Stress down and some numbers improved

On Sunday (April 21), I went to the club, where I did a 45-minute elliptical and lifted weights before coming home. I mowed the lawn and did significant spring cleanup yard work. I attended a Prior Lake Mudcats baseball game (VS Belle Plain) at 2:00 PM. A friend's boyfriend plays for the team, but I do not need any encouragement for a town ball game! It was the season opener, and there were plenty of mistakes. The Mudcats lost 5 to 2.  

For the first time in days, there were low winds. When I came home, I went for a 6-mile bike ride. I was tired, but it was a nice ride on a calm night.

 

On Monday (April 22), I had my first annual doctor's appointment since retiring. I was surprised to weigh 314 pounds. That may seem high, but I was close to 330 pounds before I retired. It was rewarding to see that, for sure!  I have not been trying anything new!  I assume escaping that toxic work environment and retiring reduced issues that cause weight gain?

We also ran my blood vitals and determined if I was still having any issues. When I compare this to other results, it isn't impressive, and it shows that my iron deficiency anemia is still a problem. Here are some numbers:

• MCH was low at 22.9 - the lowest since I was hospitalized in 2017.
• MCHC was low at 29.9 - again lowest since the 2017 hospitalization
• RDW was low at 18% - stable for the past four years, yet still low.
• MCV was low at 77 - again the lowest since the 2017 hospitalization 
• Hemoglobin was low at 13.4, just under the minimum 13.5 recommended
• Iron was low at 30 - The last time I was above the low threshold of 35 was after a 2021 infusion.  My recent infusions did nothing!
• The Iron Saturation Index is at 8%, where 20 % is the minimum! =It has been low since 2017!
• Ferritin was low at 16, where 26 is the minimum required.  I have now topped 18 since 2017

On Tuesday, I was up at 7:30 AM after not sleeping well and was disappointed in the blood results. I did not take any sleeping aids, which I'm trying not to take just to get into a regular pattern post-retirement. I went to the club at about 8:00 AM and did a full 60 minutes, 5.5 miles on the elliptical trainer. For the first time in years, the hour was simple. I lifted weights for an hour. The workout felt GREAT!

One funny note is I take over-the-counter Nexium, which I buy from Amazon or Costco for $40 for a 90-day supply.  My doctor said it may be covered by insurance and prescribed it for me. It was covered by insurance, but my co-pay was $78. I could 

I had lunch with a friend at 11:30 AM at Clancy's in Jordan, Minnesota. It was the lowest-cost meal I can recall in years. We both had two-piece chicken meals for a total of $16! I was shocked. My last lunch in Edina was $17 just for Shelley and me, and I went to Crisp & Green before a show at the Chanhassen Dinner Theater, and it was $34!  

Carry on, my friends, Carry on! (Link to why I close my posts this way)

Interesting

 Last night, I went to see the Fabulous Armadillos at Chanhassen Dinner Theater for a show they called "Acoust-i-dillos 2." The show had many interesting tidbits about the songs.  One I did not know was the song "Everything I Own" by Bread.  It was written by David Gates in 1972.  While I always thought the song was about the loss of a girlfriend or possibly a wife, just last night, I learned it was actually written about David Gates's father.  Many only know the song's cover by Ken Boothe, Rod Stewart, Shirley Bassey, or Boy George.

This greatly impacted Shelley, whose 84-year-old father is aging fast.  Her time with him is getting shorter while she still works to secure a good retirement.  

My father passed away on May 6, 2023, which was before I retired.  While we were estranged, and I would never regain any relationship, I know once he died, that opportunity would not be possible.  I spent much time working and not cherishing the moments with family and friends.  Thinking of the song, it also hit me when I realized that when a friend passes unexpectedly, such as my dear friend Becky Schindler late last year, you no longer have the chance to say anything or do anything.  Life is short!  It emphasized that I am making the right decision by retiring at age 61. 

If you are still getting familiar with the song, the lyrics are listed below.

