Cardiologist Report

First, the bad news - "You (meaning me) could lose some weight." 

"And knock a few points off your (meaning me) cholesterol."

"And wear your compression stockings."  (Mine are full of runs and holes at the moment)

Next, his reply to my response to the question about my exercise program - "I would rather see you (meaning me) doing regular exercises instead of digging holes for planting huge trees."

On the other hand, "You (meaning me) are doing well.  No fluid problems in the legs and the heart is strong,"

But, "I (meaning my doctor) would like to run a couple of ultrasound tests just to make sure."

And just like that, it was over and we headed for home via a lunch stop at Saltgrass Steak House.  We both ordered salads.

Guess what's for dinner tonight... Nothing. 

The Plot Thickens

We humans are accustomed to dealing with threats of all kinds, including many that we create ourselves. 

Most of the time we get some sort of break between them, but not always. 

Such is the case now.  And I say "now" because things are seemingly happening faster than usual.

It was only a few months ago that we heard that some very large areas of Earth were being 'plagued' once again with locusts after their17 years of hibernation.  Entire crops in some countries were wiped out in a single day. 

At about the same time, the Chinese introduced us to a new coronavirus that was later dubbed, COVID-19.  Within a few short weeks, the entire world was irreversibly changed as people began to distance themselves from each other for fear of contracting the virus.  It still continues to decimate the economy, infect millions, and kill thousands of people with no end in sight.

Earthquakes and fires, political instability, and riots seemed to take advantage of the chaos.  And now we have a growing danger of a tropical disturbance in Central America turning into a major storm that could grow into a hurricane.  We will know more in a couple of days.

Meanwhile, on a smaller, more personal scale, we discovered a poisonous water moccasin right where Judy was trimming shrubs.  It's the first actual snake 'threat' we've had since moving here almost three years ago. 

About the only thing left to add more challenges to us is for some idiot to start a war.

Coronavirus Update

As of yesterday, May 15, 2020

According to the Louisiana Department of Health, 33,837 coronavirus cases have been reported in the state. There have also been 2,382 COVID-19 deaths recorded.

Neither Judy nor I were among them.  Today is starting off well.

Meanwhile, the Governor has lifted some of the precautions.

Louisiana moved to Phase One under the White House COVID-19 guidance yesterday, Friday, May 15, which removes the Stay at Home order for Louisianans and allows additional businesses to open under strict occupancy, protection, and social distancing guidelines, Gov. John Bel Edwards announced Monday. High-risk individuals should continue to stay at home, except for essential activities, like getting food or medical care.

Given that Judy and I are considered 'high-risk individuals' due to our age, we plan to stay at home as much as possible.  We both feel 'worn down' from the continuing threat from the virus and from the political games being played at our expense, including the White House's constant issuing of false or premature information about treatment and prevention.

To keep us busy, Judy has her stained glass and I have a couple of woodworking projects in the works.  I just wish I had more energy to do them.

I checked my temperature yesterday using one of the digital under-the-tongue thermometers and it showed me to be 96.1°.  Four subsequent checks showed me to be 96.5°, 96.7°, and 97.1°, all within about ten minutes' time.  I knew something was wrong, so I read the booklet that came with the thermometer to see if there was a way to calibrate the thermometer.  All it said was to "calibrate every two years.'  But it gave no instructions as to how I should do it.

So I checked the warranty and discovered it has a lifetime warranty.  That was a surprise, so I called the 800 number and a nice lady asked a few questions and determined that it was defective.  Another one will be in the mail free of charge.  Another plus for a seemingly, mostly negative period in our lives.

And my blood pressure was 122/45 this morning. 

I think it's going to be a really good day.

Made it!!! Yes... Another Year Older

In spite of the threat of catching the popular COVID-19 coronavirus and dying before my time is up, here I am alive and well two days after my 79th birthday.  Yes, I've started working on being 80.

That being said, the DNA in me that regulates 'patience' is becoming a bit frayed from having to defend myself from COVIDE-19 exposure at every level, including in my own home.

Meanwhile, the government is compounding the issue with politically and stupidally (to coin a phrase) bad and confusing leadership.  But I've learned to ignore them in favor of common sense - avoid being around people or things, and washing my hands many times a day.

But, May 8th was a long-scheduled birthday party for my sister-in-law and me (we both celebrate the same birthday together for over 45 years).  Only this time it would have to be very low key and brief.



So we decided to have a Birthday Lunch at our house for just the four of us - her Sweetie and my Sweetie.  No other family, friends, or neighbors.

