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!

Snow Sculptures

My effort to ride my bicycle every other day is intact. In early January, I had three days in a row, which wore me out, so I started with every other day. It will be different in the warmer months, riding outside, as just ride and enjoy the more straightforward exercise on off days. With Rouvy, I get too competitive, and it is a hard workout!

To date, I have logged 278 miles in about 17 hours. That is 16.35 miles per hour on average, which is good. Each ride has been at least 16 miles for the past two weeks, and a few have been over 20 miles.

I have been diligent about my iron intake, yet I am not noticing any improvement. I will continue to monitor my health and look for ways to improve.

I did get out and test the new camera at a friend's broomball game.  It was my first time seeing Broomball in action.  It was a cold day, but it was worth the experience.  Sample images below.

If you missed a past post, we moved our mom from the Wheatland, North Dakota, farm to All Saints Senior Living in Shakopee, Minnesota, in August.  She had not adjusted it as well as we had hoped, and the cost is nearing $5,000 a month.  We have been searching for alternatives and found a new home for her in Prior Lake.  This is a building that reminds me of North Dakota-style housing.  We will move her there next month, costing about $2,900 a month.  This is reduced rent if we use the buydown program of $17,000 upfront.  This will pay back in about 15 months but is not refundable if she passes.  At this rate, her funds should get her through the next 8 years.

Today, I took my mom to the Minnesota State Fair Grounds snow sculptures. This year's total number of entrants was down. There has been very little snow, and it is supposed to be 50 degrees here on Wednesday. Images are shown below.

 My retirement funding is still ahead of the anticipated funds.  I hope this continues to be a more decisive year for the market, but I fear President Trump will destroy much of the security.  He is not a leader but a dictator who scares me.  I hope we make it through the next few years safely and financially stable.

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

2025 started

It's been a busy few weeks for the start of 2025.  

For some reason, I feel swamped, but I'm not sure what I've been doing. One thing for sure is that I have been able to ride a bicycle for at least an hour every other day with a heart rate of 125 to 130. I decided to work out every other day, only as I did not want to get too exhausted at my age. Additionally, working out too aggressively and getting injured set me back.

On January 7, I had my annual physical and anxiously awaited the blood test results to see if I had improved. One thing I was ecstatic about was that my weight was 302.7. That is an unusually high number, and I need to get it under control, but that means I have lost about 23 pounds since I retired. My high weight was 325.3 when I retired.  Therefore, I am losing about half a pound per week. That is a sustainable weight loss, and I hope to maintain that trend.  The three months that I needed to help my mother, who needed to move from the arm and is not in a home close to me.  The stress caused me to regain a few pounds, as I struggled to deal with the issues.

One extremely disappointing factor about my visit was that my iron level was extraordinarily low. Once again, this is frustrating because I've been battling Anemia for so long!  Test results were:

• Iron (normal range 61-157 ug/dL) 
• Current 20 ug/dL - 31 below normal range
• This is the lowest it has ever been since the Anemia Diagnosis in 2017, when it was 23 ug/dL
• Iron saturation index (normal range 15 to 46%)
• Current is 5% - 15% below normal range
• This is the lowest it has ever been, with 7% in January 2023.
• Ferritin (normal range 31 to 409 ng/mL)
• Current is 11 ng/mL - 20 ng/mL below normal range
• The lowest it has ever been, with eight ng/mL in July 2016. I was also 11 ng/mL in November of 2023.
• Hemoglobin (normal range 13.3 to 17.7 g/dL )
• Current is 11.4 g/dL - 1.9 g/dL below normal range
• This is the lowest it has ever been; in January 2023, it was 12.1 g/dL
• MCV - Mean Corpuscular Volume (normal range 78-100 fl)
• Current is 72 fl - 6 fl below the normal range
• This is the same as January 2023 and the lowest it has ever been.
• MCH - Mean Corpuscular Hemoglobin (normal range 26.5 to 33.0 pg)
• Current is  21.3 pg - 5.2 pg below the normal range
• This was at 20.9 in January 2023.
• MCHC - Mean Corpuscular Hemoglobin Concentration (normal range 31.5 to 36.5 g/dL)
• Current is  29.6 g/dL - 1.9 pg below the normal range
• This was at 28.8 g/dL in January 2023.

Therefore, my Anemia is worse, not better.  I should have known with the shortness of breath and low energy!

I have been busy cleaning out the basement and tossing junk.  This will be a multi-week project as I build shelves to organize my junk.

For the first time since I retired, investments are clearly volatile. I have cash on hand to weather the storm. I am living off my tax-deferred savings since the Market is high and has performed well over the past two years.

Carry on, my friends, carry on!

2025!

Since returning from my two-month trip to Tennessee/Carolinas, I have had an intense workout every other day.  I avoid it daily as I age; rest is essential.  My biking in December was 106 miles.  It was higher, but I have three club workouts for which I cannot load the miles into Strava automatically.   I rode the past three days, but the off day was easy with Shelley.

My mother's memory is stable, yet she is becoming more demanding.  Unfortunately, it is depressing to visit, knowing I am always getting closer to experiencing similar issues.  It helps me mentally focus on my health and lessen the potential for problems later.  Eating better and exercising significantly improve the aging body.

I had some fun with Mom and the photo booth app on the iPad.  Images below.

After traveling for 61 of the last 75 days, I am tired. Yet, being home in retirement during the winter is not enjoyable. I see all the activities I should complete at home, but I'd rather avoid them. Things like minor house repairs and purging 60 years of possessions—even the pantry and garage—need a good cleaning and purge.

Over the new year, I started to think intensely about where life may have taken a wrong turn.  My relationship with Christopher is non-existent.  I reached out to him, but like in the past, he emphasized the need for us to stay in contact; I never heard from him.  I wonder if I would have fought harder for other relationships if the people had avoided their hardships.  I regret not saying things when I had the chance, yet I regret saying things when I did.  I find that I get more intense thoughts about life as I age.  Fortunately, I can sort and control my emotions, yet I get a better understanding of the higher suicide rates in older adults.

I learned my boss is retiring at the end of the month.  He is only 55 years old, yet I was told after I left that all the crap I handled for decades was not on his lap, and it was too much to handle.  He always hated conflict and complex issues, which I had no problem handling.  He is superior to me in intelligence, so we were a good team.  It is hard to hear that such a great organization has been dysfunctional for over 25 years, and people flee.  As of the first of the year, nearly 40 percent of all employees have less than 2 years of tenure.  Such a sad state of events.

Slowly learning the new Zikon Z7iii.  There are fundamental similarities, yet setting precise variables for a picture takes time to make intuitive.  I have the time to head out for practice, but the temperatures are below zero!

Hope the new year has been good for you!  Carry on my Friends, Carry On!