Hiraeth

Have you ever felt a connection with a place you’ve never been?  In my dreams, I am often in an unknown place but generally in the same setting.  I feel a strange sense of familiarity and belonging to the dream location when I wake.  How is that possible?  Hiraeth, a Welsh Word, describes this feeling.  It is a complex word that conveys a deep longing and melancholy for something lost, never found, or can't be recaptured.  A sense of incompleteness, or a feeling of pain and joy that are too tightly intertwined to untangle.  It means a nostalgic longing, but it’s a little more elusive than that.  It’s a strong feeling of missing something irretrievably lost. 

I have been away for nearly 50 days and will head home in 12 days.  I use the word "home," but what is a home?  When I was young, the family moved often.  I attended at least seven different K-12 schools.  I lived in several cities and seven structures for the first decade of my adult life.  I never learned the attachment that most do to a "home."   I find solace wherever I may be in the world.  Am I missing something?  Some people say you can only be fulfilled with a place called home.  I will never know, as I have never learned to cherish material locations in six decades.  Standing on the soil is home, meaning I am alive instead of being covered in soil.

Today, I walked with the dog, followed by an hour-long Zwift ride.  I thought I would go outside, but it was rainy.  It is a good day to clean and do the laundry.

I feel better, yet I still have trouble breathing.  The throat is closing up; it all seems to function below the neck.  I will use the nebulizer a few times a day and see if it improves my lungs.  I was surprised at the nutrition report for yesterday.  I am tracking intake in detail using Cronometer and found the following:

• Choline at 244.6 mg, 44% of the recommended intake

• Vitamin E at 8.3mg, 55% of the recommended intake

• Protein at 115.8 g, 57% of the recommended intake

• Magnesium at 12.8 mg, 61% of the recommended intake

• Potassium at 2,313mg, 68% of the recommended intake

• Calcium at 2,301.7, 230% of the recommended intake

• Sodium at 3,843.5mg, 256% of the recommended intake

Since this is just one day, I will not focus on any changes. I prefer a fuller week of data before I commence changes.

Carry on my friends, Carry on.

Improved

I was up at 5:45 AM with stomach pain and could not get back to sleep. In the past, Nexium improved the issue in four or five days; this is the third day. Due to my not feeling well and the stomach pain, I will diligently track my intake using a Cronometer for the week. I need to make sure everything is balanced.

By 9:00 AM, I was bored and headed to Lake Crabtree Park for a 2-mile walk. The trails should be open by now, and I was correct. This time, I brought my 70-200mm lens in case I saw a bird again. Fortunately, a Grey Heron was spotted, but it was far from the area on the last visit.  I was really pleased with the focus capabilities of the new camera, Nikon Z7ii.  While my curiosity over the Nikon Z8 remains, there was no way I could pay an extra $1700 with my retirement budget.  I had planned for a replacement of my Nikon D810 next year, and I got my Z7ii within my planned budget at $1999, where the price was originally $3000.  I also went with the Z7ii replacement this year as I could use all my Nikon 810 lenses, which are more costly than the camera. In case you missed a previous post, I dropped my D810 hiking in the Smoky Mountains, which was damaged beyond reasonable repair.  The repair estimate was $2300.

After the walk, we got back to the car, and Lulu drank some water and regurgitated all over my passenger seat. It was such a mess and took so long to clean. I hope I got everything. Thank goodness for the WeatherTech floor mats keeping it all off the carpet. Once I arrived home, it was a lazy, ill-feeling day. Lulu seemed worn out and slept quite a bit. She may have been starving as well, losing her entire breakfast!

Carry on my friends, carry on!

Never ending rain

Yesterday morning, I put one more coat on the upper railing of the deck.  The last time I did that, there was unexpected rain, which ruined the final coat.  So I sanded and applied again.  I hope 24 hours was enough to cure the stain, as it was raining again this morning.  Frustrating.  Well, in the worst case, I will sand and do it again.  As I have said for years, it is best to be employed as a weatherman, sports official, or a permanently appointed judge.  Because they can always be wrong, never get fired, and always get paid. 

Since it was raining, I decided to go on a Zwift ride.  It was harder than I expected, with some brutal climbs.  For most, this ride may be easy.  I am fighting shortness of breath at an alarming rate.  I don't know if that is caused by the constant fight with iron levels (anemia) or acid reflux again.  I am going to start taking iron supplements and Acid Reflux Over-the-Counter medication again to see if I can get it to improve.  At times, when I lay in bed, I struggle to breathe unless my head and chest are elevated.

