Forty @ 500
Well here’s forty.
And here’s post number 500.
And for the first time, this is pretty well two updates in
one. As it’s been sixteen days since I
last updated instead of the regular eight.
It’s been sort of a decompression time.
Having had the parents visit for a week… including my birthday. And having missed two days in the previous
block of work with a bad cold. I have
been away from work for 18 of the last 20 days… and away from substantial
writing for 16.
I’ve taken time off writing before but in a different
way. When I went to Greece, I wrote an
update the day before leaving largely so I could say “yes, I took two weeks
off, but I posted twice in one week before it.”
And other times I’ve pushed my deadline a few days here or there. Writing something on day ten or twelve
instead of day eight. But this time,
other than the update of each day in this blog entry, I just stepped back from
writing entirely.
A bad cold followed by work and followed by a parental visit
just zapped energy and time away from writing.
And it was nice to just be with my parents this time rather than be
planning out moving strategies or searching for time to sit and create on the
laptop.
So this is almost my Making It Up #500 and #501 combined. Hard to believe I’ve been doing it this long.
Forty has brought several things. Medically, it has brought my first ever
physical. I was curious to see the fall
out of that and really, haven’t seen it fully yet.
And in a family full of diabetes, my biggest positive in the
physical was my blood sugar being spot on normal.
And most other things appear to be in good standing as
well. Kidneys, blood pressure… both fine
and dandy.
That said, forty brings changes. The doctor starting things off by looking at
my height and weight and saying “without even looking at blood work, you need
to lose weight.”
On the good side, I’ve lost about ten pounds in the last
year.
On the not so good side, I was probably about thirty pounds
over where I should have been this time last year, and the doctor wants me
cutting off 10 kg by the end of the summer.
Also, for the first time, I’m faced with the idea that I
really should watch what I eat.
Oh how I remember the high school days where nothing
mattered. Pizza Hut trips with Geoff
meant a full medium pizza devoured.
Movie nights at home were accompanied by a big bag of potato chips and
two litres of coke.
Today, I’ve been told to watch my cholesterol. Now, besides increasing my activity level, I
need to pay attention to the actual foods going in my mouth. Oh… I have a feeling that the next year will
see me carry on a whole new relationship with carrots, lettuce, and
broccoli. While at the same time, ever
burger or plate of nachos will come with a calculation of frequency and tinge
of guilt.
And I’m still waiting to do another test for my liver… so
who knows what that will say. Though the
doctor didn’t seem terribly alarmed with the first attempt, he’d like to make
that second try to see if there’s something up there. I’ve always hated liver… first that of the
cow. Now that of myself.
While the food part may become a chore, the activity part
shouldn’t be too bad. The walks I’ve
been doing in the woods just need to be sped up I think. The doctor wants me breaking a good sweat at
least three times a week for an hour each time.
So far, in two days, I’ve been ramping things up to be close to that
level. Two walks… one being 50
minutes. The other 55. And both more brisk than slow and with me
having to change the shirt on my return home.
Actually, on today’s walk, I was mulled over the idea of
multiple walks on each day off. So far,
since my move to Trailsedge, I’ve pretty well gotten into the habit of a good
30 to 45 minute stroll through the woods and along the ponds and power line
corridor. And I love the strolls. You can pause and catch a detail missed in a
run by. Take a picture. Listen to a bird. Spot a couple of squirrels chasing each other
over trees. The high paced walk will not
jive with any of this.
So today’s plan was, on my four days off, go to the woods
twice a day. The first time would be
shortly after breakfast and, depending on the weather, I could decide if it
will be my nature stroll or my exercise power walk. And if I’m not certain which way to go, I can
start it going fast and see what happens.
If I get five minutes in and a moose happens across my path… change of
plans, this walk just became the nature kind.
Then, either late afternoon or after supper, I can head out
for the second time. Either to break
that sweat, or to scope out those woods.
Let’s face it, I’m peering out the window at the woods every couple of
hours anyway, I may as well get over there and make something productive out of
it.
And as for that moose I briefly mentioned above. I haven’t yet seen it… but on each of the
last two days, I’ve come across tracks.
The first time out of my regular routes, a good 20 minutes through the
woods from my house. But the second
time… today… I found a track in the mud a mere ten minutes away. The moose are there… phantoms in the woods, a
short twenty minute drive from downtown core of our Nation’s capital… beat that
America!
Other positives at forty…
My knee that I tore cartilage in two years ago is now pretty
well back to equal footing with the other knee.
I won’t go as far as to say either are 100%. Neither have been for quite a while. But even as recently as four months ago, I
wouldn’t be able to squat down in a catcher’s stance without my left knee
howling it’s complaints. Today, it is as
fine with the action as the right one is.
For my 39th birthday, my right shoulder began
barking at me. It was literally on my
birthday it happened. I went to bed
38. I woke 39 with a shoulder saying “I
don’t like this body anymore.” The next
day, I worked it out some and it cried worse.
I skipped that day’s softball game as a precaution… I haven’t played a
game of ball since. Three days later,
shifting my weight in a chair at work, a pop, followed by a burn and some
serious pain put my whole arm out of commission for months. I remember it was at least three months
before I could even lift my arm over my head again. Let it be said, torn rotator cuffs are no
fun.