We kept our distance as best we could and had a great time.

I actually made a brief video of it.

Joyce and Leroy's Birthday

Leading Causes of Death in America According to the CDC

With the Coronavirus running amuck amongst us the topic of death and dying certainly raises its ugly head.  So when I saw this article about what the leading causes of death are in America, it got my attention.  I'm sharing my thoughts and the links to the data below.  It's interesting reading.

Sad News About a Friend - Blair T. Hill

We just learned that a long-time friend and fellow Egghead died in a fire at his home in Fort Myers, Florida on 4-27-20. He was unable to get out and perished in the fire. A neighbor heard him call for help but the fire was too hot to get inside to help him.

Blair "Gator Bait" Hill was quite a character long before we met him through the Egghead Forum. Years later we finally got to meet him in person at one of the Florida Mini Eggfests held in Melbourne.

He was always cheerful and upbeat in spite of many life-long medical problems, the latest being the loss of his leg. Even so, he was determined to get back on his recumbent bike and kayak. Both were custom-built to his specifications. But the loss of the leg made that dream impossible. Even so, he kept the dream alive.

He was also an excellent photographer and enjoyed taking photos of the many species of birds in the area and on Sanibel Island. I even assembled a YouTube slide presentation of the photos he shared on the Egghead Forum. He was thrilled that others could then enjoy the birds as much as he did.

But it was the Big Green Egg that brought us together. He was obviously a great cook and frequently shared recipes with other Eggheads via the Egghead Forum. And even though his strict diet prevented him from eating the foods I cook, he enjoyed me telling him about them.

Needless to say, his death will leave a hole in our hearts.

Goodbye Blair... It has been a pleasure knowing you.

TV News: Man Dies in Fire

New Table Saw = New Woodworking Project

I've only owned two table saws during my 50 years of woodworking.  The first of the two was the cheapest Sears Craftsman tablesaw offered back in the early 1990s.  As cheap as it was it more than paid for itself time and time again as I made increasingly complex wooden projects.

The only reason I sold it in 2015 was to make room in my garage for both our vehicles, one of which was so large that I only had one-inch clearance between the rear bumper and the garage door. 

I immediately regretted the decision to sell it and started to look for another one that could fold up to fit in the only place it could go.  And it turned out the be the cheapest one I could find - a Ryobi from Home Depot.  It too served me well from 2015 until April 1, 2020.  Then it would never serve anyone again, except as landfill fodder.

That put me in the difficult position of purchasing another tablesaw, but hopefully, with features and quality, I had only dreamed of.  And yet, it still had to fit neatly into space I allocated for it in the garage.  That meant a folding frame for sure, and definitely cost more than I wanted to spend.

So I read the specs and reviews on every model I could, including watching woodworkers using their tablesaws in action.  The one that everyone rated highest was a $600 DeWalt that was specifically designed as a high-end job-site saw for professional carpenters.  I certainly was not a 'professional carpenter' but it sure would be nice to have a quality saw. 

I was ready to order another cheap tablesaw similar to the last two saws I had when I suddenly received notice that my Coronavirus stimulus money from Washington was on its way.  Ah ha... perfect timing.  I  promptly went to Lowes and bought the DeWalt tablesaw I wanted - Model # dwe7491rs

It didn't take me long to start assembling the folding frame.  I got totally lost in the instructions and finally switched to my instinct.  It took less than an hour and the saw was ready for use.

A few days later my first actual project was to build a ramp for a neighbor's little dog to use when she wanted on or off the sofa.  A few measurements and some lumber, along with some leftover carpet was all it took to make.

After a 'trail of treats' was laid out, Bella eagerly made her way to the top and back down.  She must have decided that this 'thing' was useful. 

Bella's owners sure did.

And I got to use my new tablesaw for a successful project.

Life is good, even when wearing masks and distancing ourselves from other humans.

Coronavirus / Pandemic / COVID-19

Coronavirus / Pandemic / COVID-19

Everyone on Earth now knows what it is and what it can do to their lives.

As of today, few places on Earth are COVED-19 free. People who do not yet have it are taking extreme measures to keep from getting it. Social Distancing and outright isolation are about the only effective methods of avoiding it. The number of people who have it, whether diagnosed or un-diagnosed, is in the millions. Deaths from it are 200,000 and are expected to continue, possibly into millions unless the stay-at-home and no-close-contact programs work.  It would help to have a vaccine to cure it and prevent people from getting it.  Scientists world over are working on it.

