Tom and Ella Williams: 2025 February

2025 February 28 Friday in Leander

COFFEE KLATSCH: At coffee this morning were Ray, Dianna, Ella, Grace, Michelle, Joan, Suzie, Dana ,Val, and I.

🗓️AGENDA:

✔️Love your spouse❤️

✔️9:00 a Coffee at the Hills☕

✔️ Dollar Tree💲🌲

❌11:00 a Chair Yoga🪑🧘

✔️ Lunch

✔️Gasoline

✔️Goodwill

✔️ HCCM food pantry🛍️

✔️6:00 p Happy Hour🎉

SAT February 29 tomorrow

Love your spouse❤️

9:00 a Coffee at the Hills☕

LUNCH: It was McDonald's sandwiches for lunch. Ella had fish and I had spicy chicken. Two medium drinks and a basket of fries brought the total to just north of fifteen dollars

GASOLINE: Our journey on today's magical mystery tour continued as we made our way to Murphy USA, the next stop on our adventure. Our trusty car, Dasher the HHR, was starting to feel thirsty and in need of some fuel. After fueling we checked the projected fuel range and were pleased to see it was now at four hundred miles, although we knew this was based on highway miles and our journey rarely consisted of long stretches on the highway. It is more likely that the majority of our trips are under a dozen miles. Nonetheless, we were grateful for the reassurance that we wouldn't need refueling with go-juice anytime soon.

HCCM: Ella picked out a pineapple upsidedown cake for Happy Hour tonight and some English muffins for ourselves. The pineapple was an excellent choice for us. It in no way is a temptation to my diabetic soul and Ella has developed something akin to a pineapple allergy. Therefore it is a safe bet that we won't eat it prior to the potluck. .

WEATHER: 72°/53° Mostly clear with. Northwest winds around 5 mph becoming south around 5 mph this afternoon. The actual high temperature for today was 75°. It was an extremely pleasant day to be out and about. .

HAPPY HOUR: Tonight's potluck was not well attended. The food table was pretty bare also with spring rolls, pigs in a blanket, chips, and banana bread and the pineapple cake for dessert. I guess people are saving their goodies for tomorrow's Mardi Gras party. I didn't stay long. Ella lingered to visit after I left for home

AFTER HOURS: After I left the party I came home and put my hearing aids in the charger. After a while Ella called and said to come back up. We need you to sing. I waited about half an hour to give the aids a chance to charge. Then I went up to find a group of gals gathered around the piano. Sarah, the pianist, asked what I wanted to sing. I told her that I can't follow the music. She said that she’d follow me. I found the lyrics to “Can't Help Falling in Love.” I sang and she played. I told her that I could sing most of Elvis’s ballads but not fast ones like Hound Dog or Jailhouse Rock. She said, “How about Big Bopper?” So I sang one verse of “Chantilly Lace” and the ironically said, “I don't know that one either.” Grin.

🏥HEALTH: BP 148/84💓Pulse 84, oxygen🫁98%, Sleep 💤 ( 12:16 AM to 07:49 AM, Total 07h 26m, 92% of goal, REM👀 00h 11m, deep😴 02h 06m, light🥱05h 09m, awake⏰ 00h 07m), 0.0 Events*/hr, Weight 271.2 lb, 2020 Steps.

*Events means “quit breathing”

2025 February 27 Thursday in Leander and Liberty Hill

COFFEE KLATSCH: Dianna , Sandy, Joe, Michelle, Joan, Suzie, Val , Ella, and I were at coffee this morning.

🗓️AGENDA:

✔️Love your spouse❤️

✔️9:00 a Coffee at the Hills☕

✔️11:00 a Over The Hill Gang🧓👴

5:00 p Food for all produce 🛍️

6:00 p Bingo (Hills Great Room)🅱️🔟

FRI February 28 tomorrow

Love your spouse❤️

9:00 a Coffee at the Hills☕

6:00 p Happy Hour🎉

OVER THE HILL GANG: Thirty-nine people had lunch and fellowship at OTHG today. Many stayed for bingo, dominoes, Scrabble, Five Crowns, or more fellowship. Lunch was deboned chicken, broccoli rice casserole, mixed veggies, salad, and some of the many desserts.

