It Was A Day ...

 Turning 55 years of age is not a huge mile marker like 30, or 50, and so on. I truly was not expecting any big shin-dig, or some major surprise party (thankfully! I hate those). I pretty much did nothing all day. The birthday posts on social media started coming in. a few family/friends via text. One call from the Daughter and the Granddaughters to sing Happy Birthday to me. One call from my best friend back in Michigan - though I didn't answer it. I was in the process of going to bed (8:30pm? Yeah, I'm over 50). Think about then there was probably around 60-70 posts from HS friends, to current friends, and so many others! I did reply personally to many of them yesterday, but will be doing the final ones this morning. I heard from the Middle Son via text. Never heard from the Oldest Son, and the Youngest, though living at home, never said anything either. Oh well.

Today is Labor Day, and I have nothing planned. The Wife has to work. The Youngest has a friend in town from out of state, so no idea what their plans may be. I'll probably do my Homegroup meeting, then play games the rest of the day - no I won't. I didn't do the minutes yesterday...oops! I just pulled out the laptop so I can start on them next.

The Wife and I were discussing my medical last night. I need to be sure to bring up the edema in my legs. It is worse than when I started a year ago. My legs are so sensitive to touch, yet itch all the time. The swelling is bad, too. Look like two large lumps of meat. Compression socks seem to help a little, but I don't see much difference. I think they should increase my diuretics, but I am not a doctor.

Welp, got other things to get done (minutes) so will end this today.

PeacE

The Birthday Month

 September is my Birthday Month. I like to say I try to celebrate it all month long, but that is pretty hard to do. Most restaurants only give one free meal (or entree, dessert, whatever) on the exact day of your birthday, or they have a limited time coupon to use (usually a week around your birthday). And though I do drink quite often out at the pub, or Post, that just is ridiculous to try to do it every day - and expensive! Either way, that Day, is Friday. Later today (not sure what time yet) a friend from Florida is arriving herein the Valley. I have known her for many years, and this year, she flew out specifically for my birthday. So plans today will be probably meeting up with her once she is settled into a hotel. Not sure what Friday will bring, as I would like to see what kind of birthday lunch I can find (or where near me anyways), which will then end with me at the Post (with my friend). Saturday I am doing my yearly 'Come hang out with me for a drink' afternoon.

I guess the Youngest is asking about going to Tucson this weekend. It is unusual for him to kind of 'push' about going to visit, but I guess he has an ulterior motive. The Daughter recently just had part of her computer system re-built/modified, and I guess she offered up some old parts to him, that are an improvement for his system. The Wife told Youngest that I had plans this weekend as it is my birthday weekend, but talking with me last night about it, I mentioned maybe we could go down Sunday for a few hours. My requirement being we are back home by 6'ish, so I am able to have a couple more hours with my friend before she leaves Monday. Decision to follow on that one.

I have been "learning" some new things this week - or maybe, just how to utilize resources I have not used before would be the better turn of phrase. I actually started using the Google calendar feature. I have missed several Auxiliary meetings, and other such related to the VFW, because they are only on certain days of the month, and I forget. I figured out how to set them to repeat on special terms (like second Tuesday of each month) and to send me a reminder hours before the event, so I can plan to be there better. I hope it works....

Also going to be messing with Google Docs today. This year brings about he 6th Annual Santa Run my friend and I started a few years back. We had to change up some of the requirements to attend, and I need to get some sort of flyer out about it. I work so much easier from my PC than my phone or tablet, I figured I could type up the info, or even make a flyer format, and sync to the phone, and send messages to those that have gone in the past years, or are interested this year. There have been some other changes that my friend is doing as well, as far as the locations we go, and already that is getting some negative feedback. So I am starting to wonder if this is the end of the fun....

Went to bed early last night (for me) at around 9pm. Must be why I woke at 1:30am wide-awake. I really need to see if my medical provider will prescribe me some sleep aid (like Ambien) so I would be able to get a decent 8-hour sleep. This 1-4 hour nap crap with hours awake between is just brutal.

Enough of my griping already....

PeacE

Solar Re-Visitation

 Yesterday I celebrated another trip around the sun. Yee. Haw. Glad that day is over.

I attempted to log in to work today, to see what is going on. As of a couple days ago, it appeared things were in a 'holding pattern'. Today, as I log into MS Teams, things got worse pretty quick. There was no project chat features. No project at all, in fact. My guess is one of two things: I got kicked from the project (unlikely), or the project came to an abrupt halt (more than likely). So it seems I will eb sending an email requesting to join another project  here shortly.

Nothing else to really write about. I covered the birthday. Covered work stuff. I don't do much else of interest.