So, when did it start? "It's hard to say exactly," but the Center for Disease Control (CDC) states in their Situation Summary that:

On March 11, the COVID-19 outbreak was characterized as a pandemic by the WHO

Today's date is April 22nd - only 42 days after the World Health Organization declared it a pandemic, we are, to coin a phrase, treating it like 'The Plague.'

Remember that from your history lessons:

The Black Death, also known as the Pestilence and the Plague, was the most fatal pandemic recorded in human history, resulting in the deaths of up to 75–200 million people in Eurasia and North Africa, peaking in Europe from 1347 to 1351.

As we huddle in our homes, distance ourselves from others, even relatives in their final moments, we all know and accept the fact that we are not safe from this menace.

Even as I write this yet another bit of bad news associated with COVID-19. It has been reported in the Washington Post that

"A mysterious blood-clotting complication is killing coronavirus patients"

And even when it is finally controlled, the world we return to will be very different from the one we made for ourselves before the power of nature reminded us that we humans cannot control everything.

Social Distancing - An Odd Combination of Words

Until a few weeks ago, Social Connecting via a smorgasbord of recently introduced 'electronic communications' made interacting with others a phenomenon unlike anything else in human history.

Suddenly, we pretty much rely on that electronic communication to be our life-line to the rest of humanity.  The reason - Social Distancing.  As odd as that sounds in today's world, here we all are trying our best to keep a safe distance from everyone else, even our friends and family.

But what caused it?

Well, actually 'panic' started it, but only after word got out that a new killer virus had suddenly materialized in China.  People started dying at an alarming rate and others were being infected by this strange new threat - a Coronavirus.  It was eventually dubbed COVID-19.

Projections of multi-millions of people would get it, and thousands, even hundreds of thousands would die from it, we were told.

How to protect yourself???  Washing hands thoroughly was quickly advised and encouraged, but the numbers of people getting the disease continued to rise at an alarming rate. 

What other protection do we have???  Social Distancing - make people stay home and away from each other.  And even when people are together, limit the size of the group and the distance they should remain from each other...

Whoa!!!  Is that even possible?

Well yes.  And in fact it may be the only option.  Early reports indicate that the number of people getting the virus and dying from it seems to be ebbing slightly.  And with that little bit of encouragement, our president is pushing for dropping our guard and going back to work and to normal activities.

Idiot!!!

Coronavirus

WOW!

I started this post in my blog on March 30, 2020.  It was just going to be the map of the US showing the concentration of reported cases.  But, things are moving so rapidly that I've since edited the post a few times in order to mention some of what else is happening in the three days since I started writing. 

As of today March 30, 2020

What can a person say that hasn't already been said many times around the world in hundreds of languages and dialects?

As of today, 4-3-20

Looking at the timeline below it didn't take long before it was clearly a worldwide problem.

When did the coronavirus start?  These are excerpts from a New York Times article by Derrick Bryson Taylor explaining the coronavirus timeline.  The entire article is worth a read.https://www.nytimes.com/article/coronavirus-timeline.html  


DEC. 31

Chinese authorities treated dozens of cases of pneumonia of unknown cause.

JAN. 11

China reported its first death.

JAN. 20

Other countries, including the United States, confirmed cases.

JAN. 30

The W.H.O. declared a global health emergency.

JAN. 31

The Trump administration restricted travel from China

FEB. 7

A Chinese doctor who tried to raise the alarm died.

FEB. 11

The disease the virus causes got a new name.

FEB. 14

France announces the first coronavirus death in Europe.

FEB. 23

Italy sees major surge in coronavirus cases and officials lock down towns.

FEB. 24

The Trump administration asks Congress for $1.25 billion for coronavirus response.

       At this point the United States, where Centers for Disease Control and Prevention officials warned of an                 almost certain outbreak, had 35 confirmed cases and no deaths.

FEB. 28

The number of infections in Europe spikes.

FEB. 29

The United States records its first coronavirus death and announces travel restrictions.

MARCH 3

U.S. officials approve widespread coronavirus testing.

       By this point, the coronavirus had infected more than 90,000 around the globe and killed about                                  3,000, according to the W.H.O.

MARCH 13

President Trump declares a national emergency.

MARCH 26

The United States leads the world in confirmed coronavirus cases.

       The United States officially became the country hardest hit by the pandemic, with at least 81,321 confirmed            infections and more than 1,000 deaths. This was more reported cases than in China, Italy or any other                      country.

MARCH 30

More states issue stay-at-home directives.

And it continues...

The first time the American public heard about it was weeks after it was first reported in China.  Then one person in America had it.  Then more.  Alerts began to trickle in.  By then it was too little, too late to stop it.

