I am keeping myself busy with house maintenance, like plastering cement repairs (left picture) re-gluing leaking PVC water lines, changing batteries on our gate motor, changing motor oil on our cars, etc. I am glad that my son-in-law is helping me with cutting weeds (right picture.)
Having reached 90, I am shooting now for 100. To get there, it’s most important to be physically active, like walking/hiking 1½ hours a day, which covers about 3½ miles, with my Boxer dogs (left picture.) For keeping my arms in shape, I am using my mini-gym in front of the TV (right picture.)
To reach my goal, sticking to the Mediterranean Diet is important. --- I have a great family life, with our children living only a few miles from us; and a large gathering is coming up for the 50th wedding anniversary of in-laws. -- I got used to sleeping with an apnea machine. With it, my blood oxygen improved in 6 month from 94/95 to 96. -- I take prescription medication only for hypertension and cholesterol, but plenty of nutritional supplements:
Almost daily a blueberry milkshake that includes: Red Beet Root Powder --- Amino Acids with electrolytes Powder --- Collagen Peptides Powder --- Green & Super Foods Powder --- Organic Protein Powder --- Cacao powder.
Every-day nutritional supplements: Lutein & Zeaxanthin --- Glucosamine with Chondroitin --- fish oil “Omega 3 fatty acids” --- Centrum’s “Silver Multivitamins” --- Citracal calcium --- Alpha-Lipoic-Acid --- Apple Cider Vinegar --- CoQ10 --- Fiber powder.
Also 4 cups of green tea --- for breakfast typically steel-cut oats with finely ground flaxseeds or chia seeds --- nuts --- some extra virgin olive oil.
Rotating nutritional supplements: Garlic --- Curcumin (Turmeric abstract) with black pepper --- Resveratrol --- Quercetin with Bromelain --- Alpha Brain’s “Memory & Focus” --- 60 Billion Probiotics --- for Hair/Skin/Nails: Biotin with Hyaluronic Acid and Amla extract --- Triple Lecithin --- Cranberry tablets --- Lion’s Mane Mushroom Capsules.
Recently added: L-Arginine --- Cod Liver Oil --- Ceylon Cinnamon --- Vitamin K-2 MK-7 --- Methyl B-12.
The above includes anti-oxygen supplements which keeps my body inflammation low, as measured by the C-Reactive Protein Test. Inflammation of the body is the root cause of so many problems. Right now I am working on improving my BUN test for kidneys. I think it's dehydration. I will request another BUN test in three months. PCP's are great, but their time is limited. You are primarily responsible for your own health.
With the Medicare Advantage Plan, I am with Kaiser Permanente (kp.org). But actually,I have been with Kaiser for over 50 years. My next appointments are for (a) getting my toe nails cut by a Podiatry MD; (b) getting a DEXA Bone Density Test; (c) getting a Prolia bone density injection and my 11th Covid shot. I also will see my dentist for a crown that needs an adjustment.
Because of too much maintenance work, we have the property signed over to our children and are debating to move to a retirement community that accepts my dogs.
PS, I was born in Nazi Germany, lived on 3 continents, and attended colleges in 4 countries. My first wife was 10 years younger than I am, and we split as friends. After our divorce, we vacationed in Europe; and her parents had no idea that we were divorced when visiting them. It was tough to split.
My second wife is from Asia and almost 20 years younger. Both wives hold M.A. degrees and had good jobs but are now retired. Marriages have their ups and downs. From my first wife I learned to compromise, and that’s why my second marriage has lasted already close to 50 years.
..it's sunny now.
. after a morning of rain...
. and thank you for all of you who have read them , understood them, and were too polite to say anything..
) I've never huffed and puffed so hard in my life!