I took some time to review past images to create a desperate building photo calendar for Shelley's Christmas gift. She still loves those calendars and has stated for a year that I should do something with the desperate building images I have taken. Here is one from my 2017 Wyoming trip and one from my 2019 trip back to North Dakota.  

I am hoping we finally get back to decent weather tomorrow.  I would like to get the dog out and take some fall pictures.

Carry on my friends, Carry on!

Shelley Lake

When I woke up today, I decided to finish staining the deck. It needed one more coat, and then it was finished.  

Afterward, I decided to make a batch of pretzel buns, and I will write more on that later.   I went for a three-mile walk with Lulu around Shelley Lake. It has been a while since I walked over two miles. It was a pleasant stroll, and Lulu kept slow as she needed to smell everything along the trail. I was also concerned because I forgot to bring water, but they had a water fountain for humans and dogs!

This lake in Raleigh, North Carolina, supposedly has a tremendous avian population throughout the year. I saw little avian activity today, but there were some photo opportunities.

It seemed like a long day.  I tried to make fresh pretzel buns before leaving for the Park, and they did not rise, so I had to start over. I had the water to warm, and the yeast failed.  I came to that conclusion after an internet search, as it was the second time in three tries while in North Carolina.  So, I tossed the dough and started a new batch when I returned from the park.  They turned out FABULAOUS. I believe this is my 7th effort, and each time, they improve.

Carry on, my friends, Carry on!

Babysitting

I am babysitting my Granddog, Lulu, in North Carolina.  My son and Kira have been in New Zealand for 20 days, and we are just trying to be buddies. 

On the first night (Saturday), at about 4:30 AM Sunday, a deer was roaming the street in front of the house, and the dog viewed it through the window and went crazy! It was well over an hour before she settled down. I am unsure why Lulu goes crazy for other animals, although she does not react to the dog across the street.

I am still slightly concerned as Lulu has thrown up her food twice.  Saturday morning and again this morning (Monday).  I will try to feed her slowly for a few days, about 25% of her typical food every 3 hours, and see if that helps.

On Sunday, I completed a hard 25K Zwift ride. I am riding indoors because I worry about any issues I might encounter riding outdoors.  

I am reviewing my master image files and using a better file naming system.  They have the camera name, location, and day I took the images.  I am renaming them to make the details more identifiable in the name.  I am also trying to delete duplicates or less-than-memorable images.  Otherwise, the total photo library becomes insurmountable and meaningless.  For example, on this last Blue Ridge/Smoky Mountian trip, I have over 600 images that I have scaled down to 451, yet that still seems excessive.

So Lulu (dog) and I have 17 more nights before they return.  I have been away from home now for  It is hard to tell if she is depressed or getting better with them being gone.  She really spends so much time sleeping!

Carry on my friends, Carry on!

No workout but hard day

This morning, I woke up and decided to do home maintenance for my son. He has lived in his home for almost five years and could be better at exterior maintenance. Of course, it does not help that he travels more than 150 days a year, and many times, that is international. 

My first chore was to sand and restain worn or aged parts of my son's deck. When he moved in, his girlfriend and I stained the deck, and nothing has been completed since. There were also some boards the builder needed to replace that were never stained. So I stained those, the stairs, high-traffic areas, and the tops that are exposed to direct sun most of the day. Since there was more than enough stain, I sanded the worn tabletop and stained that as well.  This was more of a task than anticipated, but it was finished in about 2.5 hours.

Then, the neighbor lent me the powerwasher for the garage floor and the driveway, which had yet to be washed since the house was built in 2020. It is a 2500 PSI power washer with a concrete circular cleaner. The garage had many stains from bicycle repairs, and it took over two hours to remove the stains and scrub the floor.  

Then I started the driveway. I wish I had taken pictures, as it was so dirty—almost a black-and-white change. However, it took several passes to get it clean.  After three hours, I was finished and exhausted!  It was nice to get that done!  I was so tired that I did not ride bicycle today.  I hope I sleep well tonight.

Carry on my friends, carry on!

Feeling better

The pain in my derriere has finally gone away.  It is nice to sit and sleep without the pain!  I am still baffled as to what it could have been.  I have been riding my bicycle regularly and lifting weights a few times weekly.  I have logged 130 miles in the past six days and can feel it in my legs.

I have noticed that movement helps with minor pains and stiffness as I age.  I get stiff when I go days without working out, making it difficult to get moving.  I am sure there is science behind the experience, yet I am still determining the reason.  