HUH?: Here is how my hearing works. I was cooking bacon. I had the hood fan on to disperse the smoke/steam. From the other room Ella asked "Do we have an empty casket?”

I responded, “An empty casket?”

She hollered, “Cat shit!”

“Cat shit?”

“Cat shit!”

Finally I said, “If you want me to understand you, you need to come closer. I'm turning the bacon and can't leave the stove.”

She did and said very distinctly, “ChapStick.”

“There's one on the bathroom counter.”

“Is it used?”

“I don't know. I gave you three peppermint ChapSticks in December. I don't know what you did with them.”

She went to the bathroom and said, “It's not Oprah.”

I knew that she meant to say, “It isn't open.” But I didn't want to make fun of her speech defect.

BINGO: Ella took the ChapStick with her to host bingo tonight. The lip balm was used as one of the prizes.

WEATHER: 67°/46° Cloudy. Northeast winds 15 to 20 mph with gusts up to 30 mph becoming north winds 5 to 10 mph.

SMOKE: You know that bacon I mentioned earlier? It wasn't properly bacon. It was slices of pork belly to which I added liquid smoke and salt. I finished the first batch. Ate half of it. Then I started the rest of the pork cooking by covering it with water. Boiling before frying makes it more tender and renders out more fat.

While I was waiting for the water to evaporate I watched a Doctor Who episode from 2010. Unfortunately I got too involved in the doctor's adventure and forgot about the meat I was frying. That is until the smoke alarm went off.

With eight foot ceilings and blinding flashing light on the alarm I could neither reach or see to shut it down. I opened the outside door and the hallway door. Pulled the skillet from the stove and put it in the sink and filled it with water to stop the smoke.

The alarm is in the bedroom so I turned the ceiling fan on and aimed a stand fan at the alarm. Then I stood there fanning a towel at it. It eventually silenced. I left the doors open and the fans going until Ella arrived home from hosting bingo.

If I had a tardis is go back in time and remove the bacon from the heat instead of letting it burn.

🏥HEALTH: BP 130/76💓Pulse 86, oxygen🫁97%, Sleep 💤 ( 10:53 PM to 07:02 AM, Total 07h 04m, 96% of goal, REM👀 00h 48m, deep😴 02h 22m, light🥱04h 33m, awake⏰ 00h 26m), 0.8 Events*/hr, Weight 269.4 lb, 2890 Steps.

*Events means “quit breathing”

COFFEE KLATSCH: Dianna , Sandy, Joe, Michelle, Joan, Suzie, Val , Ella, and I were at coffee this morning.

🗓️AGENDA:

✔️Love your spouse❤️

✔️9:00 a Coffee at the Hills☕

✔️11:00 a Over The Hill Gang🧓👴

❌5:00 p Food for all produce 🛍️

✔️6:00 p Bingo (Hills Great Room)🅱️🔟

FRI February 28 tomorrow

Love your spouse❤️

9:00 a Coffee at the Hills☕

6:00 p Happy Hour🎉

OVER THE HILL GANG: Thirty-nine people had lunch and fellowship at OTHG today. Many stayed for bingo, dominoes, Scrabble, Five Crowns, or more fellowship. Lunch was deboned chicken, broccoli rice casserole, mixed veggies, salad, and some of the many desserts.

HUH?: Here is how my hearing works. I was cooking bacon. I had the hood fan on to disperse the smoke/steam. From the other room Ella asked "Do we have an empty casket?”

I responded, “An empty casket?”

She hollered, “Cat shit!”

“Cat shit?”

“Cat shit!”

Finally I said, “If you want me to understand you, you need to come closer. I'm turning the bacon and can't leave the stove.”

She did and said very distinctly, “ChapStick.”

