Images and outings

I consistently ride my bike every other day. In early January, I took three consecutive days off, which was exhausting, so I chose to alternate my days. During the warmer months, I plan to ride outside and enjoy exercise on my off days. Using Rouvy, makes me quite competitive, and it offers a challenging workout! So far, I’ve traveled 278 miles in about 17 hours, averaging 16.35 miles per hour—quite a good pace. Most rides over the past two weeks have been at least 16 miles, with some exceeding 20 miles. Despite being careful with my iron intake, I haven’t noticed any changes. I will continue to monitor my health and explore ways to improve it.

I have been diligent about my iron intake, yet I haven't noticed any improvement. I will continue to monitor my health and look for ways to improve.

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

In case you missed a previous update, we relocated our mom from the Wheatland, North Dakota, farm to All Saints Senior Living in Shakopee, Minnesota, this past August. Her adjustment has not been as smooth as we had hoped, and the expenses are nearing $5,000 per month. We have been researching options and found a new residence for her in Prior Lake, which resembles North Dakota-style housing. We plan to move her there next month, with an estimated monthly cost of approximately $2,900. This lower rent is available through a buydown program, which requires an upfront payment of $17,000. The program will be repaid in roughly 15 months, but it is non-refundable if she passes away. At this rate, her funds should last approximately eight years.

Today, I took my mom to see the snow sculptures at the Minnesota State Fairgrounds. This year, fewer people entered the competition, likely because there has been very little snow, and the weather forecast predicts temperatures will rise to 50 degrees on Wednesday. Interestingly, Florida has already received more snow than Minnesota so far this year! Some images are included below.

  

 

My retirement savings are still on track. I hope this will be a more decisive year for the market, but I worry President Trump will undermine much of the stability. He is not a leader but a dictator who frightens me. I hope we can get through the next few years safely and financially secure.

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

Start of 2025

It's been a hectic start to 2025. I feel overwhelmed for some reason, but I'm having trouble identifying what I've been doing. One thing I'm certain of is that I've been riding a bicycle for at least an hour every other day, keeping my heart rate between 125 and 130 beats per minute. I chose to exercise every other day to prevent overexertion at my age. Plus, working out too intensely and risking injury would only set me back.

On January 7, I eagerly awaited the results of my annual physical and blood test. I was thrilled to see my weight was 302.7 pounds, an unusually high number that I need to control. However, it’s a positive sign that I’ve lost about 23 pounds since retiring, when my highest weight was 325.3 pounds. I’m losing about half a pound per week, a sustainable rate that I hope to maintain. The stress of helping my mother move from a nursing home to a closer facility caused me to gain a few pounds back.

One very disappointing part of my visit was that my iron level was extremely low. Again, it's frustrating because I've been battling anemia for a long time! Test results were:

• Iron (normal range 61-157 ug/dL) 
• Current 20 ug/dL - 31 below normal range
• This is the lowest it has been since the diagnosis in 2017, when it was 23 ug/dL

• Iron saturation index (normal range 15 to 46%)
• Current is 5% - 15% below the normal range
• This is the lowest it has ever been, with 7% in January 2023

• Ferritin (normal range 31 to 409 ng/mL)
• Current is 11 ng/mL - 20 ng/mL below the normal range
• The lowest ever, with 8 ng/mL in July 2016. I was 11 ng/mL in November of 2023.

• Hemoglobin (normal range 13.3 to 17.7 g/dL )
• Current is 11.4 g/dL - 1.9 g/dL below normal range
• This is the lowest it has ever been; in January 2023, it was 12.1 g/dL

• MCV - Mean Corpuscular Volume (normal range 78-100 fl)
• Current is 72 fl - 6 fl below the normal range
• This is the same as January 2023, and it is the lowest it has ever been.

• MCH - Mean Corpuscular Hemoglobin (normal range 26.5 to 33.0 pg)
• Current is  21.3 pg - 5.2 pg below the normal range
• This was at 20.9 in January 2023.

• MCHC - Mean Corpuscular Hemoglobin Concentration (normal range 31.5 to 36.5 g/dL)
• Current is  29.6 g/dL - 1.9 pg below the normal range
• This was at 28.8 g/dL in January 2023.

Therefore, my anemia has worsened, not improved. I should have noticed it through the shortness of breath and low energy! I've been busy cleaning out the basement and getting rid of the junk. This will be a multi-week project as I build shelves to organize my belongings.

Since I retired, I haven't seen markets this volatile. I have cash ready to withstand the downturn. I am living off my tax-deferred savings because the market has performed well over the past two years and is currently at a high level.

Carry on, my friends, carry on!

Good start

Since my two-month trip to Tennessee and the Carolinas, I have been doing intense workouts every other day. I avoid daily workouts as I get older because rest is essential. In December, I biked a total of 106 miles. The actual distance was higher, but I couldn't automatically load miles from three club workouts into Strava. I rode on the past three days, with an easy ride off day with Shelley.

My mother's memory remains stable, but she is becoming more demanding. Visiting her can be depressing because it reminds me that I might encounter similar issues in the future. This realization helps me stay mentally focused on my health and reduces the risk of future problems. Eating well and exercising intensely benefit my aging body.

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

 

After traveling for 61 of the past 75 days, I feel exhausted. However, being at home during winter while retired isn't very enjoyable. I become aware of all the chores I should undertake, but tend to avoid them. These include minor house repairs and decluttering six decades of belongings—including items in the pantry and garage—that require deep cleaning and sorting.

Over the New Year, I began reflecting on where life might have gone off course. My relationship with Christopher has faded to nothing. I reached out to him, but like before, he stressed that we should keep in touch; I never heard from him again. I wonder if I would have fought harder for other relationships if those individuals had faced their challenges. I regret not expressing myself when I had the chance, and I also regret what I said when I did. As I grow older, my thoughts about life become more intense. Thankfully, I can manage and understand my emotions better, which helps me better grasp why older adults have higher suicide rates.

I recently learned that my boss is retiring at the end of the month. Despite being only 55, I was told after my departure that all the issues I had managed for decades were considered his problem now, and he found them overwhelming. He has always disliked conflict and complexity, which I had no trouble handling. Being more intelligent than I am, we worked well together. It’s difficult to accept that a leading organization has been dysfunctional for over five years, resulting in high staff turnover. By the start of this year, nearly 40 percent of employees had less than two years of experience. It’s truly a sad situation.

I'm gradually learning the new Zikon Z7iii.  There are fundamental similarities; however, setting precise parameters for a shot takes time to feel natural. I have the opportunity to go out for practice, but the temperatures are below zero!

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