You sheltered me from harm

Kept me warm, kept me warm

You gave my life to me

Set me free, set me free

The finest years I ever knew

Were all the years I had with you

And I would give anything I own

I'd give up my life, my heart, my home

I would give everything I own

Just to have you back again

You taught me how to love

What it's of, what it's of

You never said too much

But still, you showed the way

And I knew from watching you

Nobody else could ever know

The part of me that can't let go

And I would give anything I own

I'd give up my life, my heart, my home

I would give everything I own

Just to have you back again

Is there someone you know

You're loving them so

But taking them all for granted?

You may lose them one day

Someone takes them away

And they don't hear the words you long to say

I would give anything I own

I'd give up my life, my heart, my home

I would give everything I own

Just to have you back again

Just to touch you once again

I understand one complex question daily: the sensitive scale of balancing time, money, and health.  They are all a balancing act with proportional results.  It is hard to know when the balance is correct, but when combined with health, I ask if it is better to die rich at 72 or broke at 92.  That made the tipping point clear for me!

Carry on, my friends, carry on!

Went for a walk!

Upon my return, I had a dentist cleaning and needed a root canal and a new crown.  What a lovely gift upon my return.  The tooth has been an issue for over a year, so not surprised.  They were able to schedule it the next day.  I was not much of a problem, and the permanent crown was placed a week later.  It feels fine, and I hope that is the last of the dentist for a while.

On Friday, I was up and went on the first AM walk since I can’t remember.  It was only 1.3 miles and was refreshing, but knee pain cut it short.  I think Shelley was happy I walked with her here.  I think she really misses Porter for the AM walks.

Since the back patio was significantly molded and the steps were rotted, I decided today to clean the patio and replace the steps.  I had to get new wood from Home Depot, and it was a challenge because the steps were over 25 years old.  That was when a 2 x 6 was closer to 6 inches.  Now, the two by-sixes I had were five and three-quarter inches.  They needed to work better to replace a few boards.

The job took just over five hours, but it is done, looks nice and clean, and has solid steps.  I was tired and did not get a bike ride into the day.

I went to the St. Thomas vs. North Dakota softball game on Saturday.  It was a great game, with a one-run victory for St. Thomas.  Afterward, even though it was very windy, I did an 18-mile ride.  The first half was into the wind, and the second was a nice ride!  It was hot, reaching nearly 90 degrees, which was new for me in Minnesota in April!

I have been lifting weights, elliptical training, riding a bike, and watching what I eat.  I refused to weigh myself and risk getting depressed.  I have my annual checkup on the 22nd, and I hope my vitals have improved.  My stress is way down, and I feel much better.  The clothes suggest I am on the right path, but only time will tell.

Carry on, my friends, carry on!

First trip ended

 It was great to be away almost five weeks after retiring.  It was so packed with bike rides, softball, and more.  I attended four University of North Carolina games as they were free.  Duke University charges for weekend games, so I only attended the free weekday game.  I am trying hard to stay under budget for the first few years; it makes the rest much more manageable!  Here are some images of the games.  As you can see, the weather was GREAT!

I completed 22 rides for over 300 miles, much of it on the American Tobacco Trail.  I had to shorten some rides because I babysat my son's dog while they were away.

The drive home was eventful.  About 100 miles away, I experienced rainstorms, high winds, and tornadoes.  It was bipolar weather!  I decided to attempt the whole drive in one day, leaving Cary, NC, at 6:00 AM.  The drive is just under 1,300 miles.  It was about 1:00 AM when I crossed the Minnesota border and decided I needed to sleep.  As I had the car equipped to camp, I stopped at the rest stop and was sound asleep in minutes.  I should have stopped sooner.  If not for the bad weather and minor traffic issues, I would have made it home by 1:00 AM.

I woke at 5:00 AM and headed home.  Just before 7:00 AM, I arrived, and I went to bed!  I only slept until 10 AM, but it was nice to be home.  The rest of the day was spent unpacking and cleaning.  It was a great trip!!!!

So far, retirement is looking GREAT!  Carry on, my friends, Carry on!

