2014...back in action!

It's been over 4 years since I have entered another post here at the old blog. I kind of jumped ship and had my own blog thing going but got tired of fighting all of the Wordpress stuff, php updates, so the other day I found the link back here and thought what the hell!

4 year is a long time and things have certainly changed some. My wife and I are "empty nesters", we moved out from my dads place last Fall. My Dad is doing OK, well actually he is back in a rehab hospital, about where he was when I last posted here. He fell on the ice last week and busted his knee cap. He is doing much better now, with his mobility and should be released to go home in a day or two. He still doesn't take his medicines like he should, eats whatever the hell he wants, but hey, whatever makes a guy happy.

I gave up on trying to convince him to eat healthier a couple years back now. All of the stress of worrying about help started diminishing my health. I had a stint in the hospital where my blood pressure was like 240/120, which cost me 3 days, but I got that under control, sorta and have moved on.

As far as biking goes, I bought a road bike and two summers ago rode a lot of miles. I found several group rides for different charities and did those. My longest trip was a 48 mile jaunt that I pulled of, even to my own surprise, nearly 50 miles wasn't as bad as I thought. I got on the mountain bike a lot that summer too and found a lot of good riding at Harmonie State Park, Scales Lake and a few other places. I did two races that summer with no luck what so ever. I crashed my brains out at French Lick, and tried again at Ben Hawes, but blew a tire out about a mile into that one. They were both fun, and I have big plans of doing more racing this Spring & Summer.

What else? Two, make that three wonderful grandkids! My daughter gave us Landon and he is 2 years old. My son and his fiance had a little boy, Ryder who will be a year old this week. His fiance also has a 8 yr old daughter who is sweet as she can be. Good times with all these little ones. Becoming a parent is great feeling, but being grand parents is just as sweet.

Me? I'm still fat as ever and have again tried loosing weight. Really been trying to watch what I eat and as soon as the weather gets a little better, I'm hitting the bikes again. I have lost almost 20 pounds this time around, although I have been sick for a few weeks with a stupid cough and lost 10 lbs. in a week just from hacking all the time.

Bittersweet day...

I took off on the 29'er with the new rubber and man did it make a difference. I hadn't rode in almost two weeks, but rode the farthest yet last night. 9.1 miles in 0:50:28

Now it's my turn!

Up until Britt's wedding I was riding at least a couple of time a week. With the wedding, it just got hard to find time to ride, and afterwords it got so, damn hot it made it even harder to ride. I di mange a ride here and there and did get over twelve miles one time, but things have suddenly changed.

I have been having leg numbness since about February and have seen Dr. Whitacre for pain injections every since. These usually last about 3 months and then I schedule another shot from there. My last episode had to be the worst. I got to where it was hard to walk at time, especially on concrete and not just at Walmart, as my lovely wife suggested!

I was starting to have doubts about the Moab bike trip and was fearing surgery. My last appointment I scheduled a visit to Dr. Whitacre who suggested an MRI to just get a better look at my lower back. If you've never had an MRI, you're a lucky SOB! I hated it, all 4 of them!

Yeah, I ended up having 4 MRI's. The first one went, well, not real good but I managed to stay in for about 30 minutes. I got claustrophobic really quick, when my big ol' wide shoulder were rubbing the side of the tube. The tech had me raise my arms back over my head, which allowed me to enter the tube, but still it was a struggle to get through it.

The doctors found that I had an "bulging" disk, right above my surgery from 1986, but also found a spot higher up my spine they called a "mass". Now a mass to me means cancer, no if, and or buts about it. Dr. Whitacre assured me it was most likely nothing, but dammit, I have a mass in my back.

I was scheduled another trip into the the tunnel of hell, but this time I had a plan...Xanax! Yeah, I have a prescrition for it, so I popped a couple before going and had no problems! Problem was, they needed more veiws up my spine for sopme reason, which I'll elaborate on here in a second.

Back for round 3, and I did not bring the Xanax, which was a huge mistake! They were doing a cervical scan which requires a apparatus that fits very snug around your chest and up under your chin, kind of like the "halo" things you see on people with neck injuries. This was a little creepy in itself, but being jammed back into the tube, with this thing, just didn't work. Panic button, nurse, are you okay, NO, get me out, now. Round 4 now scheduled in an open MRI.

