s concerns), and when I expressed concerns based on my knowledge, they said there was no issue.

 

Carry on, my friends, carry on.