Brewed Journey

Medical, Etc.

I finished up my labs, tests, and doctor's appointment. The coronary artery calcium test (CAC) came back at 130 (a non-negative result that usually results in a statin recommendation at my age and gender. My cholesterol was reduced, but my LDL (the bad cholesterol) wasn't reduced enough to avoid the statin recommendation. So, at age 65, I'm on my first medication, designed to reduce LDL cholesterol and hopefully avoid additional narrowing of the arteries.

The good news is that my doctor says I'm doing well overall and don't have to come back for 12 more months. I asked him whether I might have overdone the weight loss, and he doesn't think so. He said that Americans are just used to being obese (he's a Chinese skinny guy) and that I'm at the weight he thinks I should be at. Well, I hadn't been into the doctor for years for a general health check, so this is done, and I'm going to get back to living, while trying to keep my weight stable where it's at.

We are settling back into southern Arizona. Our Grand Canyon backpacking trip in November has been cancelled because Bright Angel Campground is simply gone after a terrible flood that took the lives of three people. So our rim to river hike goes back on the bucket list TBD as to when.

I'm back to playing pickleball most days, and Julia and I went to watch the Pro tournament in Mesa a week or so ago. It was fun being up close and personal to the players we see on tv. Because pro pickleball is so new, access to the players is very easy. I'd much rather watch pro pickleball than pro football, basketball, etc, which I've largely given up interest in.

The wildlife is out this time of year in Tucson. Multiple sightings of rattlesnakes, javelina and bobcats. No pictures though. The sunsets do a better job of standing still.

Western Skies

Dawn at Santa Rosa Lake State Park

We made it to New Mexico. Our goal is to make it home by tomorrow night. I'm loving the smell of juniper and pinon in the air, and the smothered bean burrito (green sauce) hit the spot last night in Santa Rosa.

By evening, it cooled, and we had a visitor join us on our evening walk.

It was moving right along parallel with us and just off the road. Google says its a male Texas brown tarantula. This is only the second one that we've seen since moving out west.

Delightful thunderstorm last night with puddles on the campground road this morning.

Homeward Bound

We are on our way home after spending a couple of days with my mother in Cedar Rapids.

The goal is to put some significant miles on each day. I have doctors appointments, tests and labs next week. Age has caught up with me, and I've needed to make some lifestyle changes in an effort to control blood pressure and cholesterol.

The days of eating whatever I wanted are over--at least if I want to avoid medication. I'm confident that the blood pressure is back to normal,except when I'm anxious at doctor's appointments. The jury is out on cholesterol until the next blood test.

I thought I had a clean family history with regard to those things, but conversations with my mother have revealed that my dad did have some of those issues. He just didn't tell us kids about them. Oh well, I'll control those things that I can control. I've lost 20 pounds since March and seemed to have stabilized at a more healthy weight. I've been following Michael Pollan's advice: eat real food, mostly plants, not too much. That has ended the frequent evening bowls of ice cream and batches of chocolate chip cookies.

We're in eastern Kansas tonight, and the temperatures are over 100 degrees. Fortunately, we are at a COE with electricity, and the a/c is working in the trailer.

Dinner was Mexican food at the small restaurant behind Julia. The servers were two young teenage girls. We couldn't see any Mexican workers, but maybe there was a Mexican cook in the back. I don't know. No margaritas available, but they had beer in the cooler. Interestingly, the server told us that she wasn't allowed to serve us beer, but that we could help ourselves, use a provided bottle opener, and the beer would appear on the bill. Kansas alcohol serving magic but no complaints from me.

Urban Campgrounds

No pictures today. Just a memory from camping this summer in Wisconsin.

There is a community living both in and at the edges of the campground that is not visible to most of us. They travel back and forth to the campgrounds that charge about $30/night for a campsite and permit stays of up to two weeks. There is one particular family that has been in a neighboring site at two of the campgrounds that we have stayed at.

It started off with what we thought was a mom and dad and three kids from ages 3 to 8. "Dad" yelled a lot. The kids, especially the older boy, were out of control. We suspected some abuse was going on, but never directly observed any so couldn't report it. I consulted with a couple of government officials who I talked to at unrelated events,and was told that no one was going to do anything. The family lived in two tents and a screen house.

There was garbage all over the site: dirty dishes, dirty diapers, beer cans, half empty food containers. They stayed up late and slept in late. During days when temps were in the 90's with high humidity, they disappeared in the late model car. When their reservation ended, and it was time to move to the next campground, the "dad" rented a U-Haul van, had the kids throw all of their gear and belongings into the back, and moved to the next campground. We saw this happen three times in two different campgrounds. The campground hosts seemed to largely ignore what was going on. I don't know how the family was supporting themselves; no one seemed to be working. The "parents" appeared able-bodied.

Eventually, we didn't see "dad" anymore. It was just mom, and she let the kids run wild while she hung out with the people below.

These were the druggies. Single guys with beat rv's hanging around all day. Cars pulled over , banging on the doors, and exchanges made. Spongebob on the big tv visible through the camper's windows. Partying late into the night, sleeping late into the day. Taking the sites just beyond the sight of the camp host.

Finally, there were the cars parked outside the campground but within the park. During the day, they moved around a lot. There were three or four regulars. Sometimes we saw them parked at the truck stop. Generally, they found a spot overnight in the park around sunset and were moved to a new spot by dawn. I don't know how they sustained themselves, mostly men but a a couple of women. Technically, no overnight parking is allowed in the park, but resources are spread thin, so I don't think anyone is checking this summer. And they weren't causing any trouble. In fact, they were largely invisible.