Open MRI was OK, still a little freaky, but I made it, now to Dr. Whitacre to see if I'm dieing!

Well, I'm not dieing, but I do have a tumor in my back, an ependymoma is what it's called. This particular tumor is slow growing and usually doesn't cause much trouble, as Dr. Whitacre advised, "if you have to have a tumor, this is the one you want, and most importantly you have it "where" you want it". He had conferred with a neurosurgeon and both agreed at this time, we should just keep an eye on him. The picture shows an MRI with an ependymoma (not my actual image), but pretty close!

The good news, besides I don't have cancer, I guess, is I do have a herniated disc, causing me problems! He prescribed more pills, Neurontin (Gabapentin), to be exact, and I of course started taking to much yesterday and got all loopy. He told me to take one a day for three days then, two a day for three days then 3 a day. I jumped straight into the three a day routine and was all screwed up. Pays to listen to the doctors!

Hoping the new dope takes effect soon and dulls the pain more. I guess as long as I can manage the pain, the surgery will have to wait, but I'm not sure on the bicycle thing, although the other day I received a new saddle and rode for about 2 miles with zero pain! So we'll see how that goes.

Addictions, again!

Been awhile since I've updated the blog and a lot of things have changed in my life, so to speak! We have actually moved in with my Dad. A couple of reasons, which the main reason being our bankruptcy final became final and we had to move!

Dad has had some health issues and the move may be a blessing after all. Dad had a heart attack about two months ago and had to have two stints put in that night. He had three blockages on the right side of his heart as well, which he ended up having a quadruple bypass just a few weeks back.

He currently is in a rehab facility not doing much. He is walking some, but his breathing exercises are non existent and his stubborn, bull headed attitude about his blood sugar just pisses me off.

I took him to the rehab place from the hospital and of course we had to stop at Wendy's for a cheeseburger and a large "sweet" tea. I've told people it's like picking your buddy up from the alcohol rehab place and going straight to the liquor store or a bar. Kind of funny, but I know addicts who have done the same thing, and here it again, it goes back to an addiction, whether it be cocaine, heroin, pot, alcohol, food or sweets!

Really frustrating to watch someone go through all the trouble of having their chest pried open, just to go back to the same old shit that got them there in the first place.

Anyway, he's all gung ho to come home and do all his therapy at home. Anita and I initially was going to stay on his ass, but have decided, it's nearly impossible to help someone, until they are ready for help.

We'll see!

Bittersweet day...

I took off on the 29'er with the new rubber and man did it make a difference. I hadn't rode in almost two weeks, but rode the farthest yet last night. 9.1 miles in 0:50:28, 10.82 mph average. I felt as good as I ever did and it really makes me wonder if it's the tires or what. The course yesterday was all blacktop, with several long climbs, but everything just seemed to work.

I can also say, I have officially fallen off my bike. I've had my clip in pedals for several rides now, and honestly thought it wouldn't be a problem getting out if needed. Well yesterday I had stopped for a second and took off with my left shoe not clipped. I kept screwin' with it and eventually my heel got against the tire and stopped me on the edge of the black top, and boom! I'm in the ditch. Luckily no scrapes, and most of all no one saw me!!!

While on the ride, my Dad sent me a text that his little Jack Russell terrier, Mazy had came home. She'd been gone for a couple of days, and we were starting to worry maybe the coyotes had bushwhacked her. But he said she just came running around the house last night like nothing had ever happened!

Got home and felt really good, worked on Kody's bike to ready for qualifier this weekend. Noticed several police vehicles flying South on 57, but never gave it much thought. Later found out, a old family friend had taken his life. I'm not even sure where Phil was at, and the police vehicles may have been for something else, but the time frame is close.

Phil Wiseman Jr. aka... Lil' Phil had grown up next to us when I lived at home and we still talked when we saw each other, back and forth on Facebook some. In fact he came to Mom's funeral and I remembered how much he'd grown over the years. He was a helluva man now, big, strong, several cool tats, but still flashing that mischievous, shit eatin' grin he always had. His Dad and my Dad were good friends through archery and bow hunting, and basically just a good neighbor.