“There's one on the bathroom counter.”

“Is it used?”

“I don't know. I gave you three peppermint ChapSticks in December. I don't know what you did with them.”

She went to the bathroom and said, “It's not Oprah.”

I knew that she meant to say, “It isn't open.” But I didn't want to make fun of her speech defect.

BINGO: Ella took the ChapStick with her to host bingo tonight. The lip balm was used as one of the prizes.

WEATHER: 67°/46° Cloudy. Northeast winds 15 to 20 mph with gusts up to 30 mph becoming north winds 5 to 10 mph.

SMOKE: You know that bacon I mentioned earlier? It wasn't properly bacon. It was slices of pork belly to which I added liquid smoke and salt. I finished the first batch. Ate half of it. Then I started the rest of the pork cooking by covering it with water. Boiling before frying makes it more tender and renders out more fat.

If I had a tardis is go back in time and remove the bacon from the heat instead of letting it burn.

🏥HEALTH: BP 130/76💓Pulse 86, oxygen🫁97%, Sleep 💤 ( 10:53 PM to 07:02 AM, Total 07h 04m, 96% of goal, REM👀 00h 48m, deep😴 02h 22m, light🥱04h 33m, awake⏰ 00h 26m), 0.8 Events*/hr, Weight 269.4 lb, 2890 Steps.

*Events means “quit breathing”

2025 February 26 Wednesday in Leander and Liberty Hill

COFFEE KLATSCH: Dianna, Muriel, Michelle, Joan, Grace, Suzie, Val, Ella, and I at coffee this morning. Workmen were pressure washing the patio just outside of the community room which had Ziva the dog whining and barking.

🗓️AGENDA:

✔️Love your spouse❤️

✔️PAY RENT💲

✔️8:00 a Fire extinguisher inspections🧯

✔️9:00 a Coffee at the Hills☕

✔️10:00 a Canasta at OTHG ❤️♣️♠️♦️

✔️5:00 p Cross Tracks REFUEL⛽

❌7:30 p Hump day🐪

THU February 27 tomorrow

Love your spouse❤️

9:00 a Coffee at the Hills☕

11:00 a Over The Hill Gang🧓👴

5:00 p Food for all produce 🛍️

6:00 p Bingo (Hills Great Room)🅱️🔟

WEATHER: 74°/56° Mostly cloudy in the morning then becoming partly cloudy. Patchy fog in the morning. South winds 10 to 15 mph becoming southeast winds 5 to 10 mph and then becoming northeast 10 to 15 mph after midnight.

CANASTA at OTHG: Anne was back with us today. We were all glad to see her. She has had a stroke and bleeding since the last time she was here on February 5th. Sandi, Nathern, Ella and I were also there. We had a lunch of grilled cheese sandwiches, chips, salad, and corn dogs.

CAR WASH: After enduring a long and dirty winter, Dasher the HHR was in desperate need of a good bath. The wet roads and splatter had taken a toll on her exterior, leaving her looking dull and dirty. With spring (hopefully) finally here, it was time to give Dasher the pampering she deserved. We took her to the car wash and treated her to a thorough scrubbing and waxing, removing all the grime and debris that had accumulated over the past few months. But we didn't stop there - we even made sure to polish her shoes (wheels), giving them a shiny new look. As Dasher rolled out of the car wash, she looked like a brand new car, ready to take on the world with a fresh and clean appearance. It was clear from the smile on her bumper that she was grateful for the much-needed makeover, and we were happy to see her shining once again.

REFUEL: Our Bible study and discussion focused the the multiple endings to the gospel of Mark.

Mark 16:8-13 NRSV

Ending of Mark from oldest records

[8] So they went out and fled from the tomb, for terror and amazement had seized them; and they said nothing to anyone, for they were afraid.

Longer ending that was most widely spread in the early church

[And all that had been commanded them they told briefly to those around Peter. And afterward Jesus himself sent out through them, from east to west, the sacred and imperishable proclamation of eternal salvation.] [9] [Now after he rose early on the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, from whom he had cast out seven demons. [10] She went out and told those who had been with him, while they were mourning and weeping. [11] But when they heard that he was alive and had been seen by her, they would not believe it.

