March Flowers, and Other Visions....

The Warm, even Hot, weather will continue through tomorrow, before showers and storms arrive by Friday and the early weekend and temps cool off....even then the temperatures will remain above normal{about 50 degrees at this time} for the remainder of the month of March.  Even looking out into the first week of April it appears the worst of the days might have rain and highs in the upper 50s....even with the average by that time raising to the middle 50s..

With the carotid artery surgery continuing on a slow pace, I got out as much as possible in the sunshine yesterday, a short walk, and most of the day spent on the back steps on here in the Air Conditioning and on the computer....which I increasingly despise.  But TV sucks, I do have a book on disk, "The Tehran Initiative" to finish.  The second in the Twelfth Imam book series by Joel Rosenberg.  I will try to get most of that out of the way today...radio seems to be the same songs from my youth played over and over, and even the mystery shows from the old/golden days of radio which I have access to, are just not my cup of tea these days...frankly I am bored as Hell.

The old Airedale, Reagan, is sadly entering her last days on this earth...it's  just a matter of time, she no longer enjoys even her biscuits, and sleeps in a restless manner, 13 years 9 months she would be early next month, making her by far, the longest any of our many Airedales have lived...but her time is about up and I doubt, after nearly 40 years of having at least one or more around, we will raise another.  Don't let anybody tell you that growing old is great...even at a healthy 63, before last week's surgery, it sucks for man and beast.

The warm, extreme warm of this March has brought out the flowers, way early, but with no freezes in the forecast, it appears they will stick around....the grass sure has decided to grow.  Patricia, bad knee and all mowed the back yard for the second time already, and got the main yard done for the first time....but by this weekend, I should be ready to resume my roll of doing that....I will also make plans on umpiring beginning next week.  Frankly if it was tonight or tomorrow, I would back off....I cancelled games yesterday, a scrimmage for tomorrow, and a double header for Saturday, but metal clamps or not, I plan on being back at the diamond Monday afternoon as Paulding host Lima Shawnee in those schools season opener.  It may take a couple of games to venture behind the plate, but I can no longer stand to sit around and wait to heal.

I did order a full Hockey Style Helmet for working behind the plate, I made an order to the Flemings outlet in Columbus on Monday, and to my surprise, it arrived less than 24 hours later via UPS.  The fit was good, the protection as good as it gets{nothing is 100%}, and it will likely be the last plate mask I will ever need. 

People might ask, "If you get hit in the throat with those metal stitches by a thrown or batted ball, couldn't that be real serious"?  Duh!  If I get hit in the throat by a batted or hard thrown ball, WITHOUT the stitches, it's gonna be real serious...all you can do is tighten up your mask, your chest protector, and do the best you can....or you can give up living, crawl into a freaking corner, curl up, and die.  Pretty easy choice for me...reaching 63, and having the latest health issues laid out, it's not hard to figure out..."Sooner or later, you're gonna check out anyway, so you better damn figure out how to enjoy life as it is, and if something happens, let it be living a full life, and not sitting around being scared shitless that something will happen".

So, next week I'm umpiring, and this weekend, I'm driving.....and within the next month, I'm going back to lifting weights....three weeks out from stopping most exercise activity, I feel like I'm wasting away, and I sure don't like it.  Getting older, it's easy to quit and when you do, you lose what you've worked out for quickly....it's also a Hell of a lot harder to gain it back and get back in the rhythm...but that doesn't mean I won't try.

 The one thing that pisses me off about Obama Care and the rest of the "Nanny State"....the nation is obsessed with living longer, and if doesn't matter if that means being drugged up, and having Cadillac Heath Plans designed to keep you relying on the Government Bureanrats.  Sure it's nice to be able to go to the doc or the ER if needed, and know the costs won't bankrupt you...but let's face it, 40 years ago, that wasn't a problem, you paid as you went, and most could afford it...now, nobody can!  It's not the doctors, or the clinics, or hospitals, it's the stinking Government, bureaucrats, politicians, and lawyers, willing and ready to sue or screw anybody at the drop of a hat....the republic is in the crapper, thanks to Government regulations and interference in our daily lives, and most people are just too stupid or gullible to see it.  I thank God that I am 63....as much as I love my kids and grandson, I sure the Hell wouldn't want to be their ages, and face what we are facing as a dying nation/Republic.

Well enough of that off the track rant for today....back later>>>>

Photo-The Backyard Flowers are in full bloom, perhaps as much as a month early....a CD Book I need to finish, and checking out the new Umpire/Hockey Helmet, fitted for greater protection, are on the agenda for today....