More sightseeing and a race

 I enjoyed time along the East Coast, seeing sights and enjoying the nice weather.   Wilmington has so much to offer.  The best part is I was there before the season started.  Of course, many businesses were closed, yet there were no crowds to deal with, especially for parking.  The boardwalk/riverwalk is a great place to spend time.  See below:

After spending a day in Wilmington, I headed up the coast NE to New Bern/Bridgeton.  I stopped at many sites, which is a great place to visit.  See below for a few places I spent time:

Lawson Creek Park

Tyron palace

Union Point Park

The most challenging thing I have found is finding great seafood restaurants.  This was different from Massachusetts or Maine. Google should have directed me to the best option, but I only saw high-end or fast-food restaurants wherever I looked.  

As I ended this part of the trip, I found an outstanding ice cream shop on the way home.  Andia's Ice Cream.  A small local shop with three locations in North Carolina.

When I returned, Jordan would do a 100-mile gravel race in Swansboro, NC.  We headed to the race on Friday afternoon, and the forecast was not welcoming!  We see up the tent at Carteret Speedway in Swansboro, NC.  After setting it up, we moved it under a fixed shelter as the rain was on the way.  Just as we finished setting up the site, the rain hit.  All night, the wind was so strong it almost lifted the tent, yet only a little driving rain made it into the tent.  Fortunately, I had a thick air mattress, so I slept on the concrete under the little roof.  The tent still had a slight amount of water from the 35 MPH winds driving the rain under the rainfly.  Not enough to cause any issues.

The life-saving shelter

I would have been on water if I wasn't on the concrete!

Finished in the rain - 106.66 miles in 7 hours and 1 minute (officially)

Still had some energy at the end.

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

 

First trip as a retired citizen

As stated previously, my employer became so toxic that it was causing health issues, so I retired.  I retired about 15 months before I would have, as that is when Shelley will retire.  Living the same lifestyle, I could be broke at 90 and feel better to be broke at 90 than dead rich at 70!

As I stated before, I am unsure how my employer can be so blind to see that employees are fleeing.  In my Division, 90 percent of all employees have not been in their position for more than 18 months!  Another division has 80 percent of the people who have joined in the past 2 years.  A few employees moved on after 18 months.  

My first trip as a retiree was a drive to Cary, North Carolina, where my son lives.  He planned a 150-mile bike race, and I will crew for him later in the month.  I spent a few days with him before heading out on a solo venture of the coast.  He is swamped and needs more time to do anything during the week.

On March 12, I woke up at 8:00 AM and made my tofu meal for the next two days.  At 9 o’clock, I packed and left Cary, NC, for Carolina Beach.  It is about a 2 1/2-hour drive, mostly on freeways.  I could not check in at the campground until 3 PM, so I had plenty of time to check the sites first.  My first stop was Kure Beach Pier.  The sun was bright and 70 degrees, although there was a good wind.  The waves were not overly large.  I was lucky as until March 15, there was no reason to pay for parking and other activities.  I guess the start of the season is March 15!  I arrived just in time!

I parked and read a few chapters of Running With Sherman by Christopher McDougall.  After an hour, I ventured south to the end of the road, the Fort Fisher Ferry.  Opting not to go to the Ferry, I returned to Fort Fisher State Park.  This was totally free and a lovely beach!  I will return tomorrow!

It was about 4:00 PM when I headed to Carolina Beach State Park to check in to the campsite.  I am very fortunate to have a very secluded site.  Check-in was no issue; the set-up was easy since I slept in the car.  I decided to take a hike on a local path.  They have been doing prescribed burns, so the scenery could have been more optimal.

I drove to check out the area before returning just before dark.  As I thought I was all set to sleep, I soon realized I needed to organize more.  I almost exhausted myself with how many times I fell asleep and recalled something, like my mouthguard, which was in the suitcase!

At about 8:30 PM, I was all settled for the night. I watched two episodes of Matlock and went to sleep.

Carry on, my friends, carry on.

 

I am officially tired - oops RETIRED

Friday, February 2, 2024, was my last day, and I retired. I say I did not retire, but I was paroled from the prison I had been in for the previous few years.  As I stated before, I am not sure how they can be so blind to see that long-term employees are fleeing.  My Division has 80 percent of all employees who have been with it for at least 10 years, and another division has 80 percent who have been with it for at least 2 years. 

