Month: January 2023

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Uncategorized

Health Update

Note: This is part of an agreement with my children, that as long as I keep them advised of my health they will no longer worry and harass me about health issues; feel free to skip this.

Had my Winter health update today with my PCP Dr. Corrie White. First the good news – my A1C level is at 5.5, down slightly from 6 months ago. My weight was 250 lbs, so I could stand to lose another 20-30 lbs which would probably help out the A1C as well.

They had me take an Alzheimer Screening Test to measure cognition and I aced it, so that was not a current problem; I had discussed a study of Viagra linking improved cognition and reducing Alzheimer biomarkers with her last time. She said that currently she could prescribe it for Erectile Dysfunction but not for Alzheimer’s prevention, especially since that was not a current problem (apparently one of the side effects of COVID-19 is a reduction in off-label prescriptions). Recognizing the correct answer when presented, I obtained a prescription for ED.

A current issue/problem is my blood pressure. At the office my BP was 160/90, they would like to see it at 130/80. But to make sure it wasn’t an issue of the “white-coat effect” she wants me to get a weeks’ worth of daily measurements. I also brought in my BP cuff to compare it to theirs and it was reasonably accurate. After I drop it off, they will consider whether to put me back on medication. I had been prescribed Losartan and Lisinopril but had been off them for a year.

All in all, it was a successful checkup; I have an appointment for another check in 6 months in early July.

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New Year’s Day

This is Monday January 2, 2023, and winter continues. Yesterday it snowed all day and we woke up this morning to see the following:

30 Inch Drifts

There is a 30 inch drift out back door. The very light snow is blowing from right to left. Yesterday was New Years day and we had the appropriate celebrations.

This morning at 8:00am I got a call from the Dr’s office offering to reschedule my appointment to Wednesday morning.

Deconstructed Reuben

I, of course, had the traditional sauerkraut (a German tradition bringing prosperity). I take my dose in the form of a Reuben Sandwich.

Reuben

It was delicious.

Dressed for Outdoors

The key to weathering the storm is layering. We had some problems getting Mike & Jan’s Nissan Rogue up the slope. Mike and Jan made several attempts, but it took AT’s experience to get them up the slope.

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house construction Uncategorized

Jill’s House

After visiting with my other two sisters last September, my next younger sister Jill decided to build a tiny house up on the ridge behind my house. She is using AT as the contractor and her grandson Johnny has moved up to Wyoming to apprentice to AT.

Last month they broke ground and started construction. It’s a tiny house/studio on a 20×24″ slab. She spends part of the year with family in Texas and part in CA with other family, so this is basically a refuge of her own.

We ran water and power out from my basement up to Jill’s house and ran her main drains down to my septic system. We deliberately sized my septic tank and drain field for 4 bedrooms, allowing for my 3 bedrooms and Jill’s bedroom.

Roof Rafters

The back wall was built in AT’s garage and the front one was built in my garage while I was down going on the cruise with Jan & Mike; so, the walls went up quick. Here they are almost done with the rafters.

Finishing the Roof

Here is what was completed, on the last day of December 2022. The roof is roughed in and covered with chip board. It really does look like a “horse shed, with appliances” as AT phrased it.