Phase 2?

It’s been a week since my last blog post. My plans got pushed back because I was worried I might have COVID or tendinitis. I lost my sense of smell (which was a huge relief since I didn’t have to deal with unpleasant smells like farts), had a hard time breathing, felt weak, and had some serious muscle aches. But guess what? I started feeling better about two days ago! 

That’s good because I’ve almost regained all the weight I lost in the first 12 days of this month. My current weight is 312.8 pounds; I wonder if some of the gain isn’t muscle. I find it easier now to do more than 10 pushups in the morning and to hold a 30-second plank, whereas three weeks ago I struggled to hold even 10 seconds. So far this month, I’ve biked 144 miles, walked 4 miles, and done elliptical workouts and weight training during my gym visits. I need to do more, but again, there were four days when I could do little or nothing!

I’ve been looking into the medicines my doctor gave me. She mentioned up to seven, but I turned down three, so I’m now taking four, though only two of them are taken regularly, like iron. She thinks I should be on more drugs than I am; I don’t see any real benefits. After looking into it, it seems like there might be more downsides than upsides. For example, I’ve been dealing with anemia and breathing problems as side effects. I’ve decided that I’d rather spend the next 10 to 12 years without all these side effects, feel better, and not live into my mid-80s than struggle through the pain I’m experiencing now with some of these medications. I’ve been off them for three days, and I’m not reaching for an inhaler as often anymore. Already feeling better!

I was really surprised to find out that one of the medications is a Black Box drug, which has been around for over 50 years. It seems to cause muscle strain, major stomach problems, and a significant impact on B vitamins, along with other issues that are a bit surprising. One side effect was anemia! I’ve been dealing with anemia at a high level for the past few years. I almost think it’s linked to his medicine because they can’t seem to pinpoint what else might be causing it! So, I decided not to take it anymore. I don’t need to see my physician until January, and she doesn’t need to know until then. It’s just frustrating these days. They seem to spend more time trying to convince patients they should take medicine that only causes issues, which you then take another medicine for—this cycle just keeps repeating until I realize you’re taking 10 or 12 different medicines every day.

I decided to go for a long bicycle ride on Saturday since the weather was forecast to be over 70°. I headed out and really enjoyed the ride! Then I turned around and realized I had a tailwind blowing at 20 to 25 miles per hour for the first 7 miles. My goal was to ride for a couple of hours, and I achieved that, covering 27 miles, but I was exhausted. I had committed to limiting the use of the electric bike. The electric bike report shows that most of the work was done by me.

So I hope that I do not fall ill or have pain like earlier this month. I was doing well for the first 10 days and need to maintain that effort. Here’s to success.

Carry on my friends, carry on!

That hurts!

 I’m frustrated! I was doing well with my exercise and weight loss until Monday. I woke up that day with severe pain in the back of my right knee. It seemed like the pain was slightly above the knee, near the hamstring. When I put pressure on it, it felt like tendinitis. I know I increased my exercise a bit more than I probably should have, but it’s very hard to walk without a major limp.

It’s a shame, but unfortunately, that's just how it is when you're my age. To my delight, I haven’t seen much change in my weight over the past three days with little exercise. I reached 309.2 pounds on March 9 (when I woke up in pain), down from 313.9 pounds on March 1. I am now 309.9 pounds, which is three pounds less in 12 days. That means I am within my minimum goal of losing at least 2 pounds per week. Again, the goal is to weigh around 250 pounds for my son’s wedding in September.

I also wonder if part of my issue has been related to my heavy congestion, difficulty breathing, and complete loss of smell. I didn’t test for COVID-19, but I suspect I might have contracted it. I did not take a test to confirm my suspicions. That could explain why I’ve been struggling over the past five days. My sense of smell has been absent for at least five days, and I'm just beginning to regain some of it. For example, on Monday, if I put Vicks VapoRub right up to my nose, I couldn't smell it! Now, today, I can tell it's Vicks VapoRub by smell, but if I had my full sense of smell, it would be much stronger. I hope that in the next few days, my sinuses and leg will feel better so I can start working out again. But until then, I will just watch what I eat and carefully follow my weight-loss schedule.