An even longer version ends with

[12] After this he appeared in another form to two of them, as they were walking into the country. [13] And they went back and told the rest, but they did not believe them.

🏥HEALTH: BP 130/76💓Pulse 72, oxygen🫁98%, Sleep 💤 ( 12:23 AM to 07:54 AM, Total 07h 04m, 88% of goal, REM👀 00h 08m, deep😴 01h 56m, light🥱05h 00m, awake⏰ 00h 27m), 0.8 Events*/hr, Weight 270.8 lb, 2167 Steps.

*Events means “quit breathing”

2025 February 25 Tuesday in Leander

COFFEE KLATSCH: Joan, Suzie, Val, Dianna, Mary, Donna, Fran, Ella, Andrea, Michelle, unknown, Grace, and I were at coffee today. Ella made sticky cinnamon rolls, Mary brought some strawberry cream cheese Danish and mini quiche, Andrea arrived with Duncan Donuts. It must have been Sweet Tooth Day. I ate a roll. I couldn't help myself. Then I found some carrots and celery in the refrigerator. I munched on those while others ate the sweets.

🗓️AGENDA:

INR Check (Home)🩸

Love your spouse❤️

Dashlane annual $63.74💲

Coffee at the Hills☕

5:00 p 5 Crowns👑

5:00 p Mexican Train🚂

WED February 26 tomorrow

Love your spouse❤️

PAY RENT💲

8:00 a Fire extinguisher inspections🧯

9:00 a Coffee at the Hills☕

10:00 a Canasta at OTHG ❤️♣️♠️♦️

5:00 p Cross Tracks REFUEL⛽

7:30 p Hump day🐪

WEATHER: 70°/52° Patchy fog in the morning. Mostly clear. South winds 10 to 15 mph then becoming 5 to 10 mph with gusts up to 20 mph.

🏥HEALTH: BP 145/80💓Pulse 70, oxygen🫁98%, Sleep 💤 ( 12:53 AM to 08:11 AM, Total 06h 50m, 85% of goal, REM👀 00h 36m, deep😴 02h 47m, light🥱04h 27m, awake⏰ 00h 28m), 1.0 Events*/hr, Weight 270.0 lb, 1367 Steps.

ESSENTIAL TREMOR: I have suffered from trembling hands for nearly two decades. I was diagnosed with Essential Tremors. I don't care for that medical terminology because I personally find nothing about these shaking hands to be essential, absolutely necessary, nor extremely important to me.

An Internet search found that the most common form of chronic hand tremor is essential tremor. It is a shaking that comes on when you’re trying to perform some kind of work or action with your hands. Up to one in twenty-five people may experience it. If your hand shakes when you’re trying to write, draw, or when you pick up a cup or your phone, that's indicative of this form of tremor.

The causes of essential tremor is unknown. However, it is known that it runs in families, so there seems to be a genetic component. My mother experienced it. It may be related to the way the cerebellum (a part of the brain that controls motor skills) sends and receives information.

Essential tremors usually starts in one hand, often a person’s dominant hand, and eventually moves into the other hand. My left hand has, by far, the worst tremors. The other day I threw a spoonful if chile at my chest so I switched to eating right handed.

What can you do about it? If it’s very mild, you don’t have to do anything. It may grow worse with age, or it may not. Mine seems to be progressing. But leaving it untreated likely doesn’t lead to any issues down the road.

My neurologist gave me this advise, “Have an alcoholic drink.” In fact, drinking has long been a way for people with essential tremor to manage their shaking. Other than a rare glass of wine or an even rarer beer (like one every ten years) I'm not a drinker. As an experiment I purchased a four pack of Guinness stout and consumed it over a two week period. On the days in which I drank it I may have experienced a moderation in the tremors. However it was far from scientifically conclusive. I did find, however, that I really liked the Guinness.

