Ronstar
Moderator Emeritus
Great news, Walt!
What did you do today? 2016 version
- Thread starter Huston55
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Great news, Walt!
KmmFIdreamer
Recycles dryer sheets
"Practicing for retirement" by enjoying a 4 day "weekend" off work. I dragged DS out for a long walk on a bike trail near our house yesterday. Today we intended to go skiing, but ran into a traffic issue. I peeled off the highway, took a little scenic drive past some old gold mines, then stopped at an open space park for a hike and picnic lunch .... Plan B was a pretty nice day all in all. And to think that I have 2 more days off to enjoy!!
Anyway, DS is working tomorrow but we will try and go ski on Thursday instead.
Anyway, DS is working tomorrow but we will try and go ski on Thursday instead.
Brightened someone else's day.
The nurse was just in the hospital room here, and I showed her this post on the thread about the cost of health care because I wanted her to know how pleased I was with the hospital. She was fascinated with the idea of early retirement and I think we might get a new member. She asked me to write down the URL for the site, and then we got into a discussion about LBYM, and what it takes to retire, and avoiding paying someone else to manage their retirement funds. I explained what a "couch potato portfolio" was and why it would outperform anything the "professionals" actively managing funds would do. Then she wanted to know how I knew all this stuff about saving and investing and I told her it was this site and reading the books other people here recommended. She even said I was "a very smart guy". Ha - little does she know! She also wanted to know what books to read and I gave her about five of the usual titles and she wrote those down too. She did mention that she pays off her cc bills every month.
She was in here for maybe 40 minutes! About ten of that on work-related stuff.
Too late for ER for her though, turns out she's a year younger than me (65, near 66) but I would have placed her at early to mid-fifties by appearance.
Still, it was a fun conversation and nice to brighten someone else's day, and to talk with someone who "gets it".
The nurse was just in the hospital room here, and I showed her this post on the thread about the cost of health care because I wanted her to know how pleased I was with the hospital. She was fascinated with the idea of early retirement and I think we might get a new member. She asked me to write down the URL for the site, and then we got into a discussion about LBYM, and what it takes to retire, and avoiding paying someone else to manage their retirement funds. I explained what a "couch potato portfolio" was and why it would outperform anything the "professionals" actively managing funds would do. Then she wanted to know how I knew all this stuff about saving and investing and I told her it was this site and reading the books other people here recommended. She even said I was "a very smart guy". Ha - little does she know! She also wanted to know what books to read and I gave her about five of the usual titles and she wrote those down too. She did mention that she pays off her cc bills every month.
She was in here for maybe 40 minutes! About ten of that on work-related stuff.
Too late for ER for her though, turns out she's a year younger than me (65, near 66) but I would have placed her at early to mid-fifties by appearance.
Still, it was a fun conversation and nice to brighten someone else's day, and to talk with someone who "gets it".
W2R
Moderator Emeritus
Wonderful conversation, Walt! And hopefully very helpful for her, too.
Bestwifeever
Moderator Emeritus
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So glad it went well. What next--a-fib now under control as a result? Blood thinners continue?
Modern medicine really is amazing.
It is amazing. Blood thinners (anti-coagulants) will continue for at least several months until they are sure the procedure worked. I'm pretty sure it did, I can feel the difference in my chest. No more skipped heartbeats, which were common, just seems smoother-running. It might be psychological of course, but I'm very optimistic about this outcome. The nurses did say that there were zero events of afib overnight, and apparently that doesn't happen all the time. It can take a few months for things to heal up to see what the final effects will be.
The surgeon is an interesting guy to talk with. He very clearly loves his job and enjoys what he does, his eyes light up talking about it. Just the kind of guy I want to have working on my heart.
They tell me to take it easy, don't drive for a few days, don't lift more than 10 lbs, and skip the gym for a week, then restart at 1/3 the pace, gradually increasing weekly until back to normal.
We're staying in the hotel for an extra day since we're almost three hours from home and if there are any complications like bleeding from the entrance wounds (where they put the wires in) I don't want to be 80 miles from Nowhere if that would happen. Doc agreed that was a good idea.
And, I can put most of the hotel bill and the fuel we used on the drive on my HSA debit card. If both of us were in the room, $100 per night, and last night when I was in the hospital, $50/night for DW since she is caregiver for me. See IRS publication 502 pages 10-11. The hotel also has a "hospital patient" discount, I guess they figure patients aren't going to party and tear up the room. The hotel is across the street from the hospital and is close enough to walk to/from. This is saving money the hard way....
Fantastic news Walt, so pleased to hear how well you are doing.