I have also, in my downtime, let my mind wander all over the place. I started thinking about some things I knew as a kid and realized how many I no longer use at all. Some of them were:

1. I am one wrong decision away from making headlines on the front page. - You have done so many things wrong that it will be highly newsworthy!
2. Hold your horses. - Before cars, this phrase reminded people to slow down and control their horses—figuratively, their impatience.
3. Don’t get your knickers in a twist. - A phrase used to tell someone not to overreact.
4. Well, I’ll be a monkey’s uncle! - A way to express disbelief. 
5. It’s like herding cats. - Refers to trying to control something difficult to manage.
6. Heavens to Betsy! – an exclamation of surprise. I’ve never known who Betsy was.
7. A stitch in time saves nine. It means fixing problems early before they get worse.
8. I wouldn’t count my chickens before they hatch. - Someone should not rely on something they hope for until they are sure it will happen.
9. There’s no point in beating a dead horse. - Not to keep talking about a subject that has already been discussed or decided.
10. Never look a gift horse in the mouth. - You shouldn’t criticize a gift, even if you don’t like it very much.
11. I’m plum tuckered out. - It means completely exhausted or extremely tired. The phrase is a colloquial way of expressing extreme fatigue.
12. Well, I declare. - An exclamation of surprise.
13. You’re just trying to butter me up. - To flatter someone excessively, often to gain favor or get something in return.
14. A stitch in time saves nine. - It’s better to deal with a problem early rather than waiting until it worsens and requires more effort to fix.
15. I’m so mad I could spit nails. - An expression of strong frustration.
16. Don’t take any wooden nickels. - This meant “be careful” or watch out for trickery.
17. The squeaky wheel gets the grease. - The person or problem that complains the most is the one most likely to get attention or be addressed.
18. You can’t make an omelet without breaking a few eggs. - Achieving a desired outcome often requires sacrifices or enduring some damage or hardship.
19. I haven’t seen you since you were knee-high to a grasshopper - someone who has grown substantially since the last time they were seen.
20. You’ll catch more flies with honey than vinegar. - Being kind and polite is more effective in achieving your goals than being harsh or rude.
21. This isn’t my first rodeo. - Someone has experience in a specific situation and isn’t easily surprised or intimidated.
22. Blood is thicker than water. - A family bond will always be stronger than other relationships, and family comes first.
23. Make hay while the sun shines. - Take advantage of your opportunity while the moment lasts.
24. You can lead a horse to water, but you can’t make it drink. - You can give someone an opportunity or the means to do something, but you can’t force them to take it.
25. Don’t cry over spilled milk. - There’s no use in being upset about something that already happened and can’t be changed.
26. You’re preaching to the choir. - Arguing with people who already agree with you.
27. Well, aren’t you a sight for sore eyes! - It’s so good to see you!
28. Let’s bury the hatchet - to end a conflict and become friendly.
29. That doesn’t amount to a hill of beans. - Used in negative statements to show something has very little value or isn’t important. 
30. The early bird catches the worm. - Those who begin early or act quickly are more likely to succeed or achieve their goals.
31. Don’t judge a book by its cover. - You shouldn’t judge someone or something only based on what you see on the outside or what you perceive without understanding the full situation.

That is enough rambling. Time to call it a night and hope I feel better tomorrow!

Carry on, my friends, carry on.

Continued Focus time!

Shelley has been having a very difficult time with the death of her aunt and problems with her father. It seems like daily, her dad has a severe diarrhea episode and isn’t functioning very well.

Shelley forgot to pay the electric bill and has been a bit scatterbrained about other things, all because she's focused on her aunt and her father. That makes sense, and I realize I really need to pay closer attention to ensure that the things she normally takes care of don’t fall by the wayside.

Additionally, my sister needed a knee replacement, and I have been her chauffeur. I don't mind because I am retired, and it gives me a chance to get out and about. Near her physical therapy location, there’s a free charger, so I basically get to charge for free while she is getting her treatment.

I am on the fifth day of tracking my weight and exercise in great detail. I haven’t started tracking my diet yet because I didn’t want it to feel overwhelming or to lose focus. I’m pleased that, according to the scale, I have lost 2 pounds after the first five days. I notice that being accountable to weigh myself every day makes me think twice before grabbing a snack—just before I put it in my mouth. That alone is a good deterrent from emotional eating. I'm just hoping this continues at a steady pace, as my goal is to lose 2.5 pounds per week, aiming to be near 250 pounds for my son’s wedding.