I will be spending the entire month of November in Cary, NC.  My son and his fiance plan a three-week trip, and I will take care of their child (a dog named Lulu).  Lulu really likes me for some reason, so she will be okay with spending time with me.  I will also miss the first part of Minnesota's cold weather.  There was snow last week, yet it has already melted.  Yet, I am not missing the lows in the 20's and highs in the 40's.  When I finally get back, it will be 8 weeks away with my trips and babysitting times.

During this trip, my favorite camera, the Nikon D810, finally ceased working.  That is a long story, and replacement cost is about the same as repairs.  The repairs required are questionable at best.  Therefore, I have been looking at mirrorless options for a few years.  I have the crop sensor Fuji X-T2, which isn't even sold anymore!  Switching camera brands, yet the camera is not the a is not most expensive part of photography; it is the glass (lens). 

I have some quality Nikon lenses, including the Nikkor AF-S 14-24 F2.8D ED, Nikkor AF-S 70-200mm f/2.8E FL ED VR, Nikkor AF-S 80-400mm f/4.5-5.6 G ED VR, and the Nikkon AF-S 50 mm F/1.4G.  Those alone are over $7,000 in quality lenses.  I also have the Tamron SP 150-600mm F/5-6.3 Di VC USD G2, yet I use it very little.

Therefore, I researched for several weeks and was interested in the Nikon Z 8.  Yet the price was $4,000 with an occasional sale for $3,500.  All the literature and videos emphasized that the picture quality of the Nikon Z7ii was the same.  The Z8 offers much better focus speed.  The Z7ii retails at $3,000. However, I found it on a pre-black Friday sale for $1,899!  I did need to spring an extra $250 for the FTZii mount for the old lenses, but that was necessary for the Z8 as well.  That helped me make my upgrade decision.  The focus speed requirement is less of an issue for what I do, and both are worth $1,600!

So now I will learn the new camera.  The initial images appear better than my D810.  The Z7ii DxOMark score is slightly higher, and Camera Decision scores the Z7ii at 78 and the D810 at 59.  I thought I might upgrade in 2025, so it was close to the planned change.

Carry on my friends, Carry on!

Gluteus Maximus Pain

I am not sure how, yet for the past two days, there has been intense pain in the right Gluteus Maximus. I can't lay on the right side; it is hard to sit, and walking is painful. There is no other pain in the leg, so I doubt it is Sciatica. It has been two days, and I am resting. My only strenuous workout was a challenging 26-mile bicycle ride with my son on Tuesday. The pain started on Thursday night.  Therefore, I need clarification on the cause.

I have limited my activity to short walks with Lulu. I am dog-sitting LuLu, and she is active. I feel bad I cannot give her the long walks she needs, but she seems to be satisfied and happy, so I am not concerned.

Lulu - Australian Shepherd

Tomorrow, I will pack for the next sightseeing trip. I will leave on Monday and travel the open portion of the Blue Ridge Parkway for a week. I hope I am timing the fall colors perfectly. Based on the estimates, I will see some magnificent colors.

Carry on my Friends, Carry on!

Vacation

I have been in the Smokey Mountains for the past week. Originally, I planned a two-week excursion traveling the entire Blue Ridge Parkway, but the Hurricane shut down the parkway and the planned trip. The hurricane spared the Tennessee side and a small portion of western North Carolina, so I had a shorter trip than anticipated. This week, I camped at Indian Creek Campground in Cherokee, NC. I stumbled upon the campground when my Blue Ridge Parkway Park Service sites were canceled.

The hiking was brutal at times. My legs screamed in pain through the night, yet I seemed to recover well. There were several hikes to the waterfalls. I also had the LONG uphill hike to Clingmans Dome! It was worth the hike, but I had breathing difficulty and leg pains! No regrets!

Although the colors could be better, I have had many photo opportunities.  (See below) 

I learned the first 200 miles of the Blueridge Parkway will be open.  So, I will visit my son for a few days before heading out for another week of sightseeing.

Until then, Carry on!

Voted

Shelley has been healing well and is primarily independent.  There are still some struggles, and things are slower, yet she is stable enough for me to head out on my planned vacation.  Therefore, I will be heading out next week for 55 days away.  As a result, I had to vote early. 

I was surprised but had no issue with the requirement to vote early.  I needed my driver's license on the application for the absentee voting process, and the worker verified the information.  Then, when I voted, I had to add my driver's license number on another document and provide it to the worker.  When I vote on election day, I say my name and address and sign a form to vote.  All this complaining by the GOP about early voting fraud, if there is a chance there was such an issue, no way would it be early voting, based on my experience!

