FIESTA!

Fiesta starts this Thursday in San Antonio.  I don't do Fiesta anymore.  It gets way too crowded and parking is impossible to find, but if you do luck out and find a place in a lot, be ready to shell out big $$.  I haven't been in over 20 years.  The last time I did that was when I marched in the vangaurd as a Confederate Soldier.  That was back when it wasn't politically incorrect to portray one.  I was part of a group that did living history and we were tasked with being in the Fiesta Flambeau parade.  If your not familiar with the Flambeau it is the huge night parade that signifies the end of Fiesta.  I couldn't pass that up plus it was good exposure for our small group.  Back then, they said it drew over 300,000 people downtown to watch it.  Talk about your parking nightmare.  I'm sure the numbers are much higher now.  When I was a kid you could just drive down there and walk to a spot along the route and set up your lawn chairs and watch a great parade.  Not anymore.  If you want to watch it live, you have to pay for a seat well in advance.  It was pretty warm that evening I marched.  Had some major trouble with the heat and was stumbling by the time we got to the end.  Those wool uniforms were very good at causing you to overheat.

Met with the Pain doc and he wants to shoot me with another steroid shot.  I will take him up on that.  He thinks there is a possibility that my fall that broke all those ribs might have affected the work he did prior.  He says the next abalation will work better and hopefully longer but he can't perform it until we are six months out.  I am a leaning toward another try with that then.

We have been trying to catch up on some of the yard work.  Both of us are not getting much done due to our various ailments.  But it's getting done.  WE are just too much DIYer's to give up yet.

Happy Trails

Monday Updates

My new crown was installed fairly easily.  Although removing the temporary crown felt like they were going to uproot what was left.  Not comfortable at all but I am glad to have it done and it seems to be fine, although I am experiencing some major sensitivity to hot/cold.  I assume it has to do with making the crown fit and has made the other teeth move some and expose whatever is reacting.  Sensodine has not worked yet.  But I am truly thankful for this dentist.  I never knew that my previous was as bad as we have learned.

I am still struggling with stamina although I can get through my walk fairly well now.  I still need to increase the number of days I walk.  I got 4 in this last week and hope to get to 5/6 this week.  I did get the front and back yards cut but I really need to weed eat.  That part is out of control but is a real chore right now.

I sent a message to the Pain Doc through the portal about the ablation seeming to have failed.  He wants me to come in to talk about it. So I have an appointment early Friday moring.  When that part acts up it is somewhat worse than before but not as often.  In the past, it was mostly when I was in bed that it bothered me.  Now it's anytime and I can't determine what it is that sets it off.  And the only time it bothers me in bed is when it was acting up before hand.  I'm not sure I can tell him what set if off like I did before because those things haven't been in play.  I an curious what he will tell me.

Sorry about all the 'woe is me' posts that seem to have been going on forever.  I hope I can get over this hump so it is not so prominent in my mind.   But I guess pain does that to you.  And I know it gets old for people to listen to an old man talk about his health issues.  I remember from my younger days.  I don't generally talk about it with anyone else unless they ask.   

And some good news?

I have a big milepost coming up this July.  It will be 10 years (actually 9 and a half) the way the doctor numbers it, since my prostate cancer surgery.  Lord willing if the blood test results are consistent with all the previous tests they will release me and I won't be having to see him anymore.  Although he did advise me to get a PSA test whenever I have a physical just to be sure there is no return.  That's pretty easy to do.

Happy Trails

Easter Weekend

I hope everyone had a great Easter.  Ours went well.  Glad it's over.  Doing all that cooking and getting ready was a chore this time.  Too many aches and pains and all that work tends to aggravate it.  We need to find an easier solution.  I'm afraid the solution would be to not have it here, which I don't like at all.  I think we should turn it into a pot luck deal.  I'm just afraid we would wind up with no meats or pasta lol.  The baby back ribs turned out pretty well it seems.  Everyone said they liked them.  IMO they were just OK.  They were a little dry to me but much meatier.  To little fat, I think, to keep them as moist as they should have been.  I am my harshest critic in what I turn out from my BBQ pit.  I can't seem to just enjoy it, I am always evaluating what went wrong and what I could do better. 