My sleep has been somewhat stable, although I have been using various sleep medications or aids. For example, I took Advil PM two of the last three nights, and I also took the prescription meds, half of a dose, on the other nights. According to my chart, my sleep score has been between 80 and 85, which is good. What I have noticed is that it takes me a lot longer to fall asleep than it used to. However, once I do fall asleep, I tend not to wake up more than once to go to the bathroom, which is good, as it has occasionally been two or three times a night.

I’ve been going through a bunch of old images lately and found some pretty cool ones. Some samples are below, enjoy.

 

 

Carry on my friends, carry on!

Focus time

It’s March 1, 2026. I am officially 87 pounds heavier than I was on the same date twenty years ago and 27 pounds heavier than I was ten years ago. I’ve been frustrated with my weight for years and concluded it was due to stress, anxiety, and aging. When I retired, I lost 25 pounds in the first six months (gained 13 pounds back in the past year). In February 2025, I started to feel dizzy, short of breath, extremely fatigued, with cold hands and feet, and my heart racing. I knew the problem! Anemia was once again pushing me into oblivion!

I contacted my Physician with concerns, and she emphasized taking the prescribed 325 MG of Ferrous Sulfate at least every other day. I wanted a blood test, but she stated the oral iron should be enough. It was in June 2025 that I finally convinced the Physician to do a blood test, as the stomach pain and anemia issues were really impacting my life. I believe taking Ferrous Sulfate should help, but it also caused stomach pain, and I think it increased bleeding. 

The blood test verified my suspicion!

• Hemoglobin should be 13.5 - 17.5 g/dL - I was 10.3 or 76% of the minimum
• Ferritin should be 26-388 ng/ml - I was 13 or 50% of the minimum
• Iron should be 35-180 ug/dl - I was 18 or 51% of the minimum

Therefore, in August, I was able to proceed with infusions. I also convinced my Physician to refer me to a Hematologist. However, the first appointment was three months away. That was frustrating, but it was my only option!  

After the infusions, I felt better and am now fully recovered. The infusion may have helped, but it only brought me close to the baseline. My Physician agreed to do another blood test. After the infusions, I was still below the threshold.

• Hemoglobin should be 13.5 - 17.5 g/dL - I was 12.7 or 94% of the minimum
• Ferritin should be 26-388 ng/ml - I was 21 or 80% of the minimum
• Iron should be 35-180 ug/dl - I was 23 or 65% of the minimum

I met with the Hematologist in November. He did another blood test, and my levels stayed the same, still below the minimum thresholds. So, I was planning to get another round of infusions, four months after the last one. I had a follow-up blood test six weeks later, and my numbers looked good after 6 infusions! The numbers were:

• Hemoglobin should be 13.5 - 17.5 g/dL - I was 14.8 - mid-range of recommended
• Ferritin should be 26-388 ng/ml - I was 59 or slightly above the minimum
• Iron should be 35-180 ug/dl - I was 126 or slightly above mid-range recommendation

When I met with the hematologist, he ordered blood tests every 3 months and mentioned we might need to do annual infusions if my levels aren’t maintained. He attributes the issue to a large hiatal hernia I have and believes I slowly lose blood from that problem. 

So, that brings us to March 1, 2026. I am feeling better two months after completing my last infusions. One of the best ways to reduce health issues is to lose weight. So today, I started tracking again, as I did in 2006. I’ll weigh myself each morning when I wake up. I also do a few push-ups and timed planks before starting the day. I will monitor my diet and do some form of exercise every day. I'll vary the routine to ensure adequate rest. On an off day, it might only include a 45-minute walk around the neighborhood. Today was a great 16-mile bike ride!

I aim to get this under control so I can enjoy retirement again. Wish me luck!

Carry on my friends, carry on!

Life goes on - for some

 A few posts ago, I wrote about my new car, a 2023 Kia EV6. Going all electric with matte paint just felt right. I also decided, for the first time ever, to go with personalized license plates. I chose LND LPZ. It should have been LNDL PZ, but I wanted it to look traditional with three letters on each side.

Since then, the dealer has sent me several items, mostly just partner promotions. Today I received the Luther Advantage card, which offers 10 cents off a gallon of gas and $6.00 off any car wash. I believe this is typical, but to me, it was amusing for the following reasons:

1. The Kia EV6 is an electric car, and I have no need for gas. So the 10 cents per gallon off will not be used.
2. There was a specific instruction not to use a car wash as the soap and the brushes are not good for the matte paint finish. So the car wash discount is worthless.

