In the grand scheme of things I’m a relatively healthy guy.  Sure, I have my problems, and some of them make life less than a bowl of cherries.  But I look at those around me, friends and family alike, many of whom I love dearly, and realize I have it pretty darn good.

But this past week, I’ve had a wake up call.  I have a fatal disease.  One that is controllable, it’s true.  But one that when uncontrolled will kill.  It’s called diabetes.

I’ve known about this for 7 years.  At first, when initially diagnosed, I went to a diabetes workshop hosted by Methodist Hospital.  They told us all about all the nasties that having diabetes can bring about.  They showed us how to self test, and how to eat and I went all gung-ho with dieting and exercise, shedding 45 pounds that first 6 months.

Then I backslid.  I gained all the weight back.  I stopped dieting.  But, amazingly enough, the blood sugar stayed under control.

Let me give brief diabetes lesson (the following is for a diabetic): When fasting (5 – 8 hours no food) blood sugar should be between 70 & 130 and less than 180 at other times.  In fact, that 180 is a little high.  These levels are tested at various times during the day with a personal Blood Glucose Level (BGL) Meter by pricking a finger and testing a drop of blood.  Every three months or so, a diabetic should have blood drawn for a HbA1c test.  This is read as a percentage of, well, something, and should fall between 4% and 6%.

So, as I was saying, in spite of back-sliding, my BGL remained pretty good – by which I mean the high readings were below 145, and my A1cs stayed well below that 6.

At some time during this, I lost sight of how dangerous diabetes can be.

Then, last spring, my levels started going up.  After not testing for several MONTHS, my BGL was 190.  I about passed out!  Ran to the doctor.  And started watching my blood levels.  Eventually they started dropping, and all was well.  Then, on 9/8/2011, I stopped testing my BGLs.  That date corresponds to Dad’s being admitted to the hospital, and I’m sure that had something to do with my stopping.  But I stopped, and completely lost sight of my goal.

Now, here it is January 2012.  Last week, we had a Wellness Screening event here at work.  They tested my blood.  I was not quite fasting, it had been 4 hours since my meal.  The reading was astronomic… for me.  It tested at 248.  I asked for a retest, and that came back at 233.  For me, extraordinarily high.

In the passing week, my BGL has fluctuated from a low of 221 (Fasting level) to a high of 325 (2 hours after breakfast, a bagel (plain) and cup of coffee).

And then the topper.  Today, I got my A1c results back.  My A1c is a whopping 9.2% which indicates, in the words of my doctor “Out of the ballpark, in no way under control.”  It’s very bad.

So, effective today, the doctor is increasing my medication… in fact he is DOUBLING my medication.  He warned me to beware that I’ll probably have stomach issues as a result (I’m going to go research what that means, shortly).

I have to watch my diet more stringently, and probably the most important thing is I need to increase my exercise level.  Since my life qualifies these days as “sedentary” this last may be the easiest thing I do.

I am not happy with these developments.  The only good that came out of this is that my cholesterol levels are actually relatively good: Total Cholesterol is only 133.  It’s only taken me 20 years to get them down from a high of 280)  And my prostate is probably healthy (though we’re going to take another look at that in 3 months when I go back for my next A1c.

So, next time you see me reach for a bagel, or worse a slice of cake, pie, candy, etc SLAP ME!

One of the reasons I missed a post last week was last week was the week Scott and I flew off to Florida! We had a great week in Daytona Beach with my cousin Kathy and her husband Don, and with my Aunt Jeanie and Uncle Lew.

Friday, the 20th, we flew down from Omaha to Orlando. When we were driving over to the airport, the temp here in Omaha was a mild 9 degrees. Wind chill factor was below zero. We landed to a pleasant 74 degrees in Orlando. So when the rental car agent recommended an upgrade to a convertible, I was very much in favor, especially with a 70% discount!