Meadbh
Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
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- Jul 22, 2006
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- 11,401
It is amazing. Blood thinners (anti-coagulants) will continue for at least several months until they are sure the procedure worked. I'm pretty sure it did, I can feel the difference in my chest. No more skipped heartbeats, which were common, just seems smoother-running. It might be psychological of course, but I'm very optimistic about this outcome. The nurses did say that there were zero events of afib overnight, and apparently that doesn't happen all the time. It can take a few months for things to heal up to see what the final effects will be.
The surgeon is an interesting guy to talk with. He very clearly loves his job and enjoys what he does, his eyes light up talking about it. Just the kind of guy I want to have working on my heart.
They tell me to take it easy, don't drive for a few days, don't lift more than 10 lbs, and skip the gym for a week, then restart at 1/3 the pace, gradually increasing weekly until back to normal.
We're staying in the hotel for an extra day since we're almost three hours from home and if there are any complications like bleeding from the entrance wounds (where they put the wires in) I don't want to be 80 miles from Nowhere if that would happen. Doc agreed that was a good idea.
And, I can put most of the hotel bill and the fuel we used on the drive on my HSA debit card. If both of us were in the room, $100 per night, and last night when I was in the hospital, $50/night for DW since she is caregiver for me. See IRS publication 502 pages 10-11. The hotel also has a "hospital patient" discount, I guess they figure patients aren't going to party and tear up the room. The hotel is across the street from the hospital and is close enough to walk to/from. This is saving money the hard way....
It's almost like you are enjoying this little adventure. Congratulations!
Hey Walt!..
Good to hear all is going well. I'll be following your progress, as there's a pretty good chance I may be in a similar situation. In trying to get our doctors okay for me to go to our fitness center, the ECG shows AFIB... For me, no prior indication... no fatigue, breathlessness, or even any feeling of the irregular beat. Denied okay, Forward to heart doctor.
From ECG to echocardiogram, which shows the skipped beats.
After looking at the DVD graph of the test, and a 3D pic of the heart, he suggested Warfarin. Some aortic valve enlargement. Long discussion, and a few hours online looking up the prognosis made me decide to hold off for a while... go to aspirin regimen, and go back in three months to look for change.
One of the things that made me decided to wait, was the risk factor for a heart attack... 14%. The other thing that gave me pause, was the discussion about this type of heart attack. It seems that some men actually have heart attacks, which are not lethal... another revelation.
At age 80, the term "out of an abundance of caution" no longer has the same meaning. So, a wait and see. Mid April, another scan and a decision. Thoracic Aorta Aneurysm, below suggested surgery level and with no dissection.
Fortunately the doctor is the acknowledged guru of heart specialists for Central Illinois, and I have great confidence in him.
We do what we must to stay alive, but balance that with down time and calculated risk. In the meantime, beat, beat, beat. bee ee aa t, beat.
Growing old ain't so bad, when you consider the alternative.
Be well, and keep us informed.
Good to hear all is going well. I'll be following your progress, as there's a pretty good chance I may be in a similar situation. In trying to get our doctors okay for me to go to our fitness center, the ECG shows AFIB... For me, no prior indication... no fatigue, breathlessness, or even any feeling of the irregular beat. Denied okay, Forward to heart doctor.
From ECG to echocardiogram, which shows the skipped beats.
After looking at the DVD graph of the test, and a 3D pic of the heart, he suggested Warfarin. Some aortic valve enlargement. Long discussion, and a few hours online looking up the prognosis made me decide to hold off for a while... go to aspirin regimen, and go back in three months to look for change.
One of the things that made me decided to wait, was the risk factor for a heart attack... 14%. The other thing that gave me pause, was the discussion about this type of heart attack. It seems that some men actually have heart attacks, which are not lethal... another revelation.
At age 80, the term "out of an abundance of caution" no longer has the same meaning. So, a wait and see. Mid April, another scan and a decision. Thoracic Aorta Aneurysm, below suggested surgery level and with no dissection.
Fortunately the doctor is the acknowledged guru of heart specialists for Central Illinois, and I have great confidence in him.
We do what we must to stay alive, but balance that with down time and calculated risk. In the meantime, beat, beat, beat. bee ee aa t, beat.
Growing old ain't so bad, when you consider the alternative.
Be well, and keep us informed.
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Went out for a test drive this afternoon. Actually, two. Honda Accord and Subaru Legacy. They're both nice.
My thoughts too. Evidently there are lots of different types and degrees of afib. Lots of people, like you, don't/didn't know they even had it. With me there was no question something was badly out of kilter - sitting still I was breathing hard, a walk up a flight of stairs left me gasping. It definitely got my full and undivided attention!
