Smartie's Bar & Grill #66

Hey my friend! I've been in hiding.

I hope things are well for you, and your personal life is serene. I am right now battling Atrial fibrillation, now that we gained control of my migraines, which came as we were over coming Minierre's disease which came as I was recovering from PTSD. It's been an interesting three years. It seems everyone around me has it and leads a normal life. I have a rather funny story about the diagnosis involving a large butcher knife, and two EMT's, one of them a hottie.
But life is serene, even if rest is mandatory, grateful for the Canadian health system as through it I am a member of an arts studio cleverly called The Arts Studios and have discovered I can draw, and am told I am good. If true, I take no credit as it appears to be natural rather than gained.
Spring is here, the cherry blossoms are hinting at color, the crocuses are up and for some reason the price of medicinal marijuana is dropping.
I may have died and am in heaven.

How are you?

 

I didn't think they were poisonous, thank you for the information. Their size alone is all they need to make people leave them alone. (Sensible people that is.)

 

I thought I replied but cant seem to find it. Obviously my computer skills have not improved.

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I do believe I am screwing things up as this is about the fifth time I've tried this. This site certainly is different than the standard.
How are you my friend? My hope is you are well, serene and without stress in your life. Despite my many years of sacrifice in the name of staying healthy, I am plagued with a long list of issues all of which are minor, but nonetheless uncomfortable.
We advance as best we can, for me it has slowed me so much that I now see the world around me as needlessly hectic, pressured.
I am pressed for time now that I wasted the morning figuring out - if I have.

 

There are about 900 species of taurantula, some very large, and one at least about the size of a dime...which is the one that bit me (in California years ago) and began an education in natural things that can kill, most of which live in Australia by the way.

The "bite" by the way was an ugly red swelling on my ankle which swelled up my lower leg for a week to ten days

 

Glad to know you are okay. Still chasing those Canadian Hotties around are ya?


As well as can be expected.....the divorce finally went thru and I am back to doing everything without another Half. 17 years down the tubes, and she gets to keep the house that has doubled in value, and my dog. Currently the house is divided with me in the front half and her in the back half. I have until July to move out.

Already looking at other places and I figure I will move out before July gets here. I have 5 cats so they will be going with me.

Spring is coming here to. So I expect things to improve. I already have the house packed up and ready to go. So all that's left is the garage and the side room attached to it. I am moving a 3 bdr house full of furniture. She gets to keep the appliances.

Got me a new car. Ford Fiesta. I wanted a SUV. But it was all I can do for the time being.

 

Oh I still chase 'em....the slow ones anyway. My cane kind of limits my ability to accelerate on demand...I still need it because of Menniere's disease...but it has been a great help with my Afib.
It's all about healing my friend, and a house is just sticks and brick. I have learned to try to find the silver lining, as with Atrial fibrillation, where I had four ex-rays of my chest in five weeks, my lungs are clean. I was a pack a day smoker for 50 years, I figured I dodged a worse bullet.

New house is a new adventure, you were dying in that relationship my friend....it was draining all the good out of you.

Now you have a Ford Fiesta, which is not an SUV, and will save $$$ on gas, put the difference in the bank and bob's your uncle. I just learned something from my bank manager who happens to be a close personal friend. Pay yourself first. We all try to put $ away by waiting till the end of the month....uh uh, do it when the check comes in and live with the balance. It's working for me

 

Keep on chasing them it will keep you in your youth. Yeah I got the Doc on me about quitting smoking. Gave me the patch and the gum. I am hoping after the move I will start them.

It will be an adventure that's for sure. Will just need to get use to it being empty when I come home from work. Well other than my critters. At least until I can find another. Although, I might be willing to accept a couple of Hotties that can cook, and like to pamper an Old man.

I always take care of my critters first, then budget myself out.

 

Took me tens years to quit smoking.

Start now

 

I have....Ive cut down to 3 packs lasting me a week. The busier I am the less I smoke. Plus I wont smoke in the car. Want to keep that new car smell for as long as I can.

Besides that I don't want to smell like an ashtray when flirting with the wimmens folk.

Btw didn't you just have a Bday too.

 

That's the way to do it!

For me, it became successful as a result of teaching myself to go longer and longer without a smoke. When I gave up all of them I found myself back on the old cycle again, and on a Friday found a support site. I don't know if its still around, since I quit seven years ago a search for them in Canada - it's a private US site - turns up too much advertising.

In any even, it remain the hardest task I have ever had to face...and that includes alcoholism, drug addiction, failed marriages, diabetes, heart disease. You need to know that going in that you are engaging in warfare with the most powerful addiction known to mankind.m Our failures come from soaring expectations on ourselves and when we slip we give up, again, and again.

The right way is to recognize little goals...you are beating this mf day by day by denying it is food. BTW, each cigarette you smoke makes quitting more difficult as the chemical stimulants embed in our cells.

In closing, when you make the final step, you are gong to face some inconvenience along with the pain of quitting....like constipation, sleeplessness, jitters, some people go through a puking stage....all evidence of how power is the addiction. And all the more reason to take pride in each little step. One last word....I did it, and if I can do it, anyone can.

 

Btw, didn't you just have a Bday too.