We headed off to Daytona Beach with the top down, and of course, no GPS so we immediately got lost. We ended up going east out of town, and ended up in Titusville, where we had lunch at a delightful little cafe, Caffe Chocolat.

Saturday began with the requisite morning swim in Kathy’s pool… brrrrrrrrrrr! No, it wasn’t requisite, and I’m the only one foolish enough to attempt it!

After lunch at the Ocean Deck, where I ate my first oysters AND aligator meat, followed by fish tacos (I’m in HEAVEN!) Kathy suggested we go to the Daytona Beach race track. Now let me tell you something. I’ve always considered racing BORRRRRRINNG! Watching cars go round and round on a track on television is a magnificent soporific as far as I am concerned. But, in hopes of being a courteous guest, Scott and I agreed, so off we went to the track.

At Daytona International Speedway you can actually do a ridealong with a racer in one of the cars. Or, if you want to pony up $475 you can actually DRIVE one of the cars. While we were there there were several people who’d coughed up the half k for the drive so we watched them. In addition, a couple of the racers’ mechanics were putting two cars through their paces. Those in the ride along or driving experience were going about 140 mph, and the mechanics were doing 200 plus (or at least so I am told).

For all you race fans out there, and especially for YOU my big brother Bob… now I get it. O! M! G! Just standing there watching those cars, hearing them coming, FEELING them coming, and passing was a huge adrenelin rush! One senses the raw power somewher deep within, viscerally.

Afterwards, we drove down to Ponce Inlet where, it is my understanding, some 500 or more years ago Ponce de Leon first came ashore in Florida, we stopped in for drinks (I was driving, so Diet Coke only for me).

Later Saturday night we ate dinner at Carribean Jacks (or something like that) for dinner (crab cake and cold shrimp) where I saw my next purchase. A small little boat off on the other side of the marina… I think it was only about 75 feet or so and about 3 stories high…

We wrapped up the evening with a fantastic round of WII Bowling (3 full games). I want one!

Yesterday, it was home to Omaha and Council Bluffs and our little girl Princess Nikki! Tonight we pick up Ixchel and our little family is together again!

Okay, now that’s out of the way, let us begin!

I’m beginning this new year of 2012 with a sense of anticipation.  Scott and I have quite a few plans for this year.  I’ll outline them for you.

Our home was built in, we think, 1920 (the County says 1910, but everything else points to 1920)  It needs a bit more work.  First of all, one of the two beams in the basement that support the house is sagging.  Because of this, most doors in the house to not shut properly.  The bathroom won’t latch.  The Den door won’t latch.  The door to the basement stairs won’t CLOSE (there’s a 3 inch gap) and the swinging door between the dining room and kitchen won’t swing.  If you are in the Dining room and the door is shut, you have to walk around to the kitchen… or get down on your knees, and grab the door at the bottom and pull!

Also, we get water in the basement every time it rains.  Sometimes a trickle, sometimes up to 3 inches of water!  Can you say “Eeewwwwwww!”

In addition to this, the retaining wall at the back of the house has been threatening to collapse ever since we moved in way back in 1999.  That year the neighbors to the south of us lost their retaining wall.  They did a pretty poor job of repairing it, and it looked terrible… we sweat through praying it wouldn’t collapse and take ours with it.  This past August, 12 years to the week after it collapsed, it caved again, this time damaging the garage on the property above it, as well as some minor damage to our garage.  They’ve repaired it nicely, this time (new owners).

So, PLAN # 1 FOR 2012:  We’re contracting with Thrasher Basement Systems to come out.  They’ve already given us an estimate for the cost of repairing the basement and putting in a sump pump and for repairing the retaining wall.  While they’ve not provided an estimate in writing, they said they can level up our sagging beams and put in new posts for under $1000 (in addition to the cost of the water sealing and retaining wall).