Day of Decision....

The wind, warm temperatures, and sunshine of the past couple of days, was replaced overnight by the sound of thunder, more whipping winds, and rain against the upstairs bedroom windows.....and although the temperatures are warm at this early hour of 9am, the approaching cold front front will pass through by Noon, and the temps will fall off into the 40s.

Last night Garry and I headed for Van Wert...another in a long line of rules meetings for the upcoming baseball season...which frankly, for me at least, is now in limbo.  A week ago, I was trying to budget a couple of hundred dollars for the upcoming season, by deciding what new behind the plate mask I would buy, as well as some new pants and other accessories, and with the sports officials outfit scheduled to be at our meeting, I was ready to plunk down some cash...however, that all changed within a couple of days.

Day of Decision, coming up this afternoon_____

So last night, I purchased nothing, nor did I order anything for shipment...Why?  Pretty simple really, I am not sure if there will be a baseball season for me...and if there is, it may be just the summer ACME and Legion season...my spring baseball season, by far my favorite time and sport of the year, is in a holding pattern...this afternoon may indeed give me the answer, and I am prepared for the worst.

Patricia took off today, and we are getting ready to head out to the local Bob Evans Restaurant, once done with breakfast, I can get my paper work, CDs, and self in order for the road trip to Lima, for a 1:50pm appointment with my near future.  The cardio specialist will decide what I need done with the arteries in my neck...I am guessing surgery is coming, and coming soon.  So even with a warmer March than expected, it appears instead of a opening umpire gig at Lima Central Catholic on my 63rd birthday, March 16th, I more than likely be getting ready, or already have had surgery at Lima Memorial Hospital....

If this happens, I am facing at least six weeks off...maybe more, which would gut my Spring season, probably trash my tournament games, for this year and next, because of numbers needed, and basically put me behind the 8 ball, as I wind down my officiating career.   It is not something I care to have happen...but you need to face reality, and that I am trying to come to grips with that.

Basketball I, frankly, can live without, and would have no problem giving up if needed...baseball and football?  Not so much...so I will do and accept what needs to be done, and hopefully I can move forward....the one thing I don't plan on doing, if I can help it, is turn into a couch potato kind of person.  In all seriousness, I don't want to live that way.  I've been way too active, way too long.  I realize you cannot control all things in your life....but I plan on doing what I can to return to, or at least maintain what I have worked for, in the past dozen years.  After working at many jobs, in different places over my lifetime, I have found a niche...and I refuse to give it up without a fight.

At the meeting last night, I was nominated and elected, without opposition, as President-Elect of the 75 member association...if I continue, which I plan on regardless of today's decision, I would assume the mostly ceremonial position beginning in 2014...as I turn 65...hopefully I will still be kicking and umpiring come that date...but God is in charge of that, I'm just along for the ride.

If, after the appointment today, I find out any surgery or procedure is put off until next week, Patricia and I will prepare for the "Mini" Vietnam Reunion, which begins tomorrow in Dayton.....I'll be back later today, or in the morning to report on that.

back later>>>>

Just another Friday...

Spent much of yesterday researching Zocor, the Cholesterol lowering drug that I am supposed to start taking in the next week or so....then it was off to my final Football Scrimmage of the pre-season, I mistakenly thought it was a regular season game....but a scrimmage it was, regardless, we got about 2 hours of work in, and I headed home and cracked open a couple of cold ones....

I had e-mailed my buddy Andy, from Cleveland, who lives in the Louisville area these days.  I hired Andy back in 1981 to work the afternoon shift at WCSM back in our radio DJ days, and 30 years later we are still close friends, although we don't see each other as often as we would like....Andy, his wife Amy, and their two boys were at Hal and Lisa's reception in February, so we did get a chance for a long visit then.  Andy, after his radio days headed back to college and eventually worked for Pfizer, and knows as much as anybody about the pluses and minuses of prescription drugs....so I figured I would ask him about Zocor.  I returned his call as I sat on the back steps downing a beer.  Turns out he is on the same Zocor dose that my doc is prescribing for me.   With a history of heart attacks in his family, he has been on Zocor for about 4 years, after using Lipitor for the previous two.  He said it was a "clean" drug, and that the side effects, while serious in a few, were easy to spot when occurring.  He had no problems and recommended I go ahead and start the drug, and if I had problems I would know it pretty quick, as unlikely as they are.