Well.....its time for me to feed the critters and make myself something to eat. Then hit the shower and crash. Have to be ready for the J.O.B. Til next time.

 

I quit smoking after fourty years and it was hard. So hang in there and don't give up. It has been about three years now and I still get the urge now and then...but it passes. Don't quit trying to quit!!!!!

 

I quit too, on New Years Eve, 2013. Cold turkey with asst from doc. I still carry a Blu electronic cig for those times I get weak, but 1 will last me several weeks.

Speaking of falling apart, having to wear a boot on my right food due to Achilles Tendinitis. Makes for a fun day at work. Im learning to accept the kindness of strangers (and friends). Hope the next 4 weeks goes by fast!

 

Yes, the Ides, the 15th.

 

An E-cigarret is better than smoking but they didn't work for me....hope you start walking right soon.

 

Get a cane, even if you don't need it. It's a symbol and I have never regretted having to have one. I always get a seat on the bus, I always have people if I need help...and it reminds you not to push harder than allowed.

The only problem is I live in an upscale neighborhood one block off the shopping district where there are strings of small boutiques for women whose eyes leave the store last. It gets interesting.

I pray you heal well, maybe not fast. We get older this crap lingers

 

May 21 is seven years for me. If I am not mistaken I met Smartie on line back then

 

Time flies, eh darlin?

Yeah, I'm trying to take the ankle thing in stride (pun intended). My official story is that Im a long distance runner and this happens to lots of runners. Then after their jaw finishes dropping, I admit I wouldnt run out of a bldg that was on fire and my condition is likely due to old age.

Good suggestion about the cane, but I much prefer holding onto a strong, hairy arm for support.

 

As long as that strong hairy arm is attached to a cane.

Listen my dear, I have had five or six years of one issue after another. I lost 70 lbs after finding out I had high blood pressure, then I was diagnosed diabetic. Then I started getting dizzy, falling down a lot and discovered I had a rare disorder known at Menniere's disease. Then I started having problems with vision and "pressure" in my head and went the whole distance with brain scans, strange tests like running hot water into your ear. I eventually got to a neurologist who said "you have just described about 85% of every type of migraine I know about and never used the word headache." And so we go into migraine therapy where we try various medications, all of which have side effects [all put weight on] and as we get it under control, the day after my last visit to my neurologist they discover my heart is beating over 100 time a minute, that means ambulance and emergency. So I have begun medication for atrial fibrillation. And I have to ask the God of my understanding "what's next?"
I have learned if I don't treat all this like a personal adventure, if I forget that which doesn't kill us makes us weirder, er, stronger....
.........I would be dead.
But now, I look back and see that I beat the **** out of high blood pressure, wrestled diabetes into a compromise and beat the dragon of migraines. Along the way I have had some really interesting experiences, met interesting people and learned to draw and paint and am told I'm pretty good. Because of chronic pain, I have free access to an arts studios and can get as much marijuana as I want.
So invent a better story than long distance runner, I would suggest a little fib about how you moonlight for the CIA on weekends and let it trail off while giving them a knowing "it's classified" wink.

 

Dont forget where I work, sweetie. Theyve got bigger things to worry about than lil ole me! Lol

The good news is, I met that strong, hairy arm and its attached to a big ole bear of a man who makes me very happy. Taking things nice and slow, but hes a great travel partner and we have a standing Sunday morning date for Cowboy Church and brunch. He got me a fishing license and weve been a couple of times. Im a pretty good angler as long as I dont have to touch the bait or a fish!

Life is good.

 

My wife and I fish when we can. She not only handles the bait and fish but cleans the fish too. And talented... she can find any snag in the water...any of them. But she is a good gal.

 

They are just disgusting either way. *shudder* I had a friend in grade school who had a pet tarantula. Yuck!

 

I'm happy for you. Taking it slow is something I'm learning. I thought I had slowed a lot in my 50's, just a more reasoned approach to life, so I thought. The objective in retirement is to fill your days, and the first thing that happens is you become exceptionally patient. The druggist is busy? Great! Time to read National Geographic on the news stand and not have to pay for it. Gone is time, or the tracking of it. I have one way to tell time - this computer which I leave off a lot. Gone are all gadgets, cell phones even my printer. If I want to write I will do so with this thing called a pen. I suspect it is the modern day equivalent of being a monk. I am proud of the fact I know not one person whose featured in any of the magazines at the supermarket checkout line. I do not "do" one named people. If you're too lazy to have two names then you're probably really boring too.

And so in filling my days I too have gone fishing. I've always been a fresh water angler, and here the Steelhead [salmon not the little trout] get REALLY BIG..and I do love it so the way they fight. You know you're alive when you land a 25 lb steelhead on 8 lb test line.

So to fill my days more I am taking up smelt fishing. It's cool, you head to the beach around fist light, it's a seven minute walk, and run out a net. The smelt get trapped as the follow the tide along the beach. Avery day now I have been plagued by a seal who's been eyeing my net. I discovered also that it is against federal law to disturb wildlife so I can't throw rocks at him. So, my days are musings and daydreams of how I will outsmart that pesky seal.

And when that is your major concern, life is good indeed.

 

The first tarantula that I met was in The Basin in Big Bend National Park, he was to big to cuddle.