Man Cave

OK, no post about the chinaman virus today, I promise.  I'm pretty sure you hear enough of that.  I have been very busy this week working on completely redoing my office/hobby room.  It's not really a man cave per se from what I have seen that others have.  I just have one of my Sons old bedrooms i have converted for my use.  I have my pc and my leather work area.  I have desks for both.  The one that the computer sits on is a monstrosity I salvaged from the oldest Son when he moved out 20 years ago.  It's big and takes up a lot of room and becomes a catch all because I have lazy moments.  The leather work desk is an old small desk and is ugly as sin.  Especially with all the leather dyes having left their marks along with all the cutting, pounding and sliding around of various leather tools.  The computer desk is being dismantled and will be disposed of, piece by piece in the trash.  The leather desk will get some sanding and some paint.  'K' says she will do that for me.  I picked up another desk for free from a friend.  It is just a regular size desk but heavy.  It will get some rehab too before it is placed in the room.

Most of this week has centered on prepping the room for paint and new flooring.  The carpet has been ripped out.  Everything has been removed from the walls except an antique deer head that was killed by my Grandfather down around Tilden.  Whoever mounted that thing back in 1952 did an excellent job.  It still looks great.  No deterioration like you see on a lot of old head.  Fur is still intact and looks great.  

I would like to find another spot for it but it will most likely stay where it is.  Doesn't fit in with 'K's" decor if you know what I mean.  For those that may want to know, that's an 11 point 24" outside spread.  

I am trying a new paint scheme.  Two tone is what I call it.  The floors will get a vinyl planking like we have in our bedroom.  That will take me longer to do.  I want to take it slow and not wreck my back.   

All this to tell you I may be out of pocket for a few extra days.  I have already relocated my PC but it will come down eventually while I paint and then move on to the floor.   Hopefully I can keep from hurting myself.

Happy Trails

Day 65 +\- of the Chinamen Kung Flu Liberty Stealing Virus

I am so ready for things to get back to normal.  Yet I still would prefer that everyone take precautions.  I have a lot of back and forth thoughts on this.  However, I am definitely ready to have my liberties back from those that so easily took them.  It's totally my responsibility to see that I stay healthy, not anyone else.  Yet I don't trust Joe Public to have the same concern for others that I would have.  

As this goes on the susceptibility issues I have to this Chinese Kung Flu seem to increase every week.  A new discovery is made about this virus every week that makes those that have it more vulnerable to a severe reaction, mostly death.  I started out with 3 and am now up to 5 issues if I haven't missed any.  I don't know if all the surgeries I have had over the last 5 years makes any difference, but I don't feel near as strong as my previous self before those surgeries.  So I have been vacillating on what I want to do if everything is opened back up, just how that will affect my approach.  Don't get me wrong, I think we should be able to decide for ourselves, not some government official or some health care talking head.  Just give me the info and let me decide what risks to take.  I also am getting mighty tired of seeing that one particular epidemiologist guy trying to run the country, I don't think he was on any ballots.

I did finally get into to the doctors office for my much delayed annual physical.  I couldn't see my doctor as he isn't seeing any patients except by video, so it wouldn't be a physical just a check up.  However his extremely competent FNP was available and I opted for her.  I just didn't feel like I should put it off any longer.  I did ask why my regular doctor wasn't seeing patients and she was.  It appears that it's a difference of opinions on the risk factor to themselves.  My doctor thinks the risk is too great to see patients in person at this time but the FNP thinks the risks can be mitigated.  Hooray for her.  That's how I think about how I will approach the future once they open the cage door.  Mitigate the risk as I see fit.  

Wow it seems this is all about health this time.  'K' is having a bout with her diverticulitis again.  Happens about once a year now.  She gets a little nervous with all she went through a couple years ago when her intestines ruptured. And this always seems to happen on the weekend and night so we have to wait to call the doc or get meds.  We got a call in to her gastro doc very early Monday and he sent out some antibiotics and it is getting better but it's slow.  We caught it just about the time she started having fever.  She was ready to go to the ER until I reminded her what the doc said last time.  No spike in fever = no ER.  But I know she gets a little scared and that freaks me out some.  Yes, it hurts her and then me.