Mom did come to our Easter lunch.  We picked her up on our way from church.  She lost track of time and when I called to tell her we would be there in 20 minutes she freaked out lol.  But she somehow managed to get almost ready by the time we got there.  She had a pretty good grasp of her faculties and we had a good visit.

I will be heading out to get my crown installed this morning.  Yes, they are making me King.  Then the day is free if I ignore all the things I need to do out in the yard.  I am so far behind due to being inoperative from my ribs it has become daunting.  But I am determined to get it done myself and not have to hire someone.  Along with my low stamina and the ribs letting me know they don't like what I am doing, and my neck abaltion has apparently failed it has becomemuch more challenging.  That is very disappointing.  It was supposed to last one to two years and it's not quite three months.  But it is certain I won't go through that again with such a short time of relief.

I'm off to cook breakfast.

Happy Trails

Running Late-BBQ-Pain Doc

I'm running late posting today.  No excuses, I just forgot.  Seems that is happening a lot more lately.  Maybe the old brain is overworked.  Well that's my story...

I got an Amazon Fire Stick the other day.  I never really wanted one since I already have a Smart TV and all the apps I wanted.  However, this TV is several years old, not sure exactly how old, at least 5, probably more.  It seems Samsung in all their wisdom has quit updating it and there are quite a few apps that I don't have access to that I am interested in.  Some will require a subscription, some are free.  I've messed around with it a little.  It will need some tweaking.  It runs darker on the screen than I have the TV set for and there are no adjustments within the app to lighten it.  My very tech savy Son has clued me in on how to adjust it, I may try that today.  

This coming Sunday the family will be here to hunt Easter Eggs if that rabbit doesn't get chased off by the pups.  I will BBQ some baby back ribs andcook a pot of pintos.  Other sides will have to be brought by the others.  Pork Ribs are the most cost effective way to feed the whole crew and it solves the 'no beef' person issue easily.  I get asked to cook ribs pretty often.  They are not my favorite, actually any pork is just ok to me, preferring beef.  That's the main reason I don't cook then often.  But I have been told by quite a few, they have never tasted any better.  So I don't really mind cooking them and they are pretty easy.  I will try a different rub this time.  I'm going more for an 'al pastor' style pork.  

I have my echo cardiogram this coming Friday.  Nothing exciting is expected to be found.  It's just to confirm the cardiologists conclusions on my heart murmur, that there is nothing to worry about.

I also need to go see my pain doc again.  It seems the ablation of my neck nerves that should have lasted 1-2 years has failed.  I am experiencing some of the worst neck pain I have had in the past.  I am not sure I want to go through all that again with it lasting only 2-3 months.  It took almost 2 months of pain for it to actually work and the procedure was extremely unpleasant.  I will just have to visit with him and see what would be his next step.  I guess it would be a referal to a surgeon.  Something that I am now considering as very possible.  But I want my primary care doc to weigh in first.  Lots of things for me to think about in the near future.  

Happy Trails

Dental and Taxes

Paying Taxes like pulling teeth or vice versa.

I've been dealing with a cracked tooth for just over a year.  Dentist hadn't been able to see it with or without X-Rays.  It just wasn't big enough to detect.  I wasn't real sure which tooth it was for sure.  When it hurt, it hurt mostly all over that side of my mouth.  Back in December I must have broken a chip off of it because I could feel a roughness where there wasn't before and any pain I had when I bit down was centered on one tooth.  At my visit for cleaning back in February I brought that to his attention again.  He could actually see it this time.  Got me scheduled for a crown.  The initial visit for that was last Wednesday.  I never had a crown before, unless oyou call an implant a crown.  I knew there would have to be grinding, but with and angle grinder?!?  JK.  I'm not gonna lie, I was nervous for this visit and I don't get nervous about things like this usually.  Of course it wasn't as bad as I had imagiined and he got it done pretty quickly.  Less than 45 mins.  Now I have a temporary crown and will get the premanent one on April 1.  Glad I got most of it done.  It already has stopped bothering me.  I am so glad to have found this dentist.  