But today the shoulder is much improved. And, although not strenuously tested, day to
day, it now feels better than it did at any time while I was 39… or even 38 for
that matter. It’s good to a point where
the surgeon said we aren’t cutting and the physiotherapist said “You should
play ball again.”
So with that, the goal is to return to the field this summer. I think my days at shortstop and third base
are over… the occasional day in the outfield are likely not a good idea
either. But second base, first base and
slow pitch pitcher should be fine. And,
after working it out some… who knows… perhaps some longer throws will be doable
too.
At 40, I remain blessed with family. A sister I don’t see much of due to
geography, but talk often with due to e-mail… and that dreaded spam creation
known as Facebook. Nieces I don’t see
enough of, and a brother-in-law who’s more brother than in-law, despite the
many months that go by between chats.
And mom and dad remain an adventure in parenting. This summer, coming up on their 50th
anniversary with mom still craving her work at the university and with the
energy of a twenty year old and dad always giving the air of being twenty years
younger than his age. They both did more
in helping me move than any parent should.
So here I sit at forty.
And even though I’ve only been there for a few days so far, it really
hasn’t felt any worse and in fact could be argued to feel better, than either
thirty-eight or thirty-nine did.
I remember when I turned thirty; I felt a sense of
relief. Twenty-nine felt like a
lie. One of those typical things where
someone says “I’ve just stopped counting once I hit twenty-nine.” Thirty felt more honest. People are quicker to believe thirty than
twenty-nine. And so far, forty feels
similar. Those round numbers are much
better than those ending in nine.
So bring on the weight loss.
Bring on the city moose, and bring on the summer family vacation. Forty is here… my salad supper says so.
THURSDAY…
--- Sick day from work.
Throat is still phlegm filled, eyes watering and congestion. The congestion clears some as the day goes
but the evening makes things worse again.
--- So it’s just movies on TV and a bit of hockey in the
evening. And the first thunder storm in
the new place… sort of comes out of nowhere as it’s only about 3 degrees today.
FRIDAY…
--- Another sick day.
By 5:00 I’m feeling like I’m improving again… did feel that way mid
afternoon yesterday too and fell back again then… but after 10 hours in bed
last night and lots of good coughing fits, things may be clearing up.
SATURDAY…
--- Still not feeling super but improved for sure. Do a small walk in the woods… lost of melting
there now. And head to work
tonight. Get through it alright.
SUNDAY…
--- Warm out… into the 20s.
And night shift. Was worried
cause I never got the afternoon nap in… but made it ok.
MONDAY…
--- Just not sleeping much since my 10 hour deal a few
nights back. Awake after about three
hours of sleep. Back to snooze again for
an hour or so but nothing deep.
--- Mid 20s again today.
Go to Kanata to get Del (in town for a hockey tournament). Dick’s Diner for the best burgers in the
business and then to my place for a few hours visit until I drive him back to
Kanata again. Feeling pretty good again
now. Still a few coughing fits but
nothing too bad.
TUESDAY…
--- Another nice day.
Mid 20s and sun. Minto come to
put in the black hood fan and take away the white one. Then it’s lunch on a patio with Laura and
Janice. Nice seeing Laura.
--- A walk when I get home and some evening TV.
WEDNESDAY…
--- Physio and an afternoon walk after I get the groceries. Two snakes in the woods… Spring is here for
sure as I’m in shorts and it’s about 25.
--- Get mom and dad tonight at the airport. The visit begins.
THURSDAY…
--- After fasting 12 hours overnight, I’m off in the morning
to get bloodwork done. From there, it’s
brunch with mom and dad… Cora’s is good.
Get a barbeque after that. My
birthday gift from mom and dad… set up in the afternoon and BBQ tonight. A little woods walk after that.
FRIDAY…
--- Trip to check out blinds for the house. Got stuff in motion… should be good once
installed.
--- Some shopping at the mall and groceries.
--- BBQ again tonight and a movie afterwards.
SATURDAY…
--- House day. We go
for a walk in the woods and then just stay around home… mom cooking… Phil
coming for supper… and some chats and TV through the day.
SUNDAY…
--- To the mall for a short time then off to Paula’s for
supper. A good time there. Movie night afterwards. Midnight in Paris was good.
--- Knocked out in the semi’s of the hockey pool. So close too… a goal here… an extra few saves
there… Playing Zetterberg on Saturday rather than benching him. Any of those three things would have been
enough for me to win the week.
MONDAY…
--- 40 today. A
little shopping with mom and dad… some time at home… and the Keg for
supper. A nice day.
TUESDAY…
--- A walk around the lakes and woods… the guy in to measure
windows for blinds… and bring mom and dad to the airport. Evening is back by myself… I watch some TV,
catching up on PVR’d shows. The return
of Mad Men is a fine thing.
WEDNESDAY…
--- Quiet day around the house. Some TV… some sleep… some leftovers for two
meals.
THURSDAY…
--- At 40, I have the first physical of my life. Mixed bag.
Gotta lose some weight… Cholesterol is a bit high. Hopefully the cholesterol is taken care of
with the exercise and increased veggies/decrease greasy meats. Other than that, blood pressure is good, no
sign of diabetes issues and bless those good ol’ kidneys.
--- Some groceries, physio and a hose for the barbeque
follow the doctor’s appointment.
--- Long walk once I’m home.
Just under an hour… and 35 of those minutes was done briskly. Let the exercise begin.