Anger set in as it was learned that the President ignored advice and warnings from our own intelligence agencies months before what was soon to become the biggest challenge ever to not only Americans but all humans worldwide.

Within days, the news was quickly spreading, often with incorrect (sometimes deliberate and sometimes unintentional) and confusing data.  It was so confusing, in fact, that it was difficult to even comprehend by the masses, much less responded to the threat on a personal level.

Things continued to get worse.

It wasn't long before everyone came to the realization that this was a bad thing.  Even then, there was still no cohesive plan on how to deal with it.  The President was telling everyone that it was under control.  Scientists were saying that was not true.  More untruths quickly followed, often mixed with unfounded exaggerations and finger-pointing as to blame.

Out of the confusion came the first clear instruction: everyone should wash their hands frequently for at least 20 seconds with soap and water, especially after touching pretty much anything or anyone.  And to use alcohol-based sanitary-wipes if hand-washing was not available. (if you could find them)

Then we were told to "cover our mouth when we cough" became the 'suggestive message' that pretty much any kind of mask, even homemade, would offer protection from someone else coughing.  And there were not enough masks anyway.  They sold out quickly, and homemade masks were considered unsafe unless made to specific standards.

By then, fear and pandamonium were starting to set in.  We as a nation and as individuals were obviously not prepared for this threat.

To make matters worse, the stock markets world over began to sink further and further into recession.

All of this, so far, had occurred in less than ten days from when most Americans even heard about it.

While some people resorted to science for facts and solutions, others found comfort in religion and prayers.  Some resorted to downplaying the threat while others exacerbated it wildly with misleading and untruthful claims. 

The resulting confusion led to chaos and anarchy.  Warnings were ignored.  Preparation and testing were delayed,   Exposure, symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment were all issues within themselves, each with their own seemingly insurmountable problems.  No one in authority had any idea what to do to contain it, let alone getting the supplies, equipment, and training to help front-line personnel respond without becoming infected themselves.

Panic began to set in, due mostly to the White House's ever-changing and frequently exaggerated statements.  The best and brightest experts were being ignored.

Frustrated state Governors began to take their own initiatives, often in direct conflict with official White House statements and assurances.

The public did not wait.  Within a single day, many store shelves were emptied of anything that could be important, with toilet paper being the highest priority. Bleach was also sold out, although it would have served no real purpose as scientists concluded that the virus was not a living organism that could be killed like bacteria.

Meanwhile, people were dying.  At first a few each day.  But within just a few days the numbers began to jump wildly and quickly reaching hundreds, then thousands of deaths.

Predictions of 'millions of deaths' were becoming common for the United States alone.

Businesses closed or changed their business to 'drive-through' or 'home delivery' only.

Millions of workers were laid off or told to work from home.  Everyone was told to stay home unless it was absolutely necessary to go anywhere.

"No Contact" and "Stay at least 6 feet, then 10 feet from others" were simple orders that were meant for everyone.  No hugging, kissing or shaking hands.  Families had to say goodbye to their dying relatives through windows, if at all.

Crowds were not only discouraged but they were also made illegal.  That meant churches, schools, sporting events, and even parties could no longer be held.  Large expensive weddings suddenly became small, family-only affairs, or postponed until later.

Within days schools closed.  Churches stopped having indoor services.  Other places where large numbers of people gathered were simply stopped.  Some managed to set up in-home classes for students, or on-line or TV religious services.

The stock markets world over started to tank, frequently dropping by hundreds of points in a single day.  Thousands of points on some days.  Trillions of dollars were instantly wiped from people's net worth, retirement funds, and investments.

Millions of workers had no income at all coming in.  Record numbers of unemployment claims were filed into a system that was overwhelmed by the magnitude of the problem.

Congress passed a huge stimulus bill that promised checks to every American, as well as to support businesses that were critical to both the economy and the welfare of the population.

Some towns and cities imposed curfews because they simply did not have the manpower to deal with a catastrophe of this size.  By then few people needed to be told to stay home and read or watch TV or sleep.  Just don't go out.

Even if you did need to go somewhere, perhaps far away from home, how would you get there?  Airlines canceled hundreds, then thousands of flights.  Airports were virtually empty.  Many gasoline stations were open but you couldn't be sure if they would be open elsewhere if you had to make a long trip.  Restaurants were closing outright, or for drive-through only.  Clearly, it was best to just stay home.

"How long will this thing last?" suddenly became the paramount question.  Weeks?  Months?  Yes and Yes.  Maybe even more than a year.  Then what?