Not sure what all went on in Lil' Phil's life yesterday, but it sounds like he had just gotten married and everything went to shit in just a few short weeks. He posted a farewell message on his Facebook page which makes it worse to so many people. A lot of his friends are just wondering, why he didn't call. I think there is a country song called "Glad you Called" right now that's pretty popular, too bad he wasn't listening to that! He leaves behind a loving Mom and Dad, a sister, extended families, a kid and tons of friends.

It's really ashamed when something like this happens, you have to wonder, what could have been done to stop it, but in the end it was a "rational" decision by an "irrational" person at that particular minute. He'd had enough, and know he's gone.

Rest in peace, young man, rest in peace.

April...my own worst enemy!

Well April has came and gone, and I believe I rode a grand total of 4 times. I did have a lot going on this month, but that shouldn't be a excuse. I have also come to the understanding I am my own worst enemy. While working out of the office I had a control situation where I brought food, fruit, etc... everyday and ate a lot better than now. I'm currently working out in the field doing inspection work on a construction job. It is so easy just to stop every morning and grab coffee, ho-ho's or a breakfast sandwich. Lunch is no better, although I have used the local Subway a few times.

I lost a couple weeks of riding do to some family obligations like moving my mother-in-laws trailer, plus we have started mowing the cemetery again, which unfortunately is becoming a 2 or 3 night job every other week, but still I could find some time to ride.

I have made a few changes to the old 29'er. I bought some road tires to try out on her. I just got the different tubes last night and will be hitting the asphalt again tonight. Hopefully she'll roll a little better!

Haven't really talked much to the "office" guys since being out in the field. They were my silent support group of sorts and didn't even know it. I know Brian bought a new road bike and has rode some, but as far as Aaron and Swab, who knows. I'm sure it won't take much to get the trip back in everyone's blood, but it does make it a little harder, at least for me, being alone all the time.

I'll try and post up some commentary on tonight's voyage here soon!

The wife journeys have come and passed. The first trip was pretty unsuccessful and Anita did a pretty good job. She's not exactly the "most" athletic person but is willing to put forth an effort in most things!

We left my Dad's house and I already had a route mapped out in my head. Things went pretty smoothly and I was trying to tell her about shifting, momentum and cadence, but honestly I'm still learning the same thing as well!

She struggles a little bit right now with the longer climbs. I should also note she has suffered from asthma from birth and her lung capacity is probably limited some. She felt like it was more being out of shape than the asthma, but she did fine. At one point she stopped and I peddled onward, and picked her up on the flip flop. I then ventured a right onto a gravel road, which unfortunately, made for some rough peddling. She eventually stopped and went back, giving me the wave to keep going.

I made my route, with a little stoppage on the long Hopkins ascent, but eventually made it to the top and ventured on towards Dad's, mostly downhill! Anita had made it back and rode even further back South down the blacktop and seemed none worse for the wear!

The next day I had planned another route and was upping my distance to 8 miles. Yesterday I had rode just 4.5 miles, but felt like today would be a good day to go further. I had just got home and changed when Anita called. I hadn't said a thing to her about riding,and wondered if this would be the old "go ahead without me" call, but she was asking "if" we were riding.

I waited, of course, for her to get there and off we went for day #2. Today's journey I had laid out in Somerville. I planned to go 8 miles or bust. The trip was all along decent blacktop, with some hills, but nothing to serious. The first long hill is were Anita bailed on me, but I kept going. I made out to about 4 miles and reversed my route. I wasn't really tired, but was happy when I received a call on the cell about some construction work at my mother-in-laws lot. It was a short conversation, just long enough to catch my breath and grab a little water and I was off again.

Nothing real eventful, but as usual my calculations were off and I only made an official 7.8 mile journey. Tonight the wife is working in Evansville so I'm loaded and ready to roll after work. Going to do at least 8, maybe 10 miles. We'll have to see!

Somewhat proud of myself, and Anita for that matter. I rode everyday this week so far,and she has ridden twice. I feel like I'm continually getting stronger and that's what my goal is.

Food has been OK, not good, but just OK. I ate out at lunch everyday so far. Once at Subway, twice at Gatti-Land and yesterday at Shyler's. Shyler's is coming off the list. Seems like every time I go there it gives me the diaroo! Not good when biking, I think! Gatti's is decent and I load up on salad then have a bread stick or two and some pasta. Dinner has been about the usual, just trying to make more decent choices.

I feel like I'm doing good, and at some point soon would like to weigh,just to see if I'm doing as good as I think.