Our yard is mostly weed, and doesn’t grow well.  Our driveway, on the other hand has more grass growing out of the cracks than we like.  So PLAN # 2 FOR 2012 is to replace the sidewalk and part of the driveway.  Yes, Cousin Don, 2 years after you and I spent an hour on the phone discussing what we need, we’re finally going to do it!

When we bought our lovely home, it was a nice shade of blue/grey… almost a Wedgewood Blue! At the time, I thought it could do with a paint job.  Now it’s just downright disgusting, so PLAN # 3 FOR 2012 is to repair/replace all the fascia and soffits that require it, and paint the house.

Back in about 2000, we had to completely replumb the house.  As a result, some holes were created in the walls and ceiling in our main bathroom.  In addition to this, paint has been peeling off the ceiling since the very beginning, and there’s problems around the shower/bath.  PLAN #4 FOR 2012 is to gut and remodel the bathroom.  Yes, we’ve said this every year for 3 years now… this is IT!  I promise!

But that’s not all, oohhhh noooo…. not in the slightest.  Some of our plans are for the simple pleasure of enjoying life!

To that end, Scott and I have the following plans:

TRAVEL PLAN # 1 FOR 2012:  We’ve never been to Florida, so we’re gonna go!  And the primary reason is to visit my Aunt in Ormond Beach!  Yes, Aunt Jeanie, we’re gonna come down and see you, if that’s okay.

TRAVEL PLAN # 2 FOR 2012:  We need an Ikea fix, so we’re going to drive up to Minneapolis for an Ikea visit…

TRAVEL PLAN # 3 FOR 2012:  Two cousins on my Dad’s side of the family live in London.  As in England.  Cousin Molly made the huge error on Thanksgiving Day of saying “You guys ought to come over for a visit.  You can stay with us!”  So, we’re going, tickets are bought & paid for, and the dates are set.  However, for security reasons, you’ll just have to wait until we go to find out when!  We’ve also already arranged for a friend to live in our house during that time.

TRAVEL PLAN # 4 FOR 2012:  July brings with it the Hays Family Reunion, so we’ll be off to Branson, MO.

TRAVEL PLAN # 5 FOR 2012:  Can’t miss out on Rendezvous 2012.  This year, we’ll have some doggies with us!

TRAVEL PLAN # 6 FOR 2012:  Uh, not sure there’ll be a #6 for us this year… but I got a bit of a hankering to go to New Mexico for Christmas.

So, as I see it, there should be a LOT of stuff to write about!  But I STILL welcome your suggestions, because I don’t want to bore you all with the minutiae of water proofing basements!

Wanna know what I came up with? My New Years resolution for 2012 is (drum roll please)…

To post a minimum of three blog posts a week!

That’s a lot of posts.

Happy New Year to all my friends, family and fans!

The one claim, that I was born around 4 a.m., is easy enough to check out.  All I have to do is take a look at my birth certificate, which I’m pretty sure is in my files at home.

The second claim is equally easy to check out… was it a super hot day the day I was born?  Was it indeed the 104 degrees I recall – or think I recall – being told?

Alas, that claim is definitely not true.  It turns out that June 5, 1958, was a delightful day.  A little rainy, perhaps, medium winds.  And a high of 78 degrees.  That hardly fits my recollection of what others told me!

And yet, somehow, those two facts (which on their face appear to contradict each other) are kind of core facts I’ve always carried around.  That it was cool, not hot… or perhaps that I was born at 4 p.m. not 4 a.m…. that doesn’t really effect who I am or how my life has turned out.  Really they don’t impact me now, 53 years later, in any significant way. 

But, it’s odd to me.  Leads me to wonder about other things I THINK I recall.  That super sharp memory of standing in the front yard, holding Dad’s hand… at less than two years of age?  Is that real?  I know I was less than 2, ’cause I was in my diapers.