All we know at this point is that life will never be the same.

Fredericksburg, Texas - A Gathering of Old Eggheads

Don't let the title fool you.  There were also some youngsters (mostly over 40) there and some almost twice that age with the energy and enthusiasm of the youngsters.  But some alternate names for it are: "Rest Fest"  "Elder Fest"  "Ol' Timers Fest"  "Geriatric Fest"  "Old Geezers Fest"  and probably one or two other aptly called monikers.

Here's the group photo:

First row left to right:
Pete Benac, Celtic Wolf; Evan's Tabor, Chubby; Ann Tabor, Chubby's Chick; Johanna Sanchez, William's SIL; Colleen Cremer, Mrs Lake Conroe Egger; Charlotte Harris, Mrs. Kolbdriver; Richard Harris, Kolbdriver; Frank Cremer, Lake Conroe Egger; Kim Price, Dessert Filly; Randy Price, AZRP; John Hall, Egret; Joan Hall, Lady Egret; Karen Chamberlain; Bill Wise, Wise One (above Karen); Sharon Schweitzer, Mrs Lawn Ranger; Mike Schweitzer. Lawn Ranger; Kelley Underwood, Egg Obsessed; Jay Taylor, SSN686; Bruce Underwood, No Joke Smoke; Kathy Taylor, Mad Hatter; Judy McMillin, Spring Hen; Monica O'Deskey, Molly Shark; Iris Broyles;
Leroy McMillin, Spring Chicken

Top Row:
Ella Sanchez, Egger Too; Lei Sanchez, William's brother; William Sanchez. Sancho65; Hotch Van Blarcum, Hotch; Clay Roberts, ClayQ; Diane Robert's; Ann Pospicil, Mrs. Popsicle; Zefrin Pospicil, Popsicle; Tom Chamberlain, Rusty Rooster; Lora Hofer, Crafty Pez Head; Darian Hofer, Photo Egg

Not Shown:
Shelly Van Blarcum; Rita Benac

The gathering was something Mike "Lawn Ranger" Schweitzer, a long-time Egghead and friend to all, dreamed up to re-group some of the Eggheads of Old.  Yes, the ones who set the tone and tempo for promoting and sharing their Big Green Egg EGGsperiences.

There's really no way to tell how many Big Green Eggs were sold around the world as a direct result of Early Egghead's enthusiasm.  But with very little spent on advertising, the Big Green Egg company kept growing by the tens of thousands of new customers year after year, even during times of an economic downturn in the economy.  Even they admit that 'word of mouth' was (and probably still is) their best advertising tool.

The important point is that most Eggeads first knew of each other only by way of an online forum.  Thanks to that forum we could share our EGGsperiances and recipes, ask questions, and learn from others.  Although we were hundreds of miles apart it didn't take long before true friendships started to develop between folks who may never meet in person.

Then "Eggfests" started popping up all over the country.  By definition, an Eggfest is a gathering of volunteer Eggheads who were willing to pay our own way just to cook and serve every imaginable type of food to total strangers who want to see what the Big Green Egg was all about.  It was literally a 'demonstration' of the Big Green Egg's versatility and usefulness presented by devoted Eggheads who just wanted to help people understand not only how it cooks food but how much better the food tastes when cooked on the Egg. 

With so many eggfests it became easier for us to meet Eggheads and potential Eggheads.  More important, it gave us Eggheads a chance to meet the very people we had only known through the online forum chat room.  In every instance, each introduction was a magic moment where lifetime friendships grew even stronger, no matter our lot in life.

Fredericksburg was a 'gathering' instead of a 'ceramic smoker/grill cooking demonstration.'  We spent our time with each other instead of with curious strangers.  It could not have been a better idea.  The time was right for it.

Literally, millions of Eggheads around the world owe a lot to the early pioneers of ceramic cooking.  But there are so many Big Green Egg owners these days, the close relationships we developed when we were few in number simply isn't possible.  Most Big Green Egg owners will never know the friendships and kinships we had in the early days.

After the event was over, Judy and I spent two wonderful days with Egghead Friends, Kelley, and Bruce Underwood, at their home on Lake Buchannan, a few Texas Miles east of Fredericksburg.

Then we drove home to Covington.  It was almost 600 miles.  We made it home in just under 12 hours in spite of the rain and heavy traffic.  And as tired as we were (and still are) we believe it was one of the best adventures of our 21 year EGGsperience as Eggheads.

A video/slide show is in the works and will be posted here.  I'm editing photos and video segments now so I can include them in the video.  Stay tuned.