What I find is, if essential tremors are interfering with your life, there are drugs that can help. The mainstay of treatment is beta blockers. If those don’t work, some anticonvulsants may be effective. I'm not yet feeling the need for these types of treatments. But if you sit across from me at the table and I suddenly fling food at you, it was probably unintentional. Grin.

*Events means “quit breathing”

2025 February 24 Monday in Leander

COFFEE KLATSCH: Avis, Michelle, Joan, Grace, Suzie, Val, Fran, Dianna, Jo, Ella, and I were at coffee this morning.

BREAKFAST: For breakfast I cooked scrambled eggs with sausage, mushrooms, and cheese.

LUNCH: Steamed fish, rice, riced cauliflower, lettuce and tomatoes salad, and cornbread is what I prepared for lunch.

🗓️AGENDA:

✔️Love your spouse❤️

✔️9:00 a Coffee at the Hills☕

✔️5:00 p Canasta❤️♣️♦️♠️

✔️5:00 p Mexican Train🚂

TUE February 25 tomorrow

INR Check (Home)🩸

Love your spouse❤️

Dashlane annual $63.74💲

Coffee at the Hills☕

5:00 p 5 Crowns👑

5:00 p Mexican Train🚂

WEATHER: 71°/47° Partly cloudy in the morning then clearing. Areas of dense fog in the morning. Southwest winds 5 to 10 mph becoming south 5 to 10 mph.

It reached a high of 76 today.

CANASTA: Ella and I were partners, Ann and Cindy were partners, and Steve and Jane were partners. Steve and Jane won with a 90 point lead on Ella and I. We had fun.

🏥HEALTH: BP 150/81💓Pulse 91, oxygen🫁97%, Sleep 💤 ( 11:39 PM to 07:07 AM, Total 07h 20m, 91% of goal, REM👀 00h 42m, deep😴 02h 38m, light🥱04h 00m, awake⏰ 00h 09m), 0.9 Events*/hr, Weight 267.8 lb, 1783 Steps.

*Events means “quit breathing”

2025 February 23 Sunday in Leander and Liberty Hill

BREAKFAST: scrambled eggs and polenta with toast.

SUNDAY SCHOOL: During Lent our class will be studying Adam Hamilton’s book “Luke: Jesus and the Outsiders, Outcasts, and Outlaws”

WORSHIP: https://www.facebook.com/share/v/16DXfuZ9w3/

RETIREMENT: Our children and youth minister retired today. We had a party after worship.

GROCERIES: This is $93.27 worth of groceries that we had delivered today. I had to check the definition of “groceries” to be sure that I've used it correctly all of these years. The reason for my doubts was that someone recently told me that groceries only referred to food and that items such as over the counter medications and supplements, paper goods, and other non food items were not groceries. However the definition I found reads as follows. Groceries plural : the food and supplies sold by a grocer. Therefore my usage is and has been correct.

🗓️AGENDA:

✔️Love your spouse❤️

✔️8:00 a Coffee Bar at Church☕

✔️9:00 a Sunday school📚

✔️10:00 a Worship💒

✔️Teresa’s retirement party

MON February 24 (Tomorrow)

Love your spouse❤️

INR Check (Home)🩸

9:00 a Coffee at the Hills☕

5:00 p Canasta❤️♣️♦️♠️

5:00 p Mexican Train🚂

LUNCH: After the groceries arrived this afternoon we had our lunches. Ella had lasagna and I had chicken pot pie. Both came frozen today so we nuked them for our meal.

WEATHER: 60°/40° Mostly cloudy this morning then clearing. Patchy fog this morning. North winds around 5 mph becoming southeast winds around 5 mph becoming southwest after midnight.

We actually reached a high of 67° today.

🏥HEALTH: BP 115/74💓Pulse 98, oxygen🫁97%, Sleep 💤 ( 10:48 PM to 06:05 AM, Total 07h 00m, 87% of goal, REM👀 00h 24m, deep😴 02h 21m, light🥱04h 15m, awake⏰ 00h 17m), 2.0 Events*/hr, Weight 269.8 lb, 2468 Steps.