I rode a bicycle to work!   It was a rather chilly morning, but being February with no snow and 40° was unheard of.  I got to work at about 10 o'clock and finished some minor items before lunch with some co-workers.  We went to the hot plate restaurant, which only served breakfast but was good. 

After lunch, I had my exit interview.  It was a general chore they needed to do, and I would like to know if anything I said would resolve the issues in that workplace.  I am just happy to be able to dump some of the toxic environment information before I leave! 

Once I finished, I got on my bicycle and rode away for the last time.  A co-worker took a video of that event, and I recorded leaving the City limits.  The link to the video is https://youtu.be/PhQ5XU4VP3U?si=206xOC01rM-AewAM.

On February 5, 2024, I had a retirement party, RSVP only.  It was great.  So many people said they had not seen me smile or be that happy in years.  I assume that is expected when you retire, but I feel more like paroled.

My first days have been lovely. There are no alarm clocks, and I am free to do whatever comes to mind. Just relax and get the human body back into a stress-free environment; after the past five years of hell, I needed to endure to get to a point where I could retire!

While relaxing and reading this morning, I saw the following for Super Bowl Tickets.  It made me laugh.

A good friend of mine has 2 tickets for the 2024 Super Bowl, 50 yrd line box seats. He paid $5,000 each, he didn't realize last year when he bought them, it was going to be on the same day as his wedding. If you're interested, he's looking for someone to take his place. It's at St. Michaels Church, at 3pm. The bride's name is Sheila she's 5'4", about 115 lbs, good cook too. She'll be the one in the white dress. Copy & paste to keep the laughs coming!

Carry on, my friends, carry on!!!

8 days - big change

It's almost time!  Just one week away from the day I've been eagerly anticipating- my retirement.  In 2019, I set my sights on 2024 as the year I would hang up my hat.  Since then, I've been diligently preparing by saving as much as possible, sacrificing vacations and other activities to tick off financial security, and preparing retirement plans from the list.

 When I first envisioned my retirement in 2024, I was still deciding on a specific date: September to coincide with my birthday or May to mark my 30th anniversary.  However, the increasingly toxic environment at work began to take a toll on my health, making it clear that I couldn't continue.

 

Initially, I was going to call it a career last fall.  However, there were several advantages to the three-month delay.  So, I went with my gut feeling, zoomed out on the lens of life, chose Groundhog Day 2024, and gave a 7-month notice!  Yes, that is 2/2/24.  Not because of the see-the-shadow background, but unlike Bill Murrey in the movie, I will wake up every day to total freedom from that toxic culture, mandates, deadlines, and responsibilities other than my own.  

 

Is it a good choice?  Humans never know the right choice, but we have to make it and live with the decisions.  I reviewed the numbers endlessly and came to the conclusion decreasing the risk of dying rich at the age of 70 yet broke at 92 years old was an easy decision.  We never know, and as stated in the past posts, many of my friends who waited into the late 60s to retire passed just past 70.  One fellow employee died before he retired, and another the day he was to retire.

 

One of the first things I realized is the best-made plans often need to be changed. Initially, I planned a three-week road trip, starting the day after I retired.  That changed to going two weeks later.  Then, it changed to a late March departure.  But that became problematic, so it was moved to a middle February departure.  Even that is questionable as I prepare this post.  But one thing is sure: I'm looking forward to spending more time with my family, picking up new hobbies, and exploring the world at my own pace.

 

The critical point is that it does not matter.  In 8 days, I will have my adjustable schedule and very few non-flexible demands.  Exiting that toxic and unhealthy environment will be a progressive move toward health improvement.  I am already feeling better, as my responsibilities have decreased as I transition.

 

A few months ago, I decided to wait to shave or cut my hair until I retired.  I may stay longer because I do not have to look professional.  As you can see below, I fit the part of a grumpy old mountain man well.

 

 

 

Carry on, my friends, carry on!