My Elevator Just Got An Up-Lifting Workover

As some of you know, I have an elevator in my garage.  I designed it myself and purchased all the components.  My nephew and brother-in-law put it in for me.  Took 'em just two days.

It has been a life-saver.  I can't imagine being without it when I need to store something in the attic or retrieve it whenever I need it.

But even well-designed elevators are subject to wear and tear.  After only a few months I had to replace the electric hoist for some reason.  I think it was a cable problem.  But Harbor Freight gave me another one because I had purchased a 2-year extended warranty. 

I installed the new hoist and all was well again.  Until we noticed a popping sound coming from the hoist.  I took it down over the weekend and returned it to Harbor Freight.  They gave me a new one.  And this one was a later model with increased lift capacity (1,320 pounds).  I didn't need the extra power but I'm happy to have it.

I installed it and hit the up button.  The motor maid a very high pitched grinding-like sound.  I knew that wasn't right so I took it down and called Harbor Freight.  They didn't have another one at the Covington store.  So I called the Hammond store.  They didn't have one either.  So I called the Slidell store and they had two and both were the new models with increased lift capacity.

And off to Slidell where we got stuck in two Marci Gras parades.  So it took a while to get back home.  After a few struggles, a couple of which resulted in some minor blood-letting, I got it installed.  But I didn't have the energy or patience to splice in the remote control extender.

But as of this afternoon, I'm happy to report that it is back in operation and has already come in handy three times. 

I may make a new video of it in operation one of these days but if you're curious to see what I'm talking about, here's the construction video from two years.ago. 

https://youtu.be/au2-9RkvC7I

So Far, So Good in 2020

First of all, the weather this winter hasn't been nearly as bad as it could be.  One reason is that we've learned to not go outside when it's raining or cold.  But even the rain hasn't been bad, just wet.  And the cold only got down to 19° I believe they said.  And earlier this week it was warm enough for me to pressure wash The Coop and anything else that needed it.  So let's give the weather a 7 so far.

Next is our health.  Neither of us is sick, although we do have those annoying aches and pains from time to time. 

Judy is healthy and doing fine, except for some arthritis in her hands.

In my case, I've been getting good results from the only two issues at the moment.  The first issue involves my good eye.  I see fine, but the cataract debris leftover from my cataract surgery last year is still there after months of daily drops treatment and frequent doctor visits to keep tabs on my progress.  The debris is getting smaller and it doesn't bother me like it did at first.  It may take weeks or months for the rest to be absorbed by my body.  I'm not worried and give that an 8.

The other issue was that Squamous Cell Carcinoma that showed up on my heart-bypass donor leg.  The skin surgeon checked it last week and said I could stop coming for followup visits, as well as discontinue the bandages.  The leg is still a bit inflamed so I'll give that an 8 also. 

I also started a diet on January 1st and have lost 10 pounds.  But now I'm in that 'lull' when I neither lose or gain weight.  I'm still eating diet food and skipping the sinful foods that got me overweight in the first place.   (I really miss 'em too)

As for building stuff, I'm pretty much dead in the water.  About the only thing I built was a countertop easel for my new art hobby (yet to be started). 

But I did express my 'woodburning' skills on a practice board.  I can see myself liking woodburning as I get more experienced at it.

Oh, and I'm really starting to get interested in making cheese.  We'll see about that.  What I would rather make is a brisket.  A big one.  I can do that and even eat it if I stick with the Keto Diet.

We're leaving for Texas in about three weeks.  It will be our first trip back there.  This time to Fredericksburg for a gathering of some of the early Eggheads.  It won't be a traditional Eggfest type event.  It's more like we just sit around and talk about the good old days until someone gets an idea to do something else.  There's no telling what we'll end up getting into but I strongly suspect it will include adult beverages and food.  Yes, there will be a  visit stop along the way and probably multiple stops at Buc-ees and HEB stores on the way home.

Finally, LSU winning the National Championship made up for any bad days we may have had this year.  Geaux Tigers...

2019 Comes to an End

Medically speaking, 2019 was a booger of a year for me, starting with cataract surgery on my only good eye in January, followed by carotid artery surgery in April, followed by quintuple open heart surgery in May.  As you can imagine, there were some very trying moments during this period.  If it had not been for Judy I’m not sure I would have survived it.

I eventually completed my twelve weeks of cardio rehab and made considerable progress on returning my life to ‘normal.’