You would think they would have known this and not mailed it to me, but then again, I believe it’s similar to my past experiences with Luther Automotive. They follow a script to make themselves appear professional, but put little effort into personalizing the experience. It’s always been like a well-defined process at every step!

A goodbye performance

This past week has been filled with many emotions related to Shelley. Her aunt Karen decided decades ago that when she felt her memory was declining and she believed her quality of life had diminished, she would begin voluntarily stopping eating or drinking (VSED). VSED is a deliberate, self-initiated effort to hasten death in cases where suffering is refractory to optimal palliative interventions or when someone finds prolonged dying intolerable. She started it nine days ago, and last night she passed. 

Additionally, on Monday, her father was admitted to the hospital again due to a blood disorder. He has had health issues since he experienced sepsis a year ago. After four days in the hospital, she decided that hospice was the best option and moved him back to Suite Living.

Jon looks so lost and gone

Between Karen’s passing and her dad's deterioration, she cried a lot last night. I had a long discussion, and she knows it is all for the best, yet she has had very few experiences with death. I see life differently than she does, especially as age creates problems and people pass away. I have experienced several deaths of acquaintances under 10 years old and well over 50 for those under 50. 

So, when Karen calls it a life at 83 years old, and her dad may not reach 87, I claim they are so lucky to get to live long enough to experience those issues. Many are not. Additionally, as the pastor said at my nephew’s passing at age two, God has a plan, and if it is two years, live it while you can. Dwelling on it only takes away opportunities to enjoy the life we have.

Carry on my friends, carry on!

Life goes on

Shelley has been retired for 8 months. I just celebrated my 2nd anniversary as a retiree. Shelley now feels she lacks a sense of purpose, or at least a feeling of relevance. She loves the arts and tends to immerse herself in them and other activities to feel relevant. Sometimes, this significantly increases her stress, which I believe diminishes her enjoyment of retirement.

I, on the other hand, have eagerly crossed that Irrelevance Cliff and realized early on how small my career is in the grand scheme of life. I have many retired friends, and I find it interesting how little we talk about what they did for a living. With many of them, I don’t even know what their jobs were. It doesn’t matter anymore.

I see retirement as simply a chance to live longer. A time for myself! Unlike Shelley, I genuinely enjoy just being me without feeling the need to be needed, relevant, or important. The stress relief from that lifestyle is unmatched.

Since she retired, I've noticed that my enjoyment of retirement has decreased a bit. That's because when she was working, I could do whatever I wanted on a whim. Now I feel obligated to keep her informed and then guilty about leaving her behind. I'm also guilty of not doing the activities she wants to do, even though I have little interest.

Additionally, I stopped using social media a few years before I retired. She, however, still gets drawn into social media. We find ourselves debating politics more and more, and she only knows what she reads on social media, failing to do any research. She wanted to join a group opposing Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations. But the group blocks neighborhood streets to keep ICE officers out, preventing them from entering. 

I, on the other hand, ask her how blocking access to the neighborhood is acceptable as a means of protecting illegal activity from ICE. ICE is working to secure our borders and remove people. They want to keep illegals out! Again, the protesters' goal: to prevent ICE from doing its job. While I do not support the ICE process, they have all the legal authority to enter areas, but the protesters want to keep them out of places where illegal residents might be.

Then she disparaged Tom Homan, the ICE Director. But what she did not realize was that Tom Homan was appointed by President Barack Obama as the executive associate director of enforcement and removal operations at Immigration and Customs Enforcement in 2013. By 2014, under the Obama administration, Homan argued that separating children from their caregivers would be an effective way to discourage illegal border crossings. Additionally, under Obama, Homan advocated for the deportation of illegal immigrants and opposed sanctuary city policies. There was no issue in 2014. In fact, in 2015, President Barack Obama awarded him a Presidential Rank Award for his effectiveness in deporting illegal immigrants. 

Homan established his policies and beliefs during the Obama Administration and remains consistent now. I get irritated when people protest aggressively against actions taken under Presidents Bill Clinton, George Bush, and Barack Obama. If they care so much, where were they over a decade ago? Below is a chart showing departures over a few decades. (SOURCE: Transactional Records Access Clearinghouse, Syracuse University)

So far, the Trump Administration has not come close to what the Obama Administration did without any protests. If I were protecting a process rather than enabling illegal activity, I might agree. The current process is flawed. However, it shows a huge bias to be outraged, remove illegal individuals, and it was acceptable under Obama. They should protest the current harsh process, not help and support the illegal residents.

