Nice week of riding so far

In an update on Lulu, she has not thrown up in a few days and appears to be better.  I often wonder if it is anxiety when people leave.  

I have been able to work out more this week while away. I had two weightlifting sessions at the club and will be over 100 miles after my ride later today; I am currently at 93.25 miles. My legs have been sore, and walking is difficult at times. I am also very tight with lower back pain. I may need to stretch more.

I have been able to accomplish some things for Jordan. His clogged sink and loose gutter rattling in the wind are driving him crazy. The garage door squeaks really bad, yet it's fixed now. I moved the pegboard and tools, relocated bicycle hangers, and performed basic lawn care.  

I realized a fun thing. I noticed that " never not odd or even" is the same if spelled backward. The things my brain sees seem like a waste of energy. I noted this as I often try to read words backward and saw it. It was much like long ago when I realized that a Subaru backwards is a U R A bus.

Until next time, carry on!

Puppy is ill?

I took Jordan to the airport on Tuesday, and the dog had thrown up after the past three meals.  It may not be a good three days sitting while Kira is in London and Jordan is in Austin, TX.  Although I was glad he was leaving, he has been short-tempered and downright mean.  No matter what I am doing, I am bugging him.  I try to stay out of his way, but he always seems to find something negative to attack!  I am not sure what the issue is, but one thing is for sure: I feel like I am a slave and mean nothing more to him.  I wonder what the hell is nugging him!  His behavior reminds me of his mother, who was often short-tempered and self-centered!

On the first day, Lulu (the dog) threw up breakfast.  I decided to feed her pumpkin and slow meals to see if it helped.  That means the meals were less filling, and she seemed to have less energy.  I am always worried that something will go wrong when they are gone.  Lulu did hold her supper, yet she woke me to go out at 12:30 AM, 2:15 AM, and again at 4:45 AM.  I was already tired, and this made it worse.  Fortunately, Lulu only woke me on Thursday at 2:15 AM, yet I was still exhausted.

I did get out and do a few bike rides. I did 20.14 miles on Wednesday and 20.12 miles on Thursday. It was funny how I had an average heart rate of 103 on both rides—they were two different routes! However, I wonder if the heart rate monitor is accurate and if I may need a new battery, as I was under 65 BPM the first few miles, which is not the case.

I decided to take Friday (today) off.  I needed to clean up the house and wash clothes.  I did get a short break, but it was not enough!  I plan a long ride to the club, lift weights, and return tomorrow.  That is 22 miles round trip.  I still have several items on the list that Jordan wanted me to fix/look at/upgrade while I am here.

Until the next update, carry on my friends, carry on!

Spring trip

On Saturday, I took a Delta flight to North Carolina to help my son with some home repairs, babysit the dog while they were away, and again when they ran their first 50K trail race. The weather in Minneapolis was 35 degrees and sunny, and I was headed to 70 degrees and sunny. The flight was smooth until the end. They warned of turbulence; I had only flown once before where I thought I would get sick. This flight almost made me vomit, and it took about an hour to feel better again.

I arrived shortly after 6:00 PM and reached Jordan's by 7:00 PM. For some reason, this trip left me very stiff and sore. It was hard to walk without some minor pain. I went to bed early but slept poorly.

I was awake at 8:00 AM, and we moved the shelving into the garage, lubricated, and repaired the garage doors. They were very noisy, and we attributed it to loose chains. Some bolts were loose.

North Carolina VS Louisville softball game

I attended the University of North Carolina vs. Louisville softball game at noon. They split the earlier games, and this was the third game to determine the series winner. It was a one-sided slugfest, with North Carolina hitting five home runs to win 14-3. While I have attended many games and watched North Carolina play in other sports, this was the first time I saw the logo at the bottom of a foot on the helmet and a black heel. It made me wonder how they came up with that mascot.

Familiar logo

Logo on helmets today

I discovered that the term “tar heel” dates back to North Carolina’s early history when the state was a major supplier for the naval industry. Workers who distilled turpentine from the sticky sap of pine trees and burned pine boughs to make tar and pitch often went barefoot during hot summer months and probably gathered tar on their heels. Calling someone a “rosin heel” or “tar heel” was to suggest they worked in a humble job.