Shelley cannot do much of the fall chores to prepare the home for winter.  So, I am completing all the tasks a few weeks early.  One activity is rodent (mouse) protection.  Over the years, we have struggled to solve the issue.  We use traps, yet the mouse is sometimes half-dead and suffers.  We use poison, but then they die and smell as they rot.  I found a new option on the web to be VERY SUCCESSFUL.  I set up two homemade devices and had over 10 mice the first night.  I have them set up in the garage and back patio.  It is simple, with a ramp and a can that rotates in the middle.  Lace the can with peanut butter and put a few morsels on the rail; it works GREAT!  One side of me said drowning is not a great way, but it seems better than poison and traps?

DIY Mousetrap

My foot is finally feeling a little better, with only occasional pain.  When I return, I will have a physician review the pain, but my tendonitis diagnosis seems accurate.  

Carry on my friends, Carry on!

Busy is nice

The past week was filled. Beyond caring for Shelley and my mom as needed, I had lunch with two past co-workers on the 25th. We went to Perk-Up Kitchen in Bloomington. I rode my bicycle to the restaurant and was happy to complete the 30-mile ride. This was my second visit, and I enjoyed the meal fully. I had the Chicken Pot Pie and then the BLAT Wrap. The prices are a little more, at $15-$18, but the food is well worth it!

Shelley had her surgery follow-up, and things are healing well.  She is walking with crutches and a boot.  She has completed one physical therapy session in which she focused on stairs.  She is happy she does not need to crawl up or slide down on the backside.  Her mobility is getting better quickly.

On the 28th, we took our mother to Applewood Orchard. She really seemed to enjoy the outing. However, when I saw her on the 30th, she had no clue we went to the orchard.  I had ridden the 34-mile round trip to visit her.  It was sweltering and windy, so it was a hard ride!

Today, since Shelley is doing better, I was able to take some photos.  The birds are migrating, and there may be a great opportunity.  Images are below:

Until next time, Carry on my friends, carry on!

Dared to ride

Once again, I slept poorly until 5 AM and then solidly until 10 AM.  I just don't get it.  It seems so odd! 

I last completed laundry almost two weeks ago, and it could no longer be delayed. As I started the five loads of laundry, I ran my mother's budget numbers and updated her finances. Afterward, lawn work and watering were required since the yard had been scorched. Due to the unique shape of the yard, about half has to be hand-watered, and it takes an hour.

Once that was completed, I decided to bake some pretzel buns and bites.  Since I retired, I have improved my pretzel baking, but I only started baking something from scratch.  This batch turned out better than expected! I may be getting the recipe down.

I did get out for an outdoor bicycle ride.  I have not ridden outside since Shelley broke her ankle.  I was concerned she might need help, and if I had a flat or a breakdown, she could not come to get me.  The was was refreshing, yet my heart rate was high for the exertion level.  I did not have heavy breathing, yet the average heart rate was 121 BPM.  Based on my sleep number bed, my resting heart rate is 55 BPM and an HRV of 153.  

 

My ride data from Strava 

Carry on my friends, carry on!

Mother and Fundraiser

I slept until 10:30 AM, but it was not a restful sleep until about 4:00 AM.  Caring for Shelley and my mother reminds me of an overworked full-time employee in a depressing job.  Some key indicators are little exercise, lack of sleep, decreased diet quality, feeling less social, and being easily agitated.  So when I say depressing, I do not mean soda pressing like the image.  

After breakfast, I visited my mother and completed some care items.  It is so sad visiting.  It is to the point now that I ask what she did yesterday, and she says, "Nothing, just sat here and watched TV."  Yet my sister took her shopping for groceries Saturday, and my brother was with her yesterday.  I asked her about her last grocery trip, and she said a few weeks.  I asked about the new loaf of bread on the counter (we purchased it three days earlier), and she said it was ancient.  

I came home to prepare for a fundraising gala Shelley was required to attend.   She is the organization's treasurer and is deeply passionate about the mission.  It was a typical fundraising gala night until the end when a member got up to encourage donations.  She was over the top and put on the guilt of being there and not donating to the cause.  This caused Shelley to donate an additional $500, and some friends did as well.  The MC pointed out each at the table that she knew donated and said, "The rest of you, please help this organization."  Unfortunately, it took a lovely evening and turned it into a carnival. 

For being a short day in hours and few activities, I was ready to call it a night.  

