Hard Work, nice results

This past week, Shelley and I took on an enormous task.  Thank goodness for the iron infusions; this would be impossible without them!  For over a decade, the north side of the rear yard was a wild mess.  The previous rock wall was covered due to erosion.  The grass access path was half covered by aged shrubs, and the other had hardened dirt where no grass would grow.  We tried putting mulch in the hardened soil area to clean it up, but it quickly turned into an eroded mess.

Shelley was unable to have the strength to accomplish much of the task, so she focused on removing all the underbrush up the hill while I dug out the rocks and reformed the wall.  After removing the underbrush, several small buckthorn and other plants were found, requiring significant effort to pull them out at the roots to prevent regrowth.  This was difficult in soil that is filled with rocks and other roots. 

By removing the aged shrubs, we now have a six-foot-wide walkway, gaining 3 feet.  Therefore, there was adequate space to attempt to establish natural turf.  We chose shade sod from Gertens and proceeded to loosen the soil, add new topsoil, and lay the sod.  Besides requiring backbreaking digging and soil modifications, it was also over 90 degrees and very humid all week.  Each day, my shirt was soaked in sweat. Now we hope all the landscaping installed will survive and stay vibrant.  The entire backyard area now looks inviting, as opposed to an unkept area. 

Original mess - rocks buried in the ground	Rocks were removed from the hill and placed
Another view of the rocks and hill clean up	Finished product

 

The new walkway and wall/hill in the background

It was nice to finish on Friday; the Minnesota Amateur Baseball playoffs started,  marking another season in the books.  I really enjoy town ball and attended some games in Prior Lake, which were very enjoyable.  I was also able to review a few more fields.  To date, I have reviewed 14 ballfields, with only about 240 to go!

With the Iron infusions, I am getting better sleep, breathing more easily, and feeling less anxious and edgy!  Nice to feel close to normal.  I wish I could see the hematologist sooner, but I need to wait until November!

Hard to believe I am only 34 days before turning 63!  Time goes faster each year. 

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

Infusion Boredom

This post is a follow-up to my previous posts and more. My anemia is still being treated, going on 9 years with no known cause. I am currently undergoing another round of Venofer infusions. 

I remain confused by the insurance company's decision. They approved nine Venofer infusions over 4.5 years (three rounds every 18 months), compared to three Injectafer infusions in 2017, which lasted over four years. They approved the lower-cost Venofer ($825 per dose), which is 80 percent cheaper per unit. However, the clinic infusion fee makes the overall costs similar, with about $15,625 for Venofer and $15,348 for Injectafer. I assume they consider that I have to pay the deductible each year, and they pay less?  As I have always heard, Medical insurers are more concerned with profit than our health.

I asked insurance if they would cover the lower-cost treatment and if I would pay for the Injectifer difference; would that be acceptable? Then I found out that the cost of the Injectifer increased by 530 percent because the insurance wouldn't cover it! What a racket.  

I also uncovered an insurance scam in 2017 for prescriptions. As shown below, the insurance-covered RX cost was $17.04 when covered. But then the formula changed and no longer covered the refill. It then increased by 1,431 percent to $243.99! No wonder the uninsured can’t afford to get sick.  

Today is the last infusion for this series. After the second infusion, I experienced severe stomach pain and constipation, with pressure on my back making life miserable. I haven't been able to work out or do much because the side effects have been worse this time than in previous treatments. Could it be related to age?

I went to a baseball game on Saturday and took some photos. I was testing the Tamron 150-600 f-mount lens as when I accidentally dropped it, and the autofocus stopped working. Since it's on my Nikon Z7ii, I also used the Nikon FTZ II mount. For the needs (Shelley's grandkids and sports), I think I can focus manually and avoid buying the $2,100, Nikon 180-600 replacement.  

Shelley and I are looking forward to our third retirement trip. Our trips have been limited since she retired because she had to care for her ailing father. Shelley and I will go to Nashville for a day, then to her daughter's lake cabin in Alabama, Smith Lake near Jasper, for three or four nights. After that, we'll spend a night in Chattanooga, Tennessee, followed by a few nights in the Smoky Mountains. Before heading back to Nashville for an NDSU football game and returning home, I hope the trip is relaxing rather than stressful.

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

This is a long one!

Life has been a series of ups and downs. After 16 days of my 20 sit-up and push-up challenge, I felt very dizzy and couldn't stand. I decided to get my iron checked, and since all the symptoms matched the Iron Deficiency Anemia I have been battling since 2017, I was right—my iron was low again! Here are the healthy ranges and my recent results.