PeacE

It May Be a Fine Day

 I woke today around 2am. That was after a 9pm bedtime, with a couple sleeping pills. After a morning visit with RM, I had crashed and slept a good part of the day, so the less sleep I got I understand. I will be trying to sneak a couple back in before this morning is over, prior to going to bar this afternoon.

Yesterday started my birthday month. I started with a dozen donuts and a couple sweet iced teas that I took to RMs and visited a bit. Then I went to my brothers, dropped off the remaining donuts (minus the maple bacon and a cronut). Back home and to bed. The Wife is sicker than I was - hers seem to be more the flu than the cold I had. A friend texted me last night he is not feeling well now either, and thought he caught it from me. I told him no, there has to be a bug, as I was not flu sick...  I had a cold.

The Middle Son might be bay the bar and say happy birthday today. He texted yesterday to verify the time frame. I told him I did not expect him as he has to work that evening, and he couldn't enjoy a beverage. He said he could come by and have a coke or something.

Welp, off to bed to get a couple more hours in....

PeacE

Happy Birthday to Me

 Another trip around Sol. Another notch to add to the aging tree (if there were such a thing. Happy Birthday to me.

I celebrated, yet again, yesterday with my friend from Florida. It was good to have a couple hours to catch up in person. It is back to work today, and I started early today due to one of the cats woke me at around 4:30 this morning. At least I will be done early, and have the afternoon to do something for the birthday, like read some more of the book I am on... or something.

Either way, thigns to do, things to celebrate before I am too old.

PeacE

Life Is Crazy

Much has happened since I last logged in here and spewed words. The Wife was in an accident (her fault) and totaled the mini-van. I had to give up driving the "back-up" car (Middle Son's to be) and was catching rides with Reverend Mother. Finally got my insurance check on my car. Was able to find another vehicle pretty fast - a 2007 Dodge Charger. Same year as the Magnum was, so the interior is exactly the same, just not the larger cargo area in the back. It is black with some spots of paint weathering. Got it for a low, low price, too. Been running awesome!

Then about a couple weeks ago, the Oldest Son get tagged by a hit and run driver. Thankfully the damage is only cosmetic and his car doesn't need replaced. But the police have not been able to locate the other driver. Unfortunately, we don't carry the extras on the insurance policy, so no repairs being done.

This past Friday I turned 48 this year. Never thought I would live so long. Spent a nice evening out with some friends and had a few too many beers.

The Redskins have their first regular season game today, and I will be heading up to the pub to watch it.Here's to hoping they have a good season.

Welp, that's about all I got.

PeacE

End of an Era

Today ends my Birthday month. It has been quite the party, but like all good things, it has reached its end. Anything major happen in the last 30 days? Well, aside from me hitting the ripe age of 45.... my Redskins (1-2) finally won their first game (and hopefully the start of a good, long, winning streak). The oldest son had his first car mishap (explanation later on). The temps in AZ have been below 100 for over a week now. I can't think of much more that would be worthy of mention.

So, about a week ago, the oldest son, new to driving (on his own) as he has only had his license maybe a month, had his first accident. Thankfully he wasn't hurt, and there wasn't much damage. Seems on his way to classes one morning, another driver was "driving pretty fast, faster than the speed limit" somehow glanced off the Son's passenger front fender. Minor dents, pushed in the wheel well area a little, and luckily didn't rip the bumper off, or break the headlight assembly. The wheel well was pushed in just enough it would rub the tire when he hit a speed bump. When I got home that night, I was able to pull it out about a half inch, and he said later that did the trick so it isn't rubbing anymore. The worst of the whole situation, is the other driver didn't even bother to stop AT ALL. Our guess was they were probably un-insured, as too many seem to be out here. That, or possibly even illegal. I felt good that my Son handled himself well, and wasn't hurt. Bonus was that the car wasn't damaged so bad it would not be able to be driven. I just bought that thing!

I had a Doctor visit this past week. Nothing to do with age, just a 3 month check-up following being released back to work after the back injury. Doc wanted to go over blood results from a draw I did last week, for this appointment. Liver activity was high, as were the Triglycerides. I got the usual quit drinking, quit smoking, lose weight speech. I had gained 3 pounds. Got a prescription for something to help lower/manage my triglycerides. Was stressed at to quit/cut-back on the drinking, to be sure I don't get cirrhosis of the liver, or pancreatic problems. Well, the birthday month is over, so the drinking will slow down again. I'm going to be more aware of portions and what I eat. I am sure the alcohol intake being reduced will help with the weight loss.

Supposed to be 96 degrees today. I'll still use the AC in the truck until the sun goes down. After that, it feels nice to be out and driving. Work is the same. have a new tech starting soon, and just had one go on medical leave - ripped his bicep muscle. Probably be out 4-6 months. Saves me about 20-30 minutes of driving to/from his house. He is the furthest out I go to.

Guess that is about all I got for now....

PeacE