I also got my taxes for 2023 done.  I have been using Turbotax for years and still do.  This time I just filed for the standard deduction.  We haven't been able to file using itemized since 'K' lost her job back in 2008, except when she had major surgery.  I was able to finish filing in less than an hour this time instead of stretching it out over a couple days.  Less hair pulling and getting aggravated.  We still have to pay.  

When you use Turbo Tax they give you your pecentage of tax you paid.  It always shocks me how low ours is.  A flat 10% tax rate would more than double what we have to pay.  And again, we have no deductions, we just use the standard deduction.  Not complaining.

Happy trails

Over Worked and a Few Other Things.

We got the two bedrooms swapped around by the time the new bed arrived Friday.  'K' did most of it due to me still not being able to get much done due to my rib injury.  However I had to step in Thursday and Friday to move a few things.  One being taking down our old bed and moving it to the other room.  We set itup the next day to spit up the burden.  Today I am paying the price even though it wasn't that big of job.  

Part of the package of our new bed purchase included set up.  I can't tell you how much I am glad it did.  That bed is super heavy.  We got a bed with a mototized frame in order to raise the head.  Now that we are getting so much older we will be needing that.  And I have needed that already with my injury.

This bed is pretty cool.  It's a Smart Bed.  We can adjust the firmness and it keeps track of how you sleep and sends that info to an app on your phone.  It can tell when you wake up and are restless and when you get out of bed.  I asked if they installed cameras to be able to tell that.  They thought it funnier than it sounds here. And when you get out of bed it has a motion detector that turns on an LED light under the bed.  That light is really helpful in our super dark room.  It stays on until you get back in bed.  Oh and none of that is free.  It's a Sleep Number brand, it's what we had and moved to the other room.  There should be less adjustment to a new bed than there was last time.  First night wasn't what I had hoped for.

We met up at our favorite taco shop Saturday morning with an old friend that now lives in Amarillo.  Spent a couple hours catching up and getting to know her new husband.  It appears they are well matched.  She deserves it.  It was very emotional for her and 'K.'  It was a great visit.

I am back on duty at church.  I am not sure I remember if I mentioned what I do there every Sunday.  Suffice it to say, I am a 'Greeter.'  Standing and moving around for three hours amd opening doors for everyone can be hard for an old man with messed up ribs.  I have eased back into it gradually.  Last Sunday we had a young man or older teen riding a bicycle through our parking lot taking photos of the church and of our sign with times on it.  I got hyper alert and alerted the others due to all the attacks on churches, and a couple recently.  The way he was dressed, especially his 'head cover' and other things made my alarm bells go off.  I challenged him, he didn't answer and rode off a little faster.  I wasn't the only one that noticed.  Nothing we could really do since he broke no laws.  But that wasn't enough for one lady.  Me telling her we were aware didn't phase her.  She needed to tell everyone on the team what she saw and how creepy it was.  Who else she told I don't know.  Bothering our PD would not be fruitful.  We don't want to worry a lot of people needlessly but I can sympathise with her.   Needless to say I will be even more alert in the near future.

Happy Trails

More Doctors, More Honey Do's and more

During my hospital stay back in January the attending physician was concerned about a heart murmur.  I have known about it since 1996 when they discovered I had diabetes.  The cardiologist at the time said it was so small that my primary care physicians probably could not hear it.  So I never worried about it nor did any of my other doctors.  Apparently it has gotten bigger/louder.  So, Tuesday I have an appointment with a cardiologist, supposedly to get some sort of test to detemine which valve it is.  My primary care doctor wasn't worried about it but agreed to refer me.  Last Monday I got a random message about my blood pressure from my primary.  What?  I don't really check it much as it is usually rather low normal.  My pressure reading were pretty high with those requested checks, nothing dangerous but high none the less.  So, now I expect the cardiologist will run more tests etc. 

We, (K mostly) is preparing for a new bed we bought.  This will entail getting rid of one and moving another into the other room.  It will move into 'K's' craft room.  It's full of her stuff.  This is an opprtune time to remove the carpet and replace it with flooring we have installed ourselves in two other rooms.  Plus the moving of all her junk and 5 plus book cases out of and back in the smallest room we have.  Well I am not able at this time in my reovery to lift and move furniture or get on my knees and install flooring.  She is working at getting things sorted.  But the flooring will have to wait and get it done a piece at a time.  I won't bore you with the 'how' we have agreed on.  It's going to be a 'fun' time I'm sure.  