That's my recent rant. If this continues, who knows, it might lead to two people who haven't argued about anything for twenty years stopping talking to each other. I can’t support the strong positions Shelley is getting from Social Media, and she believes my research and facts are wrong.

I just want to enjoy retirement and my desire to be irrelevant!

Carry on my friends, carry on!

New car

I did it. I upgraded my car and went fully electric. I had planned to upgrade in the Fall 2026 / Spring of 2027, yet I have been watching the options for the past 6 months. I liked the Kia EV6 since I drove it in 2022, and I like the new Tesla Model Y. Shelley hates driving the Model Y with all the controls on the middle-mounted screen. The EV6 has many aspects in common with a typical gas combustion auto.

My Kia Niro, which I bought in November 2018, was approaching 80,000 miles and needed the timing and serpentine belts replaced, along with some other minor maintenance. If I could find a new car at a reasonable price, I would be ready to buy early and use those funds for a purchase rather than a repair.

While monitoring the EV6 and Tesla markets, I noticed a 0% interest option on Kia EV6 vehicles. Although it’s tempting to save money when buying a new car, this could be an easy way to earn conservative returns on cash. I did the same with my Kia Niro, taking out a 5-year loan that I paid off in 40 months. Since I have no debts, this wasn't an issue.

I decided against that option as the prices were still over $40,000.

Then I saw a 2023 Kia EV6 rental return with 15,000 miles for $27,000. The car was listed for over $57,000 when new, as shown on the report below. I convinced Shelley to take a test drive. I had thought the color was white, and that was not my favorite option. However, when the salesman drove it around, I fell in love with the color and look. It was off-white, called glacier.

Shelley test-drove the vehicle and was pleased with it. So I started negotiations. With the trade-in of the Kia Niro, they said I would be able to walk out for under $23,000, including taxes and license fees ($7,500 for the Niro).

I told them I needed to think it over and went home to do some research.  I was all over the map, prepared to buy as proposed, to walking from the deal. I spend at least 5 hours lamenting. I finally decided to approach the dealership, and if they could get me out the door for closer to $20,000, I would do the deal.

I went to the dealership at 12:30 and started the discussion. Four hours later, I left with the car on my terms! I was pleased. In my opinion, this was a great deal! A significant number of leased EVs are being returned, so it is a buyer's market. I may find a better deal over the next year, but this car's color and amenities are just what I want. In the future, I may not see all the desired features in a single vehicle at a great price.

Now the search for a charger installation and learning the new vehicle operation.

Carry on my friends, carry on!

Infusions over? Feel a little better

Yesterday was my last iron infusion and eighth of the year! I hope it's the final one for now. My hands were affected by previous infusions, so this time they used my arm. This is much easier for me than the hand route, and I'm glad they chose this option.

For the first time, I am experiencing side effects from the iron infusion, such as headaches, nausea, dizziness, fatigue, and muscle aches. Strange sensations include pain in my left earlobe and the outside of my big toes. Very odd feelings! They also advise no exertion or significant exercise for 48 hours. I am really looking forward to getting on the bike tomorrow, after 9 days off for the infusion!

The hematologist believes that the only place I could be losing blood is in my stomach. I know that when I take oral iron, my stool is often red. I assume hemorrhoids (piles) or anal fissures (tears) caused by the severe constipation from oral iron. Sometimes the stool is black, too. I have started taking pantoprazole and watching my diet, hoping this will lead me closer to a solution.

What’s frustrating is that the recommended dose of Pantoprazole is 20 mg twice daily. However, insurance does not cover that dosage and frequency. Instead, they cover the 40 mg tablet I would take once a day, but in a less ideal way. What's ironic is that the two options cost about the same, but for some reason, they will not cover the 20 mg dose.

Shelley returned from Nashville late yesterday, where she had a rewarding yet exhausting time with her four grandchildren. I know her dad is eager to see her, since she has been visiting him at least three times a week and has been gone for six days. We leave again in January to babysit the four children while her parents go to Cabo. I had initially hoped that North Dakota State would make the FCS finals and arrive in Nashville early for the FCS Championship, but they really blew it in the first playoff round. They did not look good. Still, Montana State seems unstoppable. So maybe it's a blessing they didn’t make it. 

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