Or the time I rode into Messina at the head of a conquering army?  Was that real???? No, that one I’m pretty sure of…

First just to wrap up from my last entry (entitled “Ouch”), Scott diligently packed my wound every morning, and became an old pro at it in no time!  By June 8th, there was nothing left to pack, just a little hole.  The doctor said “Stop the packing.  No need to come back.”

By today, even that little hole has closed up. 

Scott and I have been having a lot of fun these past weeks.  This past winter was a very cold winter in Council Bluffs.  One of the problems we’ve had is that we live in an old house, nearly 95 years old.  The windows are all original.  The sealant around the edges of the glass panes… I can’t remember what that’s called… has become all dry and brittle and is falling out.  And so, around many of the windows, are great gaping crevises through which the frigid air can blow.  Chunks of cardboard can be passed through them!  On windy days, the drapes on some of the windows can be seen to billow out!

When we returned from our March trip to California, Arizona and New Mexico, we discovered that in our bedroom, one of the panes had completely fallen out!  Thank goodness winter was over by then.

Oh, and one more thing… we have NO storm windows!  Or even screens on most of the windows!

In addition, the windows have become so old that the glass is no longer clear!  When looking out through our windows everything is distorted.  And that really is a problem, especially when the neighbor is having his house reroofed, and there are cute guys on his roof and we can’t see them clearly! 

So, we knuckled over and put new windows on the house.  Yup, we replaced ALL of them!  Twenty-five new windows!  And they look great!  And the house feels nicer! 

But, you know, you can’t put up dingy old curtains over brand new windows!  All the blinds had to come down, too!  Our bedroom especially has been the beneficiary of new curtains.  It’s getting ready to undergo a total remodel… painting, new headboard for the bed (built in to the wall) new wainscoting (hmmm, wonder if that’s spelled right!?).

Our room currently has white walls, with forest green wainscoting.  The walls do not rise to the ceiling in 90 degree angles, but rather curve near the top.  This makes painting a challenge.  What to do.

We’re going to paint the walls grey… not super dark, but pretty dark.  Then, we’re putting in wainscoting in STARK, glossy white.  The headboard will be floor to ceiling, also stark, glossy white.  We’ve already bought a new coverlet for our bed in blue.  It’s hard to describe this blue, so I won’t try very hard… it’s a shimmery blue… yeah, that’ll have to do it until I can get a picture.

The curtains are gold, with a merlot colored sheer under them.  It’s going to be nice, if not a little dark… but that’s okay.  We kind of want that look.  Relaxing… sexy…

Well, guess that’s it for now!

At last writing, I had thrown in the towel on my Walking Challenge… only to have several of my readers pick it up and throw it back at me!  So, now there are several of us involved in the Challenge… and today is the last day of the first week, so I’m anticipating receiving their step counts either tonight or tomorrow!  And each of you know who I’m referring to, so you BETTER get those step counts in!

To my other readers, it’s not too late to join us… while the Challenge ends on October 1, 2010, you can join at any time before that.  Do you walk from your sofa to the frig once a day?  You can join us!  Do you walk from 7 a.m. to midnight with out stopping?  You can join us! (But if you’re in that latter group you might have a bit of a problem showing “progress”!)

One of those joining the challenge is my niece from San Francisco.  She is going to be using the Challenge as a means of preparing for the Susan G. Komen 3 Days for the Cure walk being held in SF in October… coinciding with the last day of our Challenge.

Her mother was one of four great women who have impacted my life.  At a time when I was sure I would have to carry my secret by myself, Bonnie stood with me, and supported me and, amazingly enough, continued to like me in spite of me!  Bonnie holds a special place in my heart because of that.  And so, when her daughter announced she was going to walk in the Susan G. Komen 3 Day, I thought… “What a marvelous idea!”  So, I signed up too!

So, here’s the deal.  Between now and October 1, 2010, I have to do two things.  The first thing I have to do is train, train, train.  I need to be able to walk 20 miles, give or take a tiny amount, a day for three consecutive days.  Training is Task 1.  I’m hoping this won’t be a problem, though right now, I have severe problems with shin splints when I hit the 3 mile mark… stretching is Task 1, Subtask a!