Snickers is doing great it seems and doesn't seem to have any effects from the meds he is taking.  We will take him in for monthly blood tests on his liver to see how it is healing and adjustment of meds.  I am not sure if the blood tests will ease over time or if this is a monthly thing long term...$$

OK, this is getting long so I will shut up now

Happy Trails

What Else is Coming This Year?

While I was down with my fractured ribs we also had to have a biopsy on one if our pups, Snickers.  

 

Last year we had some blood tests run during his annual visit.  They noted some odd numbers with his liver.  But they said things like this can happen with young dogs but they would want to watch it.  So we get the tests done again during this years visit.  Same thing, some not good numbers with his liver.  They said they should do a biopsy ($$) in order to really find out what was going on.  It was an all day affair for the little guy.  While examining him during the biopsy they found his spleen was 4 times the size it should be and it had calcifications.  They had some ideas but really needed the results of the biopsy to be sure,  The results just came back, not good news.  They had guessed Chagas disease along with something else I don't remember.  It turns out that he has hepatitis and this is what affected his spleen and has caused an autoimmune disease.  So he will be taking a couple meds daily until the the inflammation recedes.  It will take some adjusting of meds until they find the right balance.  This will be a lifelong thing for him.  He will be more susceptible to infection.  But the vet is confident that this was the best outcome they could have hoped for.    So we are going with that outlook.  

This year has started out pretty rough.  But 'it ain't no hill for a stepper' as my grandmother used to say.

Happy Trails

4 Weeks

I am up and around a bit more since my fall.  Went to church for the first time in over a month.  That was great and good for my outlook.  Didn't try to make the entire 3 hours, figured that would be way too much for my ribs to tolerate.  The pews, I find, are much too uncomfortable for me normally and certainly would be with a bunch of hurt ribs.  I was able to tolerate the main service pretty well.

While I was in the hospital 'K' was running the show by herself.  Her CRV started dying on her

at every stop light.  It had been running a little rough for awhile and we ignored it.  She didn't even bother me with it.  I guess being in so much pain she knew I couldn't try to work on it and it would just worry me.  So she managed to get it to a garage and get it fixed up.  It wasn't cheap but now it runs like a new car.  While it was there I told her to have them replace the spark plugs that I had tried to do once but passed on when I saw how Honda does them.  Probably spent about half what the car costs but it's paid for and we can keep on driving it without adding a new car expense.  We were looking at a Tacoma until we saw that the dealers are adding 5k to the sticker price.  NOPE!  I can't imagine anyone would pay that.  

I may try to cut the grass in the back yard this week.  The winter grasses (weeds) have exploded with all the rain we have had and it looks pretty nasty.  We almost can't see the dogs when they are out there LOL.  I don't anticipate any trouble doing that with my ribs, they are doing pretty well.  

I don't have much else.

Happy Trails

Three Weeks

Today marks three weeks since I broke myself.  Three weeks of near constant pain.  Pain that is now getting to be much more manageable thankfully.  This morning is the best morning that I have had since I fell.  I even made breakfast for us both but that wore me out.  After being virtually off my feet for those three weeks I have zero stamina.  I hope to start trying to get some of that back this week by walking a bit down the street and back.  Nothing stupid that's for sure.  I may try to get 'K' to drive me around a bit just to get out of the house and see something different than the cieling and the TV.  My appetite is starting to return a little too.  This is all much earlier than the doc preditcted, 4-6 weeks.  I am thankful.  I am not off all pain relievers.  Tylenol and Ibuprofen are around the clock for the most part.  I haven't taken any of the narco stuff in a couple days or more.  I do have a muscle relaxer I take at bedtime and that helps with the sleep.  All in all encouraging progress.