Well this is getting longer than I intended so I'll shut it down for now.  Stay safe.

Happy Trails

This Would Be Great

I ran across this article on Yahoo, the other day.: 

https://www.yahoo.com/news/game-changing-prostogram-takes-fear-021547756.html

It makes detecting Prostate Cancer much less invasive.  The only question I have is in regard to a biopsy.  Will it eliminate the need for that?  It doesn't say.  I know a lot of men opt not to go to the doctor for prostate issues due to the invasive rectal exam.  You think it's bad for you?  Think how bad it is for the doctor.  Exactly.

Anyway, the biopsy being eliminated would be game changing.  Although too late for me now, knowing what it is I can say, be very grateful if they can eliminate it.  I had the wrong idea of how the biopsy worked, no one I knew had had one.  At least not anyone that said they did.  Man, was that a shock to the system.  The most humbling, embarrassing medical test I ever had.  I can't think of any that could be worse for a man.

Happy Trails

Monday Update Day 58+\-

Ugh, I was finishing up a long post and I hit something on the keyboard and everything went away.  That has happened more times than I can remember.  I still don't know what I hit. Maybe it is how this keyboard is configured.  It seems a little smaller and I used to use one of those ergonomic ones and along with my fat old man fingers...

Just crawled down from the roof for the second time in a couple weeks.  Caulked and painted the bad spots on the chimney (it's wood).  So hopefully that will last until we hire a painter/carpenter that will paint the entire house and replace some bad wood and siding.  The first trip up was to sweep off the roof valleys of all the oak tassels.  I also found where the coons have been having a party on the back side of the chimney.  There was quite a pile a scat and a fresh urine trail running down the roof.  I guess not having a dog using the back yard daily may be letting them think they are safe to party.  I don't know why else they find it a place to do their business.

I will start another project today.  I want to get my office/man cave more organized.  I will rip out the 34 year old carpet, paint everything with a new paint scheme and lay some vinyl plank flooring.  I will get rid of this giant old cheap computer desk, and replace it with a regular desk, a used one.  I will also have to reduce the foot print of all the leather work things I have in their since I rarely do that any more.  Although I recently finished a piece for a friend as a gift.

We lost a very close and dear friend this past Sunday morning.  It still weighs heavy.  She was one of 'K's' very close friends.  She lost her 8/9 year battle with breast cancer.  She had inspired me when I was dealing with my cancer.  Her attitude and approach to life was how I wanted to be.  We have lost many close to us over the last 7 years, this one is hard.  I pray for her husband, my good and very close friend.  

Happy Trails

50 Days In

We plan to head to the grocers today.  I have been hearing that HEB, the largest grocer in Texas and the one we use, has now started limits on meat.  Two meats.  We passed on picking up more meat at Costco last week which now seems to be a mistake.  We are getting down to the last of the fresh meat we have.  Leftover brisket we froze, a very large venison backstrap, a couple small packages of sausage, one pack of hotdogs.  I thought we had more.  That's enough to last a week or more, depends on how much drive thru we do.  I like to have more on hand so we don't have a limited variety.  We will try to game the system by each of us splitting the list and getting the limit on meats for each of us.  Not sure if that includes bacon.  Costco was out of bacon so we are getting very low.  One package doesn't last a week so not sure we can get enough.  We may make another stop at Costco while we are out and see if they have restocked.  Would love to have a nice Ribeye but if we are limited that won't fly, we need things that last more than one meal.  We have plenty of canned food as an option for meats.

I am getting tired of this 'lockdown' more each week, as I am sure most are.  The limiting of meat concerns me.  No, I am not stressing over it like I see others are on FB and other social media platforms.  I have one distant cousin this is causing some major depression issues for.  I worry about that, and I admit I don't understand it but do have compassion for her.  I'm sure it's bad for many others, I hope and pray they can manage through.

We need to get by to see my Mother again in the near future.  She sounds like she is doing well.  We will offer to run errands for her before we arrive as usual but she generally turns us down as she isn't prepared with a list of things she needs.  

Happy trails