Task 2 is the harder part.  I’ve paid my non-refundable $90.00 registration fee.  Now, I have to raise $2,300.00 in contributions or they (the organizers) will not allow me to walk!  These contributions are non-refundable as well.  Those donating on my behalf have to know that, should I not raise enough funds, or for some other reason am unable to start/complete the walk due to injury, illness or whatever, their contribution is final. 

What that really means is, a contributor needs to contribute to the Susan G. Komen Foundation because they believe in that cause, not solely because they are betting on me.  Capiche?

Now, I’m turning to you, my readers, to help me make this small little goal of $2,300.00 by October 1, 2010! 

For more information on the Susan G. Komen Foundation visit the web site for The 3 Day Walk for the Cure.

To actually make a contribution on my behalf, go HERE:  http://www.the3day.org/site/TR/2010/SanFranciscoBayAreaEvent2010?px=5154462&pg=personal&fr_id=1470

 Oh, and one more thing.  I’m aware that some of you may already be supporting my niece on her walk.  Please don’t feel like I’m asking you to contribute to both of us!

When one gets enthused about something, something that really really fires them up, I think it’s easy for them to lose sight that not everyone is as excited as they are.  I suppose that’s what happened here.  At this point in my life, walking is what fires me up.  It did once before, and it did good things for me then.  Maybe it will now.  And maybe, in 6 months, walking will just be a distant memory.

In the end, the only person I can really challenge is myself.

So I’m withdrawing my challenge.  (And Tony, I’d be honored if you’d still join me in my walking.  We’ll keep the challenge just between the two of us!

I’ve set myself two challenges.  The first is to walk 500 miles between now and the first of September.  The second is to walk 100 miles in the next 30 days.

And I’d created a KILLER Challenge program to track everyones’ progress.  Sigh.

A long, long, long time ago, in Eric Years anyhow, I was diagnosed with Diabetes… this was back in April of 2005.  I remember the day.  It was “Donut Day” at work and I’d just had about my 20th donut (slight exaggeration for hyperbolic effect) when I started having chest pains.  I’ve been no stranger to chest pains since 1999, but these seemed just a little worse than usual.  So, a friend drove me to the hospital. My heart, as is always the case, was fine, but the doctors suggested I see my personal physician about getting checked for diabetes.  And that is enough of THAT story… I serve it up here for the sole purpose of setting up what follows!

One of the recommendations that came about as a result of “Diabetes Awareness Classes” that my MD sent me to was the importance of losing weight, and getting good exercise.  It was at this class that I was introduced to the “10,000 Step Program”.  I say that as if there is but one such program… there isn’t.  Google “10000 Step Program” and you’ll see that everyone has one.

The concept is simple really… anything is better than sitting around watching TV.  So, go buy yourself a cheap little pedometer, and clip it to your belt.  You can find them for as little as $5.00.  Put it on each morning, and each night before you go to bed record the number of steps you took that day.   At the end of the first week, take all those steps and get an average.  (So, look at this little table for an example of how to get an average:)

First of all, the individual walking those steps is NOT a couch potato.  But he’s close to one!  Assuming you have a 2.5 foot pace (the distance between the toe of your right foot and the heel of your left foot when both are on the ground while walking) then 2112 paces, or steps, is equal to 1 mile.  For the purpose of the 10k step program, we say 2000 steps is 1 mile… and therefore 10000 steps is 5 miles.

Okay, then, take that 2,609 average step and round it up to the nearest 500, in this case, 3000 steps.  This is your goal.  Each day during week 2, try to walk at least 3000 steps EVERY DAY… no averages this time.

The next week, add 500 steps (3,500) and that is your target goal for that week.