Got back home this morning and it was worthwhile staying the extra night at the hotel because the pain had subsided a lot and walking was much easier, no concerns about bleeding either. So, just kickin' back and chillin' for the next week while things heal up.
W2R
Moderator Emeritus
jjquantz
Full time employment: Posting here.
Bought a new baroque flute today - The shop sent it to me on approval last week and I got together with a friend today to thoroughly test it out. Met his approval and I had already started to like it so I was glad he didn't find a reason to reject it.
Moemg
Gone but not forgotten
Glad to hear you are on the mend .
Been a few years since I worked with those, but I believe most of the current entertainment systems for use in MRI use piezoelectric speakers.
I also used an optical microphone from a company that was working on creating an optical speaker. Not sure if they ever got that worked out.
Couple of links to companies that sell the items I mentioned:
http://www.mrivideo.com
http://www.optoacoustics.com
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daylatedollarshort
Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
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We went to a foodie benefit in the city called Taste of the Nation. The money goes to No Hungry Kid. The event was at the top of the Metreon - so we had some pretty views of the city, especially at night. They had food stations from 40 top local restaurants, plus wineries, craft beer, espresso, gourmet ice cream - just kind of a wild and almost unending assortment of foodie and beverage stations.
DH isn't much of a foodie. He would rather have a beer and a burger from the local sport bar than pureed peas with julienned scallops and geraniums on top. Still it was kind of fun because it is not the kind of event we'd ever been to before, and I'm guessing from DH's beer and burger comment we won't be doing again next year.
DH isn't much of a foodie. He would rather have a beer and a burger from the local sport bar than pureed peas with julienned scallops and geraniums on top. Still it was kind of fun because it is not the kind of event we'd ever been to before, and I'm guessing from DH's beer and burger comment we won't be doing again next year.
Ah, that makes sense. Thank you. At the time I just couldn't think of how they'd get that to work without a voice coil. But I had other things to think about too.
I gave a quilt to my niece and her Army Ranger husband at a family BBQ yesterday. He did tours in Iraq and Afganistan in regular Army then four more as a Ranger, reaching the rank of Master Sargeant.
I call it 13 Colonies. There are 13 stars, including the middle, and 13 separate quilted fills in waves across the quilt.
The quilt won First Place in Pieced Quilts, Best of Division, and a River City Quilter's Award at the State Fair.
I call it 13 Colonies. There are 13 stars, including the middle, and 13 separate quilted fills in waves across the quilt.
The quilt won First Place in Pieced Quilts, Best of Division, and a River City Quilter's Award at the State Fair.
Souschef
Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Caboose rides
I am a docent on a tourist railroad in California. I work the caboose, and help people get up into the cupola for a great experience, as well as telling them the history of the line and the caboose.. I had a grandfather and grandson on one leg, and found out that the boy's dad was a conductor on Union Pacific.
I am a docent on a tourist railroad in California. I work the caboose, and help people get up into the cupola for a great experience, as well as telling them the history of the line and the caboose.. I had a grandfather and grandson on one leg, and found out that the boy's dad was a conductor on Union Pacific.
Moemg
Gone but not forgotten
Pam , That is one gorgeous quilt.
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- Jul 18, 2010
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- 7,951
Pam - that's beautiful work!
Yesterday was spring cleaning the backyard day. Our winter was so mild that some of the plants didn't die back, so they needed major pruning - the oregano alone threatened to take over the entire garden. Then I raked leaves and cleaned the oak leaves out of the fish pond pump (they drop in March). Topped off the pond and hosed off the furniture. Should have waited - the oaks dropped their "flowers" (ugly green fuzzy things full of pollen) last night.
Today was an early one as our choir sang at both services (normally we just sing at the later service). I feel a nap coming on before fixing grilled rack of lamb and asparagus and leek risotto for dinner, washed down with a nice Pinot Noir.
Happy Easter!
Yesterday was spring cleaning the backyard day. Our winter was so mild that some of the plants didn't die back, so they needed major pruning - the oregano alone threatened to take over the entire garden. Then I raked leaves and cleaned the oak leaves out of the fish pond pump (they drop in March). Topped off the pond and hosed off the furniture. Should have waited - the oaks dropped their "flowers" (ugly green fuzzy things full of pollen) last night.
Today was an early one as our choir sang at both services (normally we just sing at the later service). I feel a nap coming on before fixing grilled rack of lamb and asparagus and leek risotto for dinner, washed down with a nice Pinot Noir.
Happy Easter!
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