Carry on my friends, carry on.

Voles?

Last night, even though I slept with the window open below 60 degrees, I woke soaked with sweat.  I needed that to shake off the ill feeling I had been experiencing.  I typically sweat more when I am sick.  I was up at 7:15 AM to help Shelley.  It was laundry day, and she needed washed sheets and other items.  So once that was started, I made breakfast and did three hours of yard work before resting and watching football.  

We have a neighbor who does nothing for the lawn, and we are constantly fighting all kinds of invasives and critters.  The voles are coming from their yard with a vengeance.  Shelley will not let me poison any critter, including mice (but she will trap and kill mice), so I need to look for options.  

I tried MoleMax, and it had a minimal impact.  I also purchased solar vibrating spikes.  The vibration spikes helped a few years ago, but the old ones quit working.  I installed new spikes today and will wait to gauge the results.  If there are successful options anyone would share, please do!

I got out on the bike for a 4.7-mile loop at 17:39 and an average heart rate of 134.  I pushed the pace as I knew it would be a short ride.  I hesitate to leave if it is a short time, as Shelley may need assistance.  She can't get me if I have an issue, and I must walk. 

My left foot remains very painful, and my right leg feels fatigued, even though I am not working out.  Is compensating for the foot working out the quad causing the pain?  I will use the leg massager tonight and continue to adjust as needed.  As previously stated, I think the foot issue is tendonitis.

Carry on my friends, carry on.

Alzheimers Walk

With the significant letdown by the Nebraska Cornhusker Football team last night and my concern for Shelley, it was a three-hour sleep night.  We also needed to be up early for the Alzheimers Walk.  Since Shelley was a team captain, we needed to be there by 8:30 AM for the 10:00 AM walk.  However, I was only going so I could push Shelley in the wheelchair!

We arrived at 8:30 AM, and it was raining.  It was easy for Shelley, riding in a wheelchair, to have an umbrella, but pushing the chair, I was SOAKED!  After 15 minutes in the rain, we could find cover until the rain stopped at 10:00 AM.  That was nice; we could walk without increasing the dampness that remained.

They had me take the picture, so it was a break from pushing!

Therefore, I did get the 2-mile walk in this morning, and my right foot was well aware, giving me screaming pain!!!  I am sure it is tendonitis, and I will continue to nurse it.  I want to avoid going in as I am concerned it might impact my planned trip since retiring.  I can have it looked at when I return if it still hurts.

It was early afternoon before we were close to home.  We went to the farmers market to grab a few items for dinner.  Once home, we spent the rest of the day watching football and resting.  

Carry on my friends, carry on!

Another Busy Day

I was up a few times throughout the night checking on Shelley.  I did feel better today, so I did sneak in a 12-mile bike ride.  Sure feels good to get out there.  Since Shelley could not care for the landscaping, I spent three hours watering, pulling weeds, and harvesting the garden.  It needs to be done every 3-4 days.  She enjoys it, so we have large flower beds and a sizable vegetable garden area.  It is a pain if you do not want it, like me!

Last month, I had my Bionx D500 wheel rebuilt.  When I got it back, the torque sensor was not working.  Since the bike has 15,000 miles, it may be at the end of its life.  My thoughts kept going to the shop for several weeks; perhaps the sensor was installed incorrectly. Even though the company dissolved in 2019, I found a forum that suggested the bike shop may have erred.  So today, I spent a few hours trying to fix the sensor, and I was successful!!!   This is my favorite bike, and I was thrilled, yet I could not ride as Shelley needed me to be available, and if I had trouble, she could not rescue me.

As it was my birthday yesterday, only Shelley's daughter and two past work friends, Topher and Shelley, remembered.  Today, my son called at 6:00 PM to say happy birthday.  I did an abysmal job raising him to remember to celebrate events and dates in his life.  There is nothing I can do about that now.

We watched the Nebraska vs. Illinois football game, and it was a heartbreaker for Cornhusker fans (AKA Shelley).  I got 6 hours of sleep last night, which was needed!  Shelley can regain some independence in one week, and I can return to being retired!

Carry on my friends, carry on!

62...

Well, I made it.  Today was my 62nd birthday.  I tell people I celebrate for only 60 seconds (1 minute), then it is on to 63.  Surprisingly, many people did not get the play on words.  I am officially qualified for senior discounts in many places.  The one I look most forward to is the lifetime National Parks Pass.  It is typically $80 for the annual pass, but once I reach 62, the $80 is a lifetime pass. 