Those views gave me some confidence to go ahead and start, however, I am certainly not in favor of medications that have possible side effects...so will keep a close watch for any problems.  My younger cousin Gary, the son of my late first cousin Gary Sr...said he has been on it as well, and has had no problems either...this got me wondering "Just how many freaking people are being medicated in this country"?

My friend Rick tells me that at least 25% of the population is being prescribed a statin, which is what Zocor is...as I told him, I will start the dosage when it comes, but I am not convinced that I want to be on anything long term....now with the BP meds, long term, and the anti fungal for the toe nails, short term, comes this....we will see how it goes.

Sam will be home tonight, and tomorrow we work a JV game, Versailles at Celina, to kick off our regular season...Varsity action begins tonight....I will fill in as needed, I am not interested in doing many varsity games either in football or basketball...those sports, unlike baseball, I would rather do lower levels, and use them for a good workout, and because I like the activity.  Baseball on the other hand, is MY sport, and the one I know the best....therefore I will continue to work almost strickly Varsity High School, and lower College levels for the foreseeable future, as long as my body and health hold out.

The last weekend before the unofficial end of Summer, Labor Day, is upon us.....the heat will soon wane, and before long Fall will begin to change the leaves...an my back yard flowers, shown here, will fade and fall with the leaves....Enjoy your weekend.

back later>>>>

Photos-The Moon Flowers, which are now blooming in droves, and the rest, including the towering 16 foot high Sunflowers in our backyard will soon began to wilt and fade away as Summer slowly but surely moves into fall in the next weeks.

Sometimes Reality Bites.... Zocor in the future

More sever thunderstorms rolled through overnight....although it appears the most worst went north into Paudling County, and then the southern tier of the Miami Valley took a hit....as it was, we had a pretty good lightning show, but no serious rain or wind.  I took the old Fuji Camera out, but couldn't get it to work, so I pulled out the Nikon and tried to get some night shots of the lightning blazing across the skies, as I sat on the front porch.....no go.  Even in the correct mode, I have not gotten the hang of night photography with the new point and shoot cameras.  Nothing like old settings and film for those, at least for me...perhaps I will get the hang of it...I have been able to take night shots of snow, with the flash, but lightning and full moon photography is something I just have not grasped so far.

After getting back from the Doctor's office this morning, I was prepared to hit the treadmill, but looked outside a few minutes ago, and realized that the lawn, just mowed on Sunday, is in need again.  Funny, a month ago, you couldn't get the grass to grow, and now it's back at the April and May levels, where you need to hack it down a couple of times per week....so today, no treadmill, just the lawn, and then the opening of the regular football season tonight....at least the Junior High variety, as I work a Celina/Lima Bath 8th grade game at the High School Track here in Celina.

Zocor and other delights_____

After getting the call about my blood tests on Tuesday, I realized that changes, that I had re-instituted over the past weeks, were probably not going to be enough to offset the reality that I had hit 62 years, and that my family, at least the Houseworth side, has a history of heart "issues".  My brother Mike nearing 65 and me at 62 had for the most part gotten farther in life that most of the males on our side of the family, without a heart attack or multiple attacks.  After all, my dad, Stan, had his second and fatal attack just after his 55th birthday, that occurred on Christmas Eve, 1972...his older brothers, Smokey(Forrest) had died at 54, and Uncle Furl(John), although living till 75, had heart problems throughout his life, and had a major attack while in his 40s.  Furl's son, Gary, a week younger than Mike, had died just before his 62nd birthday, back in December of 2008 at his home in Venice, Florida.

That's the reality of being a Houseworth....no pity, and frankly I have never been overly concerned about it....it is what it is.  Medicine has taken giant steps in the past 40 years, and I have always figured that I had a chance to beat the odds...I still do, but as I said, "Reality Bites".


I took the onset of pre-diabetes 2 in stride when I found out about it two years ago.  I went on the prescribed diet, and lost 25 pounds.  I continued to take the prescribed blood pressure medication, and saw my BP drop to normal, or close to normal numbers.  But reality was still out there, somewhere.  When I began, a month ago, to take the pills for a toenail fungus and dermatitis problem, I felt no side affects.  But I was told I would need another blood draw to make sure the Terbinafine didn't have an adverse effect, especially on my liver.  Once that was drawn back on Monday the reality of  High Cholesterol was on the table.


Turns out my LDL levels(that would be the bad Cholesterol) was at 160...it needs to be below 100, preferably closer to 70.  Now my doctor is not one to over medicate, but I wasn't with him 5 minutes and I knew that there would be no BS...he put me on a pretty good dose of Zocor, the LDL lowering drug...I wasn't going to start out at the low dose, so I knew he was serious.   Not the top level doxe mind you, but the next level down....which means more blood tests, more liver tests, etc, within the next month.