My thoughts have been turning to this blog of late.  Even with all this time on my hands I have struggled to write about anything other than my injury.  I started this blog almost ten years ago to document my for myself my battle with prostate cancer.  I posted nearly every day at the start and now I struggle to get once a week up.  This December will mark the 10th anniversary of my cancer surgery that literally cured me.  I will have another appointment with the urologist this July.  It appears they will release me then.  One less doctor appointment.  But he did caution me to have my PSA checked annually anyway.  Which may seem strange since I have no prostate, why would I need that test?  The cancer also produces whatever that test detects and would signal a possible return of the cancer.  As you can see, even though they say I am cured, they will NOT say it won't return.  It is less likely to this far into the game now and will be less likely each year but never say never.

Oh, and as far as my intentions with the blog.  I will probably cease writing it soon.  No set date, I am still attached to it I guess and can't say goodbye yet but it will probably happen this year.  I will let you know when it does, I won't leave you hanging.  

Happy Trails

Short Update

I am improving since my fall on the driveway.  Still pretty painful at times but I have been able to use less and less meds.  I think all those meds were messing with my guts on top of all that.  So my appetite has taken a big hit.  Nothing tastes or even sounds good to eat.  

We have a new pharmacy plan with my medicare insurance.  They have not been very quick to get meds filled.  They tell you that it takes an average of 10 days (once they actually accept the prescription-which can be several days) for the prescription to ship.  I am waiting on several related to my fall that were ordered the 22nd.  They just now shipped.  Not sure how long that will take to get here.  Most of the meds are pain meds that I am now out of.  Fortunately I am not feeling as much pain and am able to get by.  I don't have much choice.

I haven't been very mobil and my attention span is very short due to the discomfort.  The blog suffers bcause of it.  I am so looking forward to just a ride in the car for a short bit.  I still can't drive yet.  Too much stress in the broken bones.  

Happy Trails

What a Week

I have been absent for bit.  Momday the 23rd we had another ice storm.  Not real big but big enough.  I had a doctor appointment that afternoon and it was supposed to be thawed out by then in order for me to make the appointment.  So I do the usual thing I do every ice storm we have ever had.  Check it for ice.  It's on a pretty good slope.  If there is any significant ice on the driveway, we can't go anywhere.  This looked like we might have a chance.  Until I stepped on the driveway with both feet.  Next was like a Saturday cartoon.  Both feet went up in the air over my head.  While in the air I had time to tell myself...self, this is gonna hurt, ribs are going to get broken, elbow will get broken, don't hit your head.  After the dust cleared from between my ears about 2 hours later I knew I couldn't get by without a little chemical help.  Even breathing was very painful.  Off to the ER.  Enter on Monday, came home Friday.  

You may be asking, what can they do for broken ribs?  Literally nothing unless you have a punctured lung.  It boils down to pain management.  Finding the right mixture of drugs to work well enough I can function a bit.  Not pain free, mind you, just well enough to get in and out of bed or a chair and use the toilet and shower.  It also turns out that being a red head has some effect on pain meds.  I read about this before but it was confirmed with this hospital stay.  Redheads have some sort of enzyme that inhibits certain pain meds.  I also had a reaction to morphine.  They finally got it down to three meds, Oxysomething, gabaotherthing, sillysomething.  I'm sorry I can't remember the correct words with all they were pumping in me, I turned all that over to 'K'.  

I couldn't wait to get home.  But once home and getting settled in we both were thinking it was too soon.  Just figuring out ways to do things were the biggest challenge but we have over come most of that and I feel much better most of the day.  Night time is still a major issue.  It seems when I get tired of sitting around and those ribs get very grouchy and let me know it.  Once I get in bed and settled it can be pretty good.  Getting up is another story.  They say it will be 4-6 weeks before I get close to normal.  It's just a very slow painful process.  I hope those Oxycosomething doesn't run out.

Pray for 'K'

Happy Trails

First Freeze

Monday is supposed to be the first freeze at my house for this season.  While others in the area have had theirs already, we have not.  All this week the weather guessers have been breathlessly proclaiming the bad weather headed our way.  They are quick to point out that it won't be anywhere close to the Smowmageddon we had in 2021.  That has become a measuring point for them and most anyone else who went through that.  My Mother mentions it every time she hears there will be a freeze.  She was without power for several days until my cousin was able to get to her and bring her to her house.  She said you could see your breath inside her house.  That's much too cold for a 90 year old living alone.  We could not get there due to the roads.  She is more relaxed about it now that she lives where she does now.  