• Hemoglobin should be 13.5 - 17.5 g/dL - I am 10.3 or 76% of the minimum
• Ferritin should be 26-388 ng/ml - I am 13 or 50% of the minimum
• Iron should be 35-180 ug/dl - I am 18 or 51% of the minimum
• Iron Saturation Index should be 20-55% - I am 5% or 25% of the minimum
• MCH should be 26.0 - 34.0 pg - I am 20.4 or 78% of the minimum
• MCHC should be 32.0 - 36.0 g/dL - I am 26.9 or 84% of the minimum
• MCV should be 80 - 100 fL - I am 62 or 78% of the minimum

It's time to reconsider infusions again. In the past, the affordable option of Venofer was used, but it didn't significantly raise total iron and ferritin. It led me to:

• Hemoglobin to 13.6 g/dL - Only 0.1 g/dL above the recomended 13.5-17.5
• Ferritin to 16 ng/ml - 10 ng/ml below the minimum recommended 26 ng/ml
• Iron Saturation index to 8% - 12% below the minimum recommended 20%
• Iron to 30 ug/dl - 5 ug/dl below the minimum recommended 35 ug/dl

Therefore, three of the four major indicators were well below the minimum levels after the infusions! Before the Venofer, I had Injectafer iron treatments and requested them again. However, they were rejected by insurance. The post-Injectafer treatment increased my numbers.

• Hemoglobin to 16.2 g/dL - 2.7 g/dL ABOVE the recommended 13.5-17.5
• Ferritin to 164 ng/ml - 138 ng/ml ABOVE the minimum recommended 26 ng/ml
• Iron Saturation index to 24% - 4% ABOVE the minimum recommended 20%
• Iron to 53 ug/dl - 18 ug/dl ABOVE the minimum recommended 35 ug/dl

The insurance company was clear that I needed the lower-cost Venofer, but if they fail, they will review the Injctofir option. This is crazy considering we already have solid data showing Venofer treatment does not raise my levels above the minimums. So I am going to start the Venofer treatments, and my Primary Physician is sending me to a Hematologist for a full review, which will increase insurance costs. I wonder if insurers are only looking at immediate costs and not long-term expenses and health impacts?

Despite the issues, I have managed to complete some solid bicycle rides. It's clear from my riding that I've increased my strength or lost weight (or both). I'm using the battery less during my rides than I did in 2024.

As I mentioned in a previous post, we managed to relocate Shelley’s dad. Visiting him is very depressing because he can't do 80 percent of basic activities without assistance. He didn’t realize that if he had stayed in Lincoln, he would have had to move into a dark, dingy facility with few amenities. Finding Suite Living was a blessing because it’s open to the outdoors, making it a much more pleasant place to live. When the nurse asked where he wanted to go, he quietly and sadly said, “Home.” That was difficult for Shelley to hear, especially knowing he doesn’t understand the impact he has had on her.

On Sunday, we decided to visit Powderhorn Park for the art festival. It was quite eye-opening compared to previous years. This might sound negative and judgmental, but it’s just an observation. I saw many people with face tattoos and piercings, women who don't shave their legs, men who do, and even one man who had facial hair and dressed like a man on the right side, but on the left, he was made up like a glam girl. Some call it self-expression, but I see it as a sign of low self-esteem and a desire to stand out, even if that means being odd. While they have the right to do that, it’s not my ideal environment, and I would choose to skip it in the future.  

After Powderhorn Park, we went to the Slavic Festival. It was small but enjoyable. I’m glad I attended, but I’m not sure I would go a second time. Great experience, but no need to repeat.

I have been torn between upgrading my camera lens for sports and wildlife photography. I have been looking at the Nikon 180-600 f5.6-6.3, priced at $2,049. While it would be a nice upgrade for Shelley’s grandkids and sports, I’m not sure it’s the best option at that cost. I still have my Tamron lens for the Nikon D850 (the camera died, and I now have the Nikon Z 7II), and I could use the adapter. The issue is that I dropped it, and the autofocus no longer works. I may try to see if I can manually focus for my purposes.

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

First week

This is about 1/3rd of the area - it is all completed now!!!

It has been one week since I set a goal to do 20 push-ups and 20 sit-ups upon waking each morning.  I have completed push-ups on all days, but on day 6, my stomach muscles said, "take a day off" for sit-ups, and I did.  This soreness was not just from the morning workout; I have also been lifting rocks from the rear yard, thoroughly cleaning the areas, placing new weed fabric, adding stepping stones, and then replacing the rocks.  This is so much WORK and a GREAT WORKOUT!