I woke up with pain in my right foot, which has remained an issue for the past week.  I am unsure what the cause is, but I narrow it down to tendonitis as it comes and goes.  Then again, it almost feels like the Jones Fracture I had about 20 years ago, but the pain comes and goes.  It did start after a hard elliptical workout in new shoes.  

Shelley wanted to take me to lunch, but my stomach could not cooperate.  Later in the day, I was informed my mother had crapped herself badly and had feces on the floor in her deb, and the bathroom was a mess.  In case you were not aware, we moved my mother to an elderly facility last month, as after my dad passed 18 months ago, she was unable to stay on the farm like she desired.  She needs some level of care!  

Therefore, most of the afternoon was spent cleaning up the MESS!  After getting Mom settled, I felt better and decided my birthday dinner would be Prime Rib from the Mason Jar, a local restaurant.  I have always seen the advertisements for the Thursday special (the only night they have Prime Rib) and wanted to try it.  It was below average.  Very tough, and some chewing gum would have been easier to eat.  You will never know if it is good if you do not try it.  This is my first disappointment with the Mason Jar.  There are so many exceptional dishes to enjoy.

I am exhausted after helping my mother settle and caring for Shelley full-time!  Sleep is not great either, as Shelley may need me in the middle of the night.  There is no choice but to hang in there!

Carry on, my friends, carry on.

Life continues

Retirement has been great, except when I am at home for extended lengths of time.  It is easy to see work that does not need to be done, but I do it anyway since, at some point, it will need to be done.  So, I do these tasks at my own pace, but traveling and wandering are much more enjoyable.

My next trip was planned for a few weeks, heading toward Colorado/Wyoming/Montana for 10 days.  I was most excited about attending the 59th Annual Buffalo Roundup at Custer State Park on September 27.  Well, my early fall plans have now changed.  Shelley fractured her ankle and will require surgery with plates/screws.  So, my first fall trip is canceled.   Oh well, my mate's health is more important! 

I did see something yesterday that really made me laugh.  A guy parked his hybrid car, got out, and walked into the store.  I was waiting for Shelley, who had an appointment.  Then I heard the car engine start as the AC must have been on.  I went to look to see if there was a dog, but nothing in sight.  When the man came out of the store, he asked what I was doing.  I informed him I heard the engine start, and he said, "Damb-it."  He explained that he drives a Tesla, and the hybrid was a loaner.  Since the Tesla key is his phone, he is accustomed to parking the Tesla and leaving, and it automatically is off and locks.  So he parked, left the keys in the car, and left it running out of habit!  Glad it was not stolen!

As I try to limit my political opinions on social media, when I saw the image below, I had to share it, as it expressed my thoughts very well!  In addition, Margaret and Helen have a post that, to me, is spot on.  Unfortunately, I dislike them all for the third consecutive presidential election.  Just vote with who I dislike less.

Carry on my friends, carry on!

September already!

It is hard to believe that it is September already!  This past week, I've attended many amateur baseball games.  They've all been very competitive and fun.  Tomorrow is the final classy championship game.  It should be rather exciting!

Since I began enjoying Minnesota amateur baseball about a decade ago, this is the first year it may result in my favorite two teams winning state championships.  Today, the Miesville Mudhens won the class B championship over Air Freight Unlimited 8-1.  Tomorrow, the Jordans Brewers play the Waconia Lakers in the Class C championship at the Mini Met, Jordan, Minnesota.

As stated, I can't believe it's September already!  It is only about seven weeks before I leave on my big trip in mid-Oxtober.  I am taking the trip alone because Shelley has yet to retire.  I aim to start at the southwest point of the Blue Ridge Mountains Parkway and slowly work my way northeast over the 400 miles to the endpoint.  I am trying to plan it when the fall colors are optimal.  I have a lot of deviations in potential times to ensure I get some beautiful photos. 

I wanted to start September with a good, solid workout, yet repairing concrete, painting, and moving two lawns resulted in Charlie horses in my hands and fatigue throughout my body.  In addition, Shelley became severely ill, slipped, and fell and needed significant attention.  Given the holiday weekend, she will go in on Tuesday to verify she has no broken bones or torn tendons.  If I were to guess, it is a severe high ankle sprain.  She can move it, and there is no discoloration.

My mother is also getting more dependent and appears unhappy.  I feel bad that her life was tough, and she looks well over her age of 81.  Below, she was at Pizza Ranch with my brother.  The image tells more than I can describe,

Until next time, Carry on, my friends, carry on!