*Events means “quit breathing”

2025 February 22 Saturday in Leander and Liberty Hill

COFFEE KLATSCH: David, Ricky, Fran, Sandy, Andrea, Michelle, Grace, Joan, Suzie, Val, Dianna, Ella, and I were at coffee this morning.

🗓️AGENDA:

✔️Nathan R's birthday🎂

✔️Love your spouse❤️

✔️9:00 a Coffee at the Hills☕

✔️11:00 a - 2:00 p Leadership 💒 CTC

SUN February 23 (tomorrow)

Love your spouse❤️

8:00 a Coffee Bar at Church☕

9:00 a Sunday school📚

10:00 a Worship💒

Teresa retirement party

WEATHER: 37°/37° Cloudy. A slight chance of freezing rain and freezing drizzle this morning then a slight chance of rain showers this afternoon. Northeast winds around 5 mph changing to east. Chance of precipitation 40 percent.

LEADERSHIP RETREAT: The leadership retreat held today was a productive and insightful meeting. We discussed our current church organization chart and after careful deliberation, we proposed an updated model that was unanimously agreed upon. However, to ensure its effectiveness, we decided to evaluate the new model after three months and make any necessary changes. Once the business aspect of the meeting was completed, we enjoyed a delicious catered meal of tortillas, meats, veggies, and sauces, giving us the opportunity to create our own tacos or simply enjoy the ingredients separately. Following our meal, we had a brief discussion about church finances before concluding the day by sharing communion together. It was a fulfilling and meaningful day for all in attendance.

LAUNDRY: Ella did some of our washing this afternoon after we returned from church. It was several loads of dark clothes. These are mine to be be out away.

🏥HEALTH: BP 146/84💓Pulse 87, oxygen🫁99%, Sleep 💤 ( 12:25 AM to 09:92 AM, Total 08h 30m, 💯% of goal, REM👀 00h 48m, deep😴 03h 16m, light🥱04h 26m, awake⏰ 00h 07m), 2.0 Events*/hr, Weight 272.6 lb, 2097 Steps.

*Events means “quit breathing”

2025 February 21 Friday in Leander

COFFEE KLATSCH: Dianne, Michelle, Muriel, Donna, Ella, and I were there only ones there this morning. Dianne and Michelle left early. The remaining four of us remains and talked for another hour.

BREAKFAST was egg, toast, sauce, smashed potato, and tomatoe wedges

HEART DOCTOR: Tom was the only one being examined today. Ella's appointments are every six months while mine are every three months. I'm also due for another stress test after the first of 2026. I'm not a fan of those tests. Because of my bad legs I have chemical stress tests. They are shorter lived but, in my opinion, much more painful.

LUNCH: We had a can of Clam Chowder but it was only a single serving. We are not single. We are two. Searching the cupboard I found a can of Loaded Potato soup which was also a single serving. We could potentially each have our own can of soup. But to whom does the Clam Chowder go and to whom the potato? The solution? Combine and serve. We had Loaded Potato Clam Chowder for lunch. It was quite good.

🗓️AGENDA:

✔️Love your spouse❤️

✔️9:00 a Coffee at the Hills☕

✔️12:30 p Crimmons Tom🩺

❌6:00 p Happy Hour🎉

SAT February 22 tomorrow

Nathan R's birthday🎂

Love your spouse❤️

9:00 a Coffee at the Hills☕

11:00 a - 2:00 p Leadership 💒 CTC

WEATHER: 32°/26° Cloudy. Northeast winds 5 to 10 mph. Wind chill readings as low as 14. A slight chance of freezing rain after midnight

SUPPER: Tonight was the Happy Hour potluck which could easily have fed us. However neither of us were interested in going tonight. Our lunch was mid afternoon which left us with very little appetite at supper time. I thought I'd make pancakes with strawberries. Ella suggested biscuits instead of pancakes. It was a great idea. We had biscuits with strawberries and whipped cream. That's right, we had strawberry shortcake for supper.