In other news, Shelley returned from visiting her dad in Lincoln, Nebraska, on Wednesday.  By 6:00 PM, he had forgotten she was there.  On Thursday, the care facility called and said his needs are beyond what he requires, and he must move.  He fell, and they do not have a way to lift him up without assistance from the fire department.  They do not have a Hoyer Lift, which would make lifting him easy with a single person, just the nurses.  

He is at the Legacy Arbors and moved there as they were to be a continuum of care, and he thought he would be there until deceased.  He paid over $10,000 a month for the service.  But I learned that if they cannot serve his needs (which is only helping him get up), they can force the move.  In addition, they require Shelley to pay $25 per hour, 24/7, for a personal assistant until his relocation. Once the cost of service increases, they force a move and justify it any way they can, is the impression I have concluded!  Now they can't force him out (but Sheyyey pays $600 more a day, or $18,000 a month until he does move), but they will find a place with an open bed, and then he has to go.  Areas with open beds are typically open for a reason; they are often the bottom of the barrel for a facility.   

Shelley left today to be the caregiver for 14 hours a day until he moves, which will decrease the cost for the mandated full-time care attendant to $250 a day, thereby saving $350 a day!

What I have learned is that the senior care business often prioritizes profit over care, or places where people do not care.  In my own experience with my mother, she was at a high-service facility, and we were paying $ 6,000 a month for minor assistance. She was miserable.  After thorough research and review, we found a place where she is happy, offering the same services in a larger unit for $1,900 less per month.  Unfortunately, there are so many profit-minded businesses that exploit seniors.  This is similar to daycares.  Greed at the expense of humans.  Sad reality!

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

This is HARD!

The landscape rock in the rear yard has remained untouched for 31 years.  It was filled with debris, and as Shelley ages, it is harder to walk around the house.  So it was time to redo the area and add stepping stones.  Although Shelley refused to use anything but the rock, that meant cleaning out the much.  After six weeks of looking at stepping stones, Shelley finally picked out the rocks, so the work could begin.  

I started to remove the rock and found about three or more inches of dirt under it that was filled with older rocks. At some point, I assume another layer of stones was added to cover the debris. So, I got the high-power blower, got down on my knees with a pick, and started loosening the dirt so I could blow it away from the rock. There must be a better way, but since this is the most conclusive, I proceeded.  

After 7 hours, I am 75 percent complete with rock cleaning and very fatigued.  As it is supposed to rain for the next two days, I will get a break before the final push for cleaning.  At that time, placing the stepping stones will be easy in comparison!

Additionally, starting yesterday, I decided to do 20 push-ups and 20 sit-ups each morning to start my day.  I was unable to do the push-ups unless I was on my knees, so that is how I started.  Although it has only been two days, the first week will be more challenging before it becomes routine.  

I am doing this because I read that it will burn calories and boost my metabolism.  Push-ups and sit-ups work multiple muscle groups at once and require a significant amount of energy expenditure. There should also be a substantial increase in upper and core body strength, primarily abs, chest muscles, shoulders, triceps, back, core, and leg muscles. Regularly performing sit-ups and push-ups should lead to stronger and more defined muscles in your upper body, allowing you to perform daily activities with greater ease and efficiency. Core stability is essential as I age. 

Wish me well.  Carry on my friends, carry on!

A waste of time?

After a day of rest following the Detroit Lakes Troll searching trip, we decided to attend the Smokin' in Steele BBQ and Blues Fest in Owatonna.  MN, which was scheduled to be held today and tomorrow.  As the website said, vendors open at 11:00 AM, we decided to head 50 miles south at 3:30 PM to arrive in time for the first free concert.  The concert was with Eden Brent from Greenville, Mississippi.  She is a blues pianist and vocalist who combines boogie-woogie blues, jazz, soul, gospel, and pop.  In 2006, she won the Blues Foundation International Blues Challenge.  In 2009, she won the Blues Music Awards for Acoustic Artist of the Year and Acoustic Album of the Year, as well as the Pinetop Perkins Piano Player in 2025.  At the 14th Annual Independent Music Awards in 2015, Eden Brent won the award in the "Holiday Song" category for "Valentine".  She has the credentials, and I enjoyed her talent.

What I did not enjoy was that there was no BBQ.  None of the contestants had started cooking, and besides the free Eden Brent concert, they had a $15 fee for the beer garden and additional music.  There were a few food trucks, and T-Mobile was the only non-food vendor.  One of the food trucks was a bad excuse for BBQ, while others had nothing to do with BBQ.  Overall, it was a wasted trip, and I am not sure I would recommend wasting anyone's time on the first day, nor am I sure if the second day is any better.