I have always sworn I would not become a slave to prescription medications....so what the Hell am I doing?  This will make three daily meds, plus a low dose of Aspirin....Lisinop/HCTZ for the Blood Pressure, the Hydrochloride, Terbinafine for the toes, and now Zocor for the Cholesterol.  Reality Bites!.  Sure he tells me, you are working out, your diet isn't bad, but your "geneology stinks", it's just a fact of life.  So here we go....what will I give up?


It will probably go something like this...."less red meat, fatty anything, cheese is out, other than Cottage Cheese, just freaking wonderful....so eat more "Chickin", more Tuna(gawd I don't know), more fresh veggies...the rest of the bad stuff, fried foods, etc, I had pretty well dumped two years ago when I took the dietian's advice, and started to balance the carbs and calories...which resulted in my 27 pound or so weight loss.  It also appears that I will have to cut back on beer consumption, doc didn't mention that, but the paper work for Zocor does....beautiful, just freaking beautiful!

....reality?   I'm not sure if I am ready for reality, and frankly I'm not sure reality can trump Mother Nature or family genes...but for now, I'll go along.   I'll continue to officiate, continue to work out, and cut back on much of what I eat and drink.   But I will not give up beer, I enjoy it too much, cut back? sure, but not cut out.  The same for a glass of Drambuie on occasion, or a nice hand rolled cigar, I will not give up those pleasures I enjoy on rare occasions....reality be damn!   Sometimes you take it like a man.  Like anybody else, I want to stick around...but I plan doing it by give and take.  If God has other plans for me....I can deal with it.

back later>>>>

Photos-Stan Houseworth 1917-1972, as he looked when in the Army Air Corp in 1942....oldest son Sam with the beer and pops cans we collected along the shore and roadway on Coldwater Creek Road in 1983...Me(looking like some kind of warped porn star) and youngest son Hal during the summer of 1986, and finally the 3 decendents of the sons of Sam Houseworth(1877-1928) and Wilda Waldron Houseworth(1883-1975)...Pat Houseworth, Gary Houseworth(1946-2008), and Mike Houseworth...along with dad's old Walker Coon Dog, Skip, in Grandma Houseworth's back yard, Scott, Ohio, Summer of 1956.

Much Ado about Not Much....

Football Rules Meeting at Van Wert last night, got home in time to watch the out of the race Reds score 4 runs in the 9th and defeat Florida....a win is a win, but Cincy has long been out of contention..it appears the Milwaukee Brewers will win the NL Central, which will make my 88 year old father-in-law pleased.  His beloved Packers win another Super Bowl, The Badgers beat the Buckeyes, and now the Brewers will win the Division.....damn!

After mowing mom's lawn I got home in time to check the phone messages, and noted that the Doctor's office had called with Blood Test Results...since they asked me to call them, I figured, "That's Not Good"..it wasn't.   My LDL Cholesterol levels are at 160...not sure what the total count is, but 160 on the Bad Cholesterol scale in borderline High to High...so back to Minster tomorrow, and check in.  Now, I treadmill, I lift weights, and officiate upwards of 200 sports contests per year.  I figure I am more active than 99.4% of 62 year old types.....so what's with this?  Hell, I'm down 20 plus pounds over the past two years....and am eating a good balance of carbs and calories, eat fruit, veggies...along with my intake of red meats, I figured with my recent check-ups I shouldn't have a problem....but I do.  I don't smoke cigarettes, never have...sure I smoke but don't inhale good hand rolled cigars on occasion, I drink plenty of beer, and don't plan on giving that up, at least not the beer.  But I will listen, and see what he says...however, I'm really not into taking another pill.  At this point I take small amounts of BP meds, recently started on the fungus meds for my toe nail condition and Dermatitis, and a low dose aspirin...I really don't want to take anything else...but again, I will listen and see what he has to say tomorrow.

Meanwhile I will continue my workout regiment, continue to officiate the upcoming football season, and probably cut the fat, at least the saturated fats out of my diet....

That's my take for today....a hot one, as the temps are scheduled to reach 92...with the moister left from last night's overnight lighting show, it will be humid and hot, and I am more than ready for cooler weather.

Hal called this morning and let me to a funny Internet site....they glean actual tweets and such and post them...petty funny stuff...here is the link if you need a laugh:

http://damnyouautocorrect.com/

enjoy your day...back later>>>>