During the Civil War, North Carolina soldiers redefined the term's meaning and transformed an insult into a badge of honor. They called themselves “tar heels” as a source of state pride. Others adopted the name, and North Carolina became known as the “Tar Heel State.”

After the game, Jordan ran 14 miles while I biked 20 miles and handed out water at various points along the route. It was warm, and he needed more than 20 ounces of fluids. I’m glad I grabbed an extra bottle!

I'm debating whether to take any sleep aids or try sleeping without anything again tonight. After last night, a second poor night of sleep isn't a good idea!

Carry on my friends!

Double day

I was up at 8:00 AM after sleeping for about 8 hours, 7 hours, and 40 minutes of restful sleep. The chart to the right shows my Sleep Number bed data for last night. Unfortunately, I did not feel fully rested. I decided to head downstairs and ride a Rouvy route to start the day. I rode the  Vincoiurt to Gruson, France route. It had gravel and other rough terrain, which the trainer adjusted accordingly. I was able to complete 10.51 miles in 39 minutes. I averaged 16.4 MPH and had an average heart rate of 129 BPM.

After breakfast, I visited Ace Hardware to buy M4 50 mm screws for a box I printed on the Bambu A1. I was surprised that they were sold out of most of the M4 45-55 mm sizes. I'm not sure what's causing the rush on the product, unless there's a surge in 3D printing in the city. So I will check another store tomorrow.

After cleaning, the temperature was nearly 60 degrees, so an outdoor ride seemed like a good option. I rode 17.4 miles in 1 hour and 9 minutes, climbing 1,027 feet. My average heart rate matched this morning's ride, 129 BPM.

As it was nearing 5:00 p.m., I showered and started dinner. Shelley was surprised by the St. Patrick's Day Parade in downtown and would be delayed getting home. The timing was perfect, as I heard the garage door open right when dinner was on the table. However, she sat in the car for a while, and I had almost finished eating when she entered the house. She said she needed to attend to a few things. I get frustrated because I usually eat alone when I make dinner and time it well for her arrival!

I am enjoying retirement without a schedule and can ride or do whatever I want on a whim. I was well prepared to retire. On the other hand, Shelley has done very little to prepare, and she says she is scared and not ready. She is one of those who will regret not retiring earlier as she gets older.

Until next time, carry on!

Finally

The breathing, excessive phlegm, and hacking all day have been eliminated from my system. It's been almost two weeks, and several days have passed horizontally! I am looking forward to a good start to the week. I leave on Saturday for a three-week trip. I will babysit my son's dog for part of the time, but I look forward to sightseeing, biking, and relaxing for most of the trip. I return on April 18, giving me two weeks at home before Selley retires.

I also took the time to thoroughly clean the garage. It was such an unorganized mess, and I added to a pegboard and a shelf, tossing so many items I rarely use. Shelley has been away all week as she moved her dad from a one-bedroom apartment to a small assisted-living unit. The small room has a bed, chair, dresser, and TV. How good is the quality of life when you get to that point? He needs help getting up to use the bathroom and can only walk short distances. It may improve in four years when he is 89. You know, as they say, "Nothing’s better than being 2, 3, 5, 7, 11, 13, 17, 19, 23, 29, 31, 37, 41, 43, 47, 53, 59, 61, 67, 71, 73, 79, 83, 89, or 97 years old. Those are the years you're in your prime." That is a pun!

Tomorrow is St. Patrick's Day; it will just be another day for me. As I get older, many holidays lose their appeal as celebrations. Additionally, over the decades, many holidays have become commercialized, encouraging people to spend money they do not have, get intoxicated, or behave in unusual ways. It is not a celebration I remember from my childhood, when it was about a feast of corned beef and other Irish foods with friends.

As I close, I have scanned in items from my mom's home when we moved her. I found the image below, which was taken as an award for my grandfather for many years. The photo was taken with North Dakota Governor Ed Schafer and his wife, Nancy, a few months before his 100th birthday. He died on October 13, 1999, 21 days before his 100th birthday, so he did not make it.

Until next time, carry on!

Snow and update

When I woke up on March 3, I thought I would never get out of bed. My chest was so congested, and I had a headache. I couldn't imagine lying in bed all day, but it turned out to be the best thing for helping me regain a healthy body! 