Since we were hungry and longed for good BBQ, we searched for any option on the way home.  We found a place called Smoke in Lonsdell, MN.  It was about 6 miles out of the way, but it had decent reviews.  It was scheduled to open just before the COVID pandemic hit in 2020.  That meant they were set for business, but since they were not opened in 2019, they did not qualify for any COVID aid under the Paycheck Protection Program.  Therefore, they needed to wait until the fall to start any service.  To make things worse, in 2021, the owner's wife had brain cancer.  It's a miracle this business has survived.  

We ordered the pulled pork sandwich with Mac and Cheese and the brisket sandwich with cornbread.  I am thrilled that the business survived COVID and all the hardships, as the meal was the best BBQ experience I have ever had in my entire life.  The service was outstanding, like you would expect in a small-town restaurant.  I could not recommend this location higher and will look to return when in the area.

So maybe the Smokin' in Steele BBQ and Blues Fest in Owatonna, Minnesota, being such a disappointment and letdown was good; otherwise, I would have never found Smoke Restaurant in Lonsdale, Minnesota.

Carry on my friends, Carry on! 

Been busy - short trip

I have been busy with spring cleaning, preparing the gardens, and attending to my mom's needs as needed.  I have had only a few bicycle rides, although I have been using the battery less and getting a better workout.   It was slow at 11.8 MPH, but I was pleased as there was 712 feet of climb.

Shelley's dad is becoming a greater responsibility and a source of stress for her. Being 360 miles away does not make it easy!  He is no longer able to care for himself, and she gets a call about an issue every other day from the care facility.  It is disheartening to see how quickly he has declined since turning 82.  I have under 20 years to that point, but I pray I do not reach a time in life that he is experiencing now.  Very depressing to see the life he and my mother have now, with the impacts of aging.

I just returned from Detroit Lakes, MN, where they have wooden trolls hidden in the woods.  You used clues to find the trolls.  Each troll provided a letter for an 8-letter word that served as a clue to find the Golden Rabbit.  The project was created by Project 412 to encourage people to get outside and enjoy the outdoors.  It was fun, but very exhausting for overweight senior citizens.  Here are some images of the journey!

 

Troll Alexa	Troll Alexa
Troll Ronny Funny Face	Troll Jacob Everear Troll Jacob Everear

Troll Barefoot Frida	The Golden Rabbit
Troll Ling Leif	Rugged trail

 

That is a short update!  Carry on my friends, carry on!

Tomorrow ...

 For some reason, the Jim Croce song "Tomorrow's Gonna Be a Brighter Day" has been in my head.  

And tomorrow's gonna be a brighter day

There's gonna be some changes

Tomorrow's gonna be a brighter day

This time you can believe me

No more cryin' in your lonely room

And no more empty nights

'Cause tomorrow mornin' everything will turn out right

I need to get back into a routine.  All that planning for Shelley's retirement and the related stress have been out of sorts.  

I have been so busy with yard projects.  It has appeared to be never-ending.  Minimal bike riding or other exercises.  I have removed buckthorn, replaced edging, removed several tree limbs, cleaned the porch, removed several cubic feet of old landscape material, mowed the lawn, and so much more.  Made me very sore and tired.  My right knee has been hurting, and the entire right leg has spasms.  I think it's sciatica, but the only pain is in the leg.  Been nagging me for weeks now!

Today, I woke up feeling stuck in a loop. It wasn’t a bad day — it wasn’t good either. Just one of those gray days where time slips away but nothing much happens. I go through the motions and check things off the list, but it all still feels hollow. I think we’ve all had those days where the burden of routine settles heavier on our shoulders than usual. More energy, more excitement, more meaning. But the thing is that it’s already over. We can’t rewrite it, fix it, or change it. All we can do is reflect on it and let it go.

Every day carries new potential. Tomorrow might bring a small victory or a moment of peace that today didn’t offer. Who knows? Perhaps tomorrow might be when I make some great connections, finish that project I’ve been putting off, or simply find a few minutes to breathe deeply and smile. Hoping for a better tomorrow does not mean sitting back and waiting for it to be one step ahead. It means believing that things can change with effort, reflection, and maybe a bit of luck. It means waking up with the commitment to make tomorrow a little better, no matter how small that ray of brightness may break through.

I have also been concerned with my anemia.  My cardiac Physician believes my blood loss may be heart-related, since all other internal bleeding issues have been eliminated.  On June 11, I will have a 2-hour scan to see if indeed it is heart-related.  If it is, I'm unsure what to do, and I hope they find the cause.  Seven years with no answer is way too long!

I was invited to photograph the child of Shelley's second cousin at their softball game. That was fun, and I am pleased with the outcome. Some images are below.

 

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

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