Anyway, I have been making a few minor preps to the hose bibs and outdoor plants.  It is supposed to get into the teens in the mornings for three days.  That requires the preps here.  We rarely get that cold.  But then this is the third year in a row.  Climate change anyone?  We are also supposed to get a wintry mix of preceptation early Monday morning and rain prior to that.  So the roads will most likely be a frozen slick mess.  Great timing for the doctor appointments I have early Monday and Tuesday.  They will most likely get rescheduled at the last moment once we see how bad the roads are.  One is a fasting lab so that is a morning must.  The other not so much.  

Had my last appointment with the Pain Specialist.  He and I are both pleased at the results.  I will check in with him in a year.  Hopefully it lasts that long and longer.  I will have to think long and hard about doing it again but I am sleeping better without any pain meds which is what we were hoping for.  

Happy Trails

Weekebd Fun

We were headed to church yesterday and the Explorer acted weird.  It rolled out of the garage fine and then jerked into gear (thought it was in gear) and a warning icon for the drive train popped up.  I backed out of the driveway and put it in Drive and it would just barely creep along and then BAM! it jerked into gear again and the warning icon went out.  What?  We went on to church.  I did a quick internet search and most of the returns told of a wiring harness or heat sensor for the transmission.  I called Ford this morning, and they said if the light went off and it's not doing it they can't tell me anything even if we brought it in.  I figured as much.  They want me to bring it in right away if the it does it again, 'and the warning light is on.'  If they can't read a code they won't even try to fix it.  One of the reasons from what I read is that the grill and radiator have to be removed to access that sensor.  So I get it.  They don't want to perform any work that they don't have at least some indication of what it wrong.  I miss the days of less complicated vehicles.  Most of the repairs were replace a part until you find what's wrong.  But usually we had an idea what it was since they were so simple to diagnose and work on.  I freaked 'K' out by telling her we should take it and trade it in on a Tacoma.  I wasn't really kidding.  But Toyota is jacking around with adding 5K to the sticker prices down here.  I hear that may be happening everywhere.  Are they trying to go out of business?  I don't know of anyone that will buy a car with that going on.  

I also have to have a plumber out.  I have a leak from the expansion tank on my hot water heater.  Not sure if it has failed or it's just a random leak.  While they are here, I will get them to fix a leakey faucet.  Hopefully it's just cartridges but it's been there for 30+ years with extremely hard water and it's not easy to get to if it has to be changed.  So I will let the experts deal with it.  They will be here Tuesday.

So, how was your weekend?

Happy Trails

Happy New Year 2024-Resolutions?

We went to bed early last night, somewhere between 10:30 and 11.  No partying for us.  Which is pertty normal.  We aren't partying folks, at least I'm not.  Plus, none of our friends are either, so we don't get invited to any.  I am fine with that.  Even the massive amount of fireworks that happens around us was subdued thankfully.  We live out in the county so there are no regulations on fireworks.  Our neighbors usually go all out with them and must invite all their friends with the amount we usually hear.  We were not awakened by them this time.  We usually stay up till midnight when most of them are set off because we know there will be NO sleeping.  Thankfully our pups don't freak out from them like every other dog we have had.  If you have dogs you will know that is a blessing.

Do you make resolutions?  We don't.  I have tried and failed in the past.  In my younger years, one of my aunts was surprised that I didn't and told me we all need to take stock of our lives and make improvements to be better.  So I was humbled into doing it.  After a few years of trying and realizing how silly it was I quit.  I also realized that my religious beliefs pretty much caused me to do that all year long.  Not so much resolutions, but becoming a more godly person.  Yes, I fail that too, but that is the beauty of the repentance and forgiveness we are offered through the blood of Jesus.  We can be for given through true repentance.  Well enough preaching for today.  

I hope you all have a great and happy new year.  The last 3 have been pretty rough in our country and I am not sure much will change this year but I always pray for that and only work on the things I can control.  I guess if I have a real resolotion it would be to do just that and not worry about the things I have no control over and put them in God's hands.

Happy Trails