Who Needs A Winter Break? We Do

We've found what works for us

Doctors, Nurses, pills, blood tests, X-rays, injections, poking, and prodding take up a lot of my life. I know that's necessary, but every winter we pack up Bertha (the big red truck) and escape for a couple of months to the remote desert of southern Arizona. We're so far out that it's more than 20 miles to the nearest Starbucks (OK, we actually bring along our own espresso machine).

There are more coyotes and javelinas than people in our neighborhood...just the way we want it. Now don't think we suffer too much--our trailer has electricity, water, sewer, and WiFi (the bare necessities of life). The sun shines almost every day and we consider 70 degrees on the cool side. Bubba (our faithful old Jeep) loves to crawl through the cacti, up mountains, down washes, and over, under, and around all manner of rocks. We hike, I run (slowly), we feed the birds and bunnies, and enjoy calm, quiet, and amazing scenery.
I almost forgot to mention our time sitting in the sun, reading, and sipping a cool glass of wine, or two, or... Hey, it's OK, nobody has to drive home.

If you think I'm trying to make you envious, you're only a little right. Come on down for a visit. We'll share.

The real bottom line for us is the mental and physical lift we get. Each year we feel rejuvenated and look forward to the NEXT winter. Home on the farm is great but being away from home (and in the sun) has special beneficial qualities. And at our age we need every little boost we can get!

axman

Weight Loss - Blessing or Curse or ???

I'm finally losing some weight after all these years

And I'm not even trying. I gained about 20 pounds in the seven years since my PC diagnosis in 2003.

That wasn't good or healthy and I honestly tried to manage my eating and drinking and exercise - sort of. It was like, "The Devil made me do it" whatever IT was.

For the past six months Carol and I have been participating in a clinical trial focused on strength training and stretching. That's the only really different thing in our lives - except for moving this summer and fall. Losing 15 pounds puts me close to where I was and want to be. It's a far cry from my anorexic days of ultra running but it meets my relaxed old geezer standards.

Will I lose more, gain it back, or stay the same? Stay tuned.

axman

It’s Just like Herding Cats

My experience with the latest and greatest prostate cancer clinical trial

When I use the term ‘prostate cancer clinical trial’ you probably immediately have visions of old men taking exotic pills, getting strange injections, donating copious quantities of blood and other fluids, having full body X-rays, and tolerating invasive body probes.

Not so - this one is different.

A group of men with incurable prostate cancer and their wives (who do NOT have prostate cancer) were invited to participate in a six month twice weekly closely monitored strength training class. Including my wife and me, there are 20 in each class and husbands and wives work as a team (what an original concept) doing a series of simple but challenging strength building and stretching exercises. The plan is to get stronger, fitter, and ultimately live longer - maybe even save marriages.

The idea of husband and wife working together (a long shot at best) is supposed to increase the possibility of continuing the exercises when the program is completed.

Of course getting 20 old duffers to do anything as a group and stay focused isn’t easy and the instructors/experimenters have their hands full. It’s a lot like, well, herding cats.

axman