Solid Biking

After my sister and I completed moving our mother to a partially dependant home, stress decreased.  Now that I visit her more often, I see the degradation of her mind.  It is depressing as she rarely recalls yesterday and never wants to leave her room.  At times, she seems to have flashes of memories but is unsure how valid her recollections are.  All I can do is wait and review.  

Last week, I totaled 100 miles with 3,562 feet of climb on my bicycle, many without using the e-bike motor. I can feel it in my legs! I know I am getting stronger yet very sore after each ride. My ankle pain increased as well.  I hope to keep up the trend.

As stated in April, I decided to weigh myself in my 6-month follow-up.   While I feel like I lost weight, I am unsure if that is being stronger without weight loss or a combination.  All I can do is continue to monitor intake, reduce stress, and enjoy retirement.  Of course, here's a pun about weight loss: I went to the paint store to get thinner!  It did not work!  I thought that was funny!

The college football season is upon us. The NDSU Bison (FCS football) will play the Colorado Buffalos (FBS) on Thursday night.  While I hope for a Bison win, this should be a hard matchup.  The Bison have a new coach, and Colorado, while they appear solid, has been a portal revolving door.  They have a handful of NFL-ready players; it is just a matter of an adequate supporting cast. 

Until later - Carry on my friends, carry on!

Aging mother challenges

Last weekend, my sister and I had a task no one should face, especially on my mother's birthday, but it was needed!  After the death of our father, Mom was staying on the farm in the middle of nowhere.  I have witnessed her memory fading for years, and staying there was not a safe option.  We spent 6 months trying hard to convince her to leave the life she had experienced for half a century and move into a facility that allows aging-in-place/continuum of care services.  She reluctantly agreed.

My sister went three days earlier to complete the final steps for such a move: medical, prescriptions, mail, and many other tasks. I woke at 4:30 AM and had the 4.5-hour drive to pick up the moving truck. With four of us, it took over three hours to load the truck, which was faster than anticipated. I was originally thinking of staying overnight but decided to make the drive home to get an early start moving into her new unit.

Unloading the truck took 90 minutes. Unpacking was more challenging. As the old farm furniture was worn, we only brought the newer bed, two dressers, and a chair. So, before we could fully unpack, we needed to get a love seat, a TV stand, a microwave cart, end tables, and numerous household items.

Partially unpacked and settled!

The adjustment to the new place could be faster.  Even though it is a full-service facility, she wants to stay in the unit.  Like the old farm, she rarely went outside, only when she needed something from town.  She also has little desire to be social.  She is capable of completing basic self-care.   She communicates well but needs clarification, is forgetful, and is withdrawn from social activities. 

My partner's mother went through the entire Alzheimer's stages.  She had a hard time toward the end when her mother did not even recall who she was when she visited.  I am not looking forward to the inevitable but must prepare for the progression.  At least she will be 4 minutes from my sister and 20 minutes from me.  Much better than the 270 miles to the farm!

Carry on my friends, carry on!

Long ride

Today, I decided to ride even though I was still limping.  I have a very painful outer lower calf on the right and ankle pain on the left.  It was over 90 degrees, and there was little wind, so it may not have been the best day to push it.  I drank 50 ounces of water and drank all of it.

My ride was 33.84 miles (2:43:50) and 1,483 feet of climb.  I decided to check the best route to the assisted living facility my mother will call home in a few weeks.  For the first 17 miles, I used very little battery, and the workout was challenging.  On the way home, I used the battery for about half the ride.  I was pleased with Bosch's statistics from the ride.

Overall, it felt good.  The ankle and calf were manageable, and I will see how I feel in the morning.  I will likely ride tomorrow as the weather forecast is for significant storms.  Then it will be August already!  WOW!  It is hard to believe I have been retired for six months already!

When I retired, I decided not to weigh myself and get emotional about my weight.  I will let it be and see the results at my next primary checkup with the physician in December.  When I had the follow-up visit in April, I had lost 14 pounds over the 8 weeks I was retired.  I was surprised but happy. 

Carry on my friends, Carry on!

Old age or dormant lifestyle?

It has been difficult for me to ride or do much of a workout the past month.  Daily, a new pain arrives with a vengeance, and an old pain diminishes.  The last workout was on July 22, seven days ago.  In addition, my favorite bike, my Surly Long Haul Trucker with the BIONX D500, has been out of commission.  I hope to get that back soon, as I can ride with electric assist without significant strain.