Then in September my only good eye developed a sharp pain and blurred vision.  Multiple trips to my ophthalmologist determined that some of the debris from the pulverized cataract dislodged from somewhere in my eye and migrated to another spot.  That caused inflammation that resulted in temporary vision problems.  We opted for the less risky, non-surgerical, remedy of waiting for my body to absorb the debris with the help of various drops.  It’s almost back to normal.

Meanwhile, I had two squamous cell carcinomas removed from my cheek/nose area and one from my vein donor leg.

I also gained back much of the weight I lost during my open heart surgery adventure.  Along with the weight, I also regained my strength and ability to return to my hobbies of cooking, woodworking and landscaping.

I also got good news about my teeth.  After two years of no dentist visits, all I needed was a good cleaning. 

And as of tonight I’m on a weight loss diet.  We’ll see how that goes in a few weeks.

Moose Milk and Cookies Party

It has been a good year for us.  That's in spite of my having a quintuple heart bypass, replacement aorta valve and carotid artery cleaned out. 

Add to that my cataract surgery in January.  It ran into some complications in October.  I'm almost fixed from that little scare.

Add to that two squamous cell carcinomas (face and leg) that required surgery. 

Add to that a number of 'blood-lettings' due to accidental cuts and bumps.  The way I do things usually ends up causing some blood loss.  BandAids usually take care of it though.

As bad as it sounds, I still have all my teeth and I even got an 'attaboy' during my last dental visit.

Meanwhile, Judy and I decided to throw a Moose Milk and Cookies Party for our friends and neighbors here in Terra Mariae.  It was two days ago and turned out great.  Here's the link to the YouTube video I made of it:  Moose Milk and Cookies Party

Everything else is just staying busy doing retired stuff.

We'll be closing out this year and starting the new year healthy and with most projects finished.  We may be able to plant roses next year so we can stop and smell them every now and then.

Merry Christmas and a Wonderful New Year.

My Sweetie's New Hammock

Back in Texas (seems like a hundred years ago) my Sweetie loved to relax in her hammock. Most of the time she read some favorite book, or maybe took a nap there in the shade of the hot Texas afternoon sun.

That was the one thing she missed most since we moved here. But there was no place that offered shade in the afternoon when she likes 'hammocking' the most.

So what did I get her for our 46th anniversary? A hammock, of course. And with no 'for sure' idea where to put it, we decided to try it right off our porch. It's an easy place to get to and is large enough to accommodate the 15' long hammock.

We'll likely build some sort of arbor or pergola later on but for now, she's got a hammock to read or nap in. Here's what it looks like this morning.

By-Pass Surgery Update

(Note: Since first posting this update I have decided to add updates as they occur)

Everything in me feels great, and I'm back to doing most of the 'normal' things I did before the Quintuple by-pass and carotid artery surgeries back in late April and Mid-May.  As tough as that was to deal with and recover from, it seems like it never happened.

But (there's always a 'but'), my vein-donor leg continues to be a problem.  Swelling, occasional pain, red, a rare blister or two, very sensitive areas and areas of no feeling at all, and one dime-size wart-looking thing that mysteriously arose from one of the blisters sometime around July.  My cardiologist didn't know what it was, but thought it wasn't a problem.  Most likely some infection from the blister opening up.  I was told to leave it uncovered to dry out.  And I did leave it uncovered but as it dried it became painful at times as the swelling around it stretched my skin to very uncomfortable levels, especially when lying in bed.  The 'wart' was inspected multiple times by Nurse Practitioner, Jeff Kitch, on subsequent visits to Dr. Aduli's office.  No one seemed to know what was causing it.

This is what my donor leg looked like on May 24, 2019 at 3:05 PM (ten days after my open heart surgery).

This is what it looked like on November 7, 2019

You can easily see the 'wart' near the center of the screen.  That's a squamous cell carcinoma, explained below.

Meanwhile, the compression stockings that I had been wearing since the surgery didn't appear to be doing anything to help.  If anything, the stockings created more of a problem.  The heat and humidity in Covington kept me 'damp' to full-out 'wet' with non-stop sweating.  The wet stockings obviously became a problem for my legs, especially the donor leg.  I performed my rehab walking exercises inside my home until cleared for Rehab at Lakeview Regional Hospital.  I began wearing the compression stockings intermittently to see if I could wear them comfortably.

I enjoyed the Rehab at Lakeview, but the leg issue continued to make each workout very difficult, mostly due to the pain associated with the swelling.  The staff, including a registered nurse, were very helpful and made sure that I wasn't doing myself harm by trying to over do it.  They were also concerned that I perspired a lot.  It was true, but not unusual for me.