🏥HEALTH: BP 139/77💓Pulse 86, oxygen🫁98%, Sleep 💤 ( 12:03 AM to 07:39 AM, Total 07h 25m, 92% of goal, REM👀 00h 10m, deep😴 02h 38m, light🥱04h 37m, awake⏰ 00h 11m), 1.7 Events*/hr, Weight 272.6 lb, 1823 Steps.

*Events means “quit breathing”

2025 February 20 Thursday in Leander

COFFEE KLATSCH: Dianna, Donna, Andrea, Fran, Sandy, Ricky, Donna, Val, Suzie, Joan, Grace, Michelle, and I were at coffee until the workmen arrived to change the fifty lightbulbs in the community room. At that point we were required to leave the area for our safety and the convenience of the workers.

BREAKFAST: I made a six egg scramble for our late morning breakfast.

🗓️AGENDA:

✔️Bill M's birthday🎂

✔️Love your spouse❤️

✔️9:00 a Coffee at the Hills☕

❌11:00 a Over The Hill Gang👴🧓

✔️6:00 p Bingo (Hills Great Room)🅱️🔟

FRI February 21 tomorrow

Love your spouse❤️

🧁9:00 a Coffee at the Hills☕

12:30 p Crimmons Tom🩺

6:00 p Happy Hour🎉

LUNCH: Since breakfast was late so was our lunch of leftover red beans and rice from last night's potluck. They were reheated and topped with cheese to change the taste palette for a little variety. We planned to finish the last of the cherry cobbler with was also from last night. However the fire alarm stopped that.

WEATHER: 35°/26° Clear. Northeast winds 10 to 15 mph with gusts up to 25 mph. Wind chill readings as low as 2

WEATHER RELATED: We did not drive to Liberty Hill to spend time with friends at Over The Hill Gang because of the weather.

BINGO at the HILLS: My bride Ella conducted her usual every Thursday evening at the Hills Seniors Apartments, my wife hosts her beloved bingo game. Using her phone and a Bluetooth speaker, that calls out the numbers and keeps the game running smoothly. The volume of the speaker is just enough to reach the ears of our elderly residents who may have difficulty hearing. This evening, a group of about a dozen seniors gathered around the tables, excited to play for a chance to win prizes from the prize table. The prizes are carefully chosen, mostly consumable items or practical items that would be useful for people in our age group. As I watched Ella interact with the players and saw the joy on their faces, I couldn't help but feel grateful for her dedication to bringing some fun and entertainment into their lives. Bingo at the Hills has become a cherished tradition and I am proud to see my bride continue to spread happiness in our community..

🏥HEALTH: BP 151/81💓Pulse 95, oxygen🫁98%, Sleep 💤 ( 01:01 AM to 08:01 AM, Total 06h 46m, 84% of goal, REM👀 00h 23m, deep😴 02h 36m, light🥱04h 47m, awake⏰ 00h 14m), 1.7 Events*/hr, Weight 270.6 lb, 1519 Steps.

*Events means “quit breathing”

2025 February 19 Wednesday in Leander

COFFEE KLATSCH: Dianna, Michelle, Joan, Grace, Fran, Suzie, Val, Ella, Sandy, and I at coffee.

BREAKFAST: Biscuits, sausage gravy, and scrambled eggs

🗓️AGENDA:

✔️Love your spouse❤️

✔️🧁9:00 a Coffee at the Hills☕

❌10:00 a Canasta at OTHG ♠️♦️♣️❤️

✔️7:30 p Hump day🐪

THU February 20 (Tomorrow)

Bill M's birthday🎂

Love your spouse❤️

9:00 a Coffee at the Hills☕

11:00 a Over The Hill Gang👴🧓

6:00 p Bingo (Hills Great Room)🅱️🔟

WEATHER