Yet, I crawled out of bed and decided to go through and purge old clothing. Since I retired, I no longer need significant professional clothing. So, after about three hours of slowly going through the closets and dressers, trying on various clothes, and purging items, I had 10 grocery sacks stuffed with clothing (See to the right). I kept seven pairs of pants, shirts, and two suits.

I started to feel better, and the congestion decreased as I hacked for hours and removed more phlegm than I imagined a body could produce. 

On March 5, I was still battling significant congestion, coughing, and difficulty breathing.  I use my inhalers much more than usual, but not above the prescription.  Sleeping is difficult.  

We had snow last night (March 5), which was the most snow I had experienced in quite a few years.  This was not fluffy snow, but it was very wet and heavy as it was over 25 degrees.  The Ego snowblower struggled, requiring 5 total discharges and charges to clear the snow.  In several locations, it was 2 feet deep and VERY HEAVY!  The roof also had significant snow, melting faster with the 38-degree midday temperatures. I needed to rake the roof to minimize potential damage from ice dams. By the end of the snow clearing, I was exhausted.  Therefore, no indoor bicycle ride for me.  

It is now March 9, and the snow has melted quickly. The last three days have been in the high 40s. I am glad I raked the roof because it eliminated potential nighttime ice dams. The snow on the roof is already gone, and I expect it to be completely melted by Tuesday. The forecast is for highs as high as 60°. 

I have been so ill again with chest congestion.  It was slightly better when I cleared the snow and went downhill fast.  I have had more bed rest than anything else for the past four days.  I started carrying makeshift spitoons with me, and the mucus is crazy!  I hope it improves soon!  Been almost two weeks!

Shelley's dad is being moved into skilled nursing care next week, so she will head to Lincoln, Nebraska, tomorrow and be gone for the week. I hope to improve and finally be able to do something, as the past few weeks' productivity and exercise have been nonexistent.

I really need to organize the garage. Since we moved my mother (and sold the farm) five months ago, and I brought some of the tools from the farm, it has been an unorganized mess. I would like to do that this week. However, I am unsure of the best way to accomplish the task, which makes it increasingly difficult. Do I really need to keep many of the tools? I have no clue!

Carry on my friends, carry on!

Sick

It has been a while!  I was out of town for most of February, returning on the 20th, and I became ill!  I took a COVID-19 test, and it was negative.  I felt absolutely worn out, but I had my sense of smell and taste.  I am sure the flu is a complex case.

I couldn't work out, so I spent most of my time lying down.  I had a fever running in the low 100s and was miserable.  It has been about 10 to 12 days, and I am just starting to feel slightly better.  I took one bicycle ride, but it affected me the next day.  Being older increases the impact of the flu.

I'm not sure if it's the flu or something else.  I'm assuming I picked up something on the plane on the way back.  I plan to work out regularly in the next few days.  I had a trend of riding a bike at least every other day for an hour for 12 weeks before I got sick.

On top of being ill, my mother has stated she is so unhappy, and everyone at the facility is mean, so we moved her. The frustrating thing is that I think people do not talk to her, as she has been locked up on the farm for so long. She has no social skills, and she has a look that, quite frankly, is scary! She rarely says hello in return and just walks around like everyone hates her! Below the image is a good day. 

The big news is that Shelley has submitted her retirement notice for May 2.  I'm also looking forward to her being retired because I think she has been jealous.  I love my freedom.  She'll not want to travel as much as I do, but we will see.  She really enjoys tinkering with flowers, the lawn, and landscaping, and is concerned that if we leave tomorrow, what will happen to her plants? 

I purchased a 3D printer to work on prosthetics for my son.  I have been making them with fiberglass from a mold, and it worked, but I still had some issues.  My son and his engineering background created a great model, allowing selective padding and increased comfort.  I would use a thin fiberglass shell on the outer portion of the 3D print for added stability.  The design uses traditional zip ties to mount.  This will make it easier to replace the supports.  We used hose clamps before, but fixing them was a significant task when they broke. I want to write with more regularity.  Even if it is never read, it is a great mental exercise to process life as I age.  Things are not as easy as they once were. I am spending less time challenging my mind.  I am going to look for projects and activities that are challenging! Until next time - Carry on!