This is Louisiana in July and August, so some of the extremely high temperature/humidity/dewpoint days were compounded by my trying to walk (exercise) or work outside.  Or even try to relax outside.  When I removed my compression stockings my legs were not only swollen to the point of 'bursting open,' they had the look of a person's skin after hours in water.  And the "dime-size wart-looking thing" appeared to be larger and for some reason, now 'threatening.'

This went on until I had a routine visit with my dermatologist.  I asked her to take a look at the 'wart thing' to see if it was a dermatologist issue.  She didn't want to intercede in treating it while I was still a heart bypass patient in recovery.  But she said I should make sure my cardiologist looks at it.  She did not diagnose or treat the bump.

Earlier during the week  of 11/4, "they" (Erin Gill and Jeff Kitch, both nurse practitioners in my cardiologist's office) looked at it, took photos of it, and had no idea what it was.  There appeared to be no infection associated with the redness surrounding the 'wart' because the area was not feverish.  But there was still lots of fluid in both legs as evidenced by the swelling and the hardness of the calves of my legs.

Nurse Gill also gave me some samples of Livalo (Pitavastatin) which I'm to cut in half to use once a day to see if it works to lower my cholesterol (I had discontinued (with Jeff Kitch's reluctant permission) taking Pravastatin to see if there were any side effects from discontinuing it.  Pravastatin caused a great deal of joint pain.  The joint pain is considerably reduced by not taking Pravastatin.)  

A CT Scan was ordered, followed by a sonogram and blood test.  No problems there.

It was even discussed that I be hospitalized for a few days so that I could receive an intravenous antibacterial medicine.  So far, nothing came of that idea.

I asked Jeff Kitch if maybe I should see my dermatologist about it.  "I would!" was his response.

Two days later my dermatologist, Dr Christel Malinski, saw me (without an appointment) and quickly diagnosed the 'wart' as a squamous cell carcinoma.  She took a biopsy sample.  The results will take a few days.  She prescribed Mupirocin Ointment 2% to apply to the biopsy wound after cleaning.

This is what the leg looked like 6 days later on 11-13-19.  The biopsy wound seems to be healing nicely.  But some reddish/pinkish color remains.  The calf of my leg is not nearly as rigid as before.  As of 11-13-19 I'm still waiting for the biopsy results, which she said could take a few days.

This image is edited in order to highlight the reddish areas.

But Dr Malinski also assessed what was causing the swelling and other issues with the legs.  She said 'edema' is what is causing the swelling.  The fluid has to come out.  She strongly recommended that I resume wearing the compression stockings and to elevate my legs whenever possible.  She explained why.  It made sense.  She also prescribed a lotion or cream (Clobetasol)  that would help the surrounding areas of inflammation.  We could afford the salve but the Clobetasol was more than we could afford, so we didn't take it.  Instead, I kept using the lotion (Ammonium Lactate) that was prescribed by the nurse-practitioner, Erin Gill.  The Ammonium Lactate was discontinued on 11/11 at the advice of Dr Malinski because it was not steroid based and would not help the inflammation.  She gave me a sample product (Lexette) to try on the surrounding area near the biopsy wound.  I am uncertain as to whether it is working.

I've since taken to wearing the compression stockings during the day and spending an accumulated 1 hour or more (usually in 20 to 30 minute periods) lying on the floor with my feet well elevated in a chair while wearing my compression-stockings.  While in this position, I frequently raise one or the other leg straight up for one minute.  During that time I massage (milk) the calf of the leg downward.  Not being medically trained, I'm not sure if this effort works.  But I have noticed a slight improvement in the calf's rigidness. 

I expected to be called by Nurses Gill or Kitch during the following week (week of 11/11) to schedule a follow-up visit, hopefully with Dr Aduli, my cardiologist.  I assume Dr Aduli has been briefed on everything except the biopsy results from Dr Malinski.

Nurse Gill did call late at night on Tuesday the 12th.  As did Jeff Kitch's assistant, Rhen, the day before.  Both said the results of the CT Scan and sonogram were excellent, as was the blood test, but Nurse Gill that she got in trouble for ordering the tests.  Dr Aduli apparently did not agree that the tests were warranted since the cellulitis was no longer an issue.

I received a call from Dr. Malinski's assistant on Friday, November 15th, informing me that the biopsy was confirmed to be a squamous cell carcinoma, and it would need to be surgically removed.  They will fax the necessary documents to the Skin Surgery Center in  Mandeville, Louisiana, and they, in turn, will contact me to set up a surgery date.

As they say, "Every day starts with, 'We'll see what today brings.'"