If you’re really out of shape, not in to walking, then set milder goals… or strive for a single goal for a longer period.  You might, if you are the guy that walked those sample steps up there in my table, set a goal of 3000 steps per day for a whole month, and then move up to 3500 for the next month.

Back to my story.  In 2005, I began the 10000 step program, and my average steps weren’t too far off those of the sample I just cited.  On the day I was diagnosed with diabetes, I weighed in at 249 pounds.  I set my goals low, and for a month at a time.  My goal was to get to 5000 steps by end of summer.  I found the more I walked the more I WANTED to walk.  And soon, I was a walking fool!  By mid-October, I was at 10000 steps a day, I was down to 200 pounds and things were going good.  (By the way, it wasn’t ONLY exercise that brought the weight down)

And then the midwest winter hit.  So I bought a treadmill.  Then “Treadmill Boredom” hit.  And from there on, my steps started going downhill.  I quit walking, for a bunch of reasons, and I really don’t remember most of them!  By 2009, I was back to being almost but not quite a couch potato.  My weight had crawled back to about 240.  I joined weight watchers, my weight dropped but I didn’t exercise more.  I dropped back to 220.  I got laid off, I quit Weight Watchers, I exercised a little more, and managed for the next year to keep my weight in the low 220s.

Just a note on the diabetes here.  It’s under great control, even when I eat foolishly.  My high numbers really don’t get in to dangerous territory… they approach, but they don’t make it.  On a high day my level 2 hours after eating is under 150, generally around 145.  High, but not dangerous.

Walking, walking… yes, back to topic.  In March I got a job in Downtown Omaha. Scott and I carpool… which means he drives me to 19th and Dodge and drops me off.  I then walk the 4 blocks to my office.  At lunch, to find food, I have to walk… there’s lots of good food in downtown Omaha and a walk can be anywhere from 1 block to 10.

After work… I get out of work at 4:30.  This is a mandated EOD for me.  Due to contracts and unions and such and the fact I’m a contractor for 2 more months, I am not allowed overtime.  And while I’m fine working an hour or two overtime every day with out reporting it… that’s a big no no… so I have to leave at 4:30… or the 8 hour mark.  (That’s why I’m writing this at noon on a Wednesday.  I worked 6 hours last Sunday, and 4 hours 2 Sundays before that, so I had to take a day off to get caught up!)  Scott gets off work at 5, and takes 25 minutes to get down town.  What to do?

I walk!  I’m back to participating in the 10000 Step Program.  I set a goal of 5000 steps a day for April.  In May, I’ll up that to either 6000 or 6500 steps a day.  That shouldn’t be too hard, as I’m close to that for April… and just yesterday I put in 10,075 steps!  I’m loving it!

So there you are.  That’s what’s going on in my life.

Now, here’s my challenge to you all!  Who wants to join me for a “Community Challenge”?  The idea is, as many people as email me or make a comment (it has to be approved by me, which means I have to know who you are) I’ll take that number, and we’ll set an arbitrary “Community Steps” count… say, if 10 people sign up, we’ll set a target of 500,000 paces by September 1.  Everyone will email me their daily steps either daily or weekly.  I’ll put a Cumulative Step Count up here on my blog every Sunday or something.  And we’ll see how it goes!  I’ll spend some time today refining this idea and post more if I get any takers.  How’s that sound? 

If you’d like, email me and I’ll try to help you set up a “plan of action” for the purpose of this challenge.

I bet I can walk farther than YOU can!

We’ll set up a prize or something.  What d’ya say?

Man.. these boots are gonna walk all over YOU!

As of today, I am no longer unemployed!  At about 3:30 p.m. today local time, I accepted an job offer from a local governmental agency.  Once things are really secured, I’ll post an update on what I’ll be doing and the agency name.

It’s been a LONG drought for me!  And the really good part is, they want me to start the Monday AFTER Scott and I were expecting to return from our vacation, and so the vacation is still on!

I’m as giddy as… I don’t know what!