In addition, I have been stressed and working hard preparing to move my soon-to-be 81-year-old mother from the North Dakota farm to a new home close to me.  My father passed away May 6, 2023.  He passed working on the farm in the middle of nowhere.   I did not write about this as we had an estranged relationship.  I often wonder if I should have tried to sort through the animosity yet never took action.  I was raised in the middle of nowhere, and my parents lived there for almost 5 decades.  

My 80-year-old mother did not want to leave her long-term home.  However, there are memory issues, and we have no choice.  She can not remain safe alone in the middle of nowhere in North Dakota.  So, for the past few months, my sister and I have been working hard to find a new home, care for our mother, and prepare for the move.  The numerous long drives to the middle of nowhere North Dakota are an emotional drain.

Last week, we worked hard to start cleaning out the "junk."  It was a challenging task, and the hoarding was sad to see.  

Saved boxes of empty treat bags

A huge box of unused dog medicine

I am hoping once we get her moved, the stress will subside and maybe some of the pain.  In addition, I hope to get my Surly back and get into a routine!

I have started attending Minnesota town ball games and reviewing Minnesota Townball Fields to fill my time.  I have always loved Townball and its history.  It takes my mind away from the issues in my life.

Carry on my friend, carry on!

Posterior ankle impingement?

I am experiencing extreme pain in my left ankle. It comes and goes, but it is excruciating when it spasms. This has been going on for several weeks with more frequent spasm-like pain! I have been figuring out what it might be. I assume it is Posterior ankle impingement based on everything I have read. That makes sense, as it's most painful when I point my toes away from my knee or shin. It doesn't hurt when I try to stretch by putting my foot against the wall and leaning forward. What is the best option? I did get a few long rides last week, yet with the ankle, it was fewer than I wanted. 

This is not the best week to have this ankle pain because my girlfriend's seven grandkids and daughters, 18 months to nine years old, are with us at Grandview Lodge for a vacation. It gets so crazy with all these kids running around; three are from one daughter and the other daughter.  Since the grandkids don't see each other much, it results in a lot of tension, arguing, and frustration. 

My mother needs some assisted living options.  So, I have been wrapped up in sorting through the information with my sister as we prepare to move her closer to us.  She has remained on the farm after my father passed about 15 months ago.  I think she is getting quite lonely, and the need for assistance would decrease if she had social activities to raise her spirits.  One will never know, but we found a new home for him about 13 miles from my house, so I can bike to visit.  

In closing, retired 5 months ago, and the excitement has worn off.  I am still happy I retired, but now there are so many things filling the days that I need a break.  Things like seal coating the driveway, thoroughly cleaning the gutter, trimming trees, fixing rotted steps, landscape edging repair, and so much more.  The list of things I see keeps getting longer, and I am more exhausted!  Like a typical American, never finding the balance to be happy and healthy!

Carry on, my friends, Carry on.

Grandma's Marathon - 1st time spectator

My son ran Grandma's Marathon.  As usual, we left about 2:00 PM Friday and had delays due to construction and traffic.  We arrived just before 6:00 PM, checked into the hotel, and then headed to the expo.  It was rather crowded, and we ate the Michelena’s grandma's feast.  It was not very good, and the food was heavily commercialized!  We only did it for the atmosphere.  

Earlier this week, the forecast indicated a possible cancellation due to the weather.  As usual, the forecast can't be trusted.  It was forecasted colder (54 degrees), with a tailwind for much of the race.  

When we woke, it was cold, and there was no rain!  His day started a little rough as the train was late.  As a result, he started at the rear of the pack.  It took him approximately nine minutes to cross the start line.  As a result, he passed 2471 runners in the first 5K and 865 runners in the next 5K.  He was feeling pretty good, holding approximately 7:45 pace until about mile 12, when he started to feel a cramp coming on!  I saw him for the first time just past the halfway mark, and he ran the half marathon in 1:43:46, just 7 minutes off my PR pace.  He would be close to my PR if he could maintain it, but the cramps jeopardized that possibnility.  

His split for Mile 14 was 9:21, followed by 14:19 and 12:25 before he shook off the cramp and could run a few 9-minute miles to reach mile 23.  He was hobbling along at 11:33 and 12:20 miles before getting a hop-like shuttle to an average 9-minute mile to finish in 4:07:27.  This was a PR for him, putting him in the top half of his age and gender group.

After the race, we had a late checkout for the hotel, so my son showered, and we headed home.  The 1.75-hour drive was through one heavy thunderstorm, but overall, it was uneventful.  We were both exhausted, so we went to bed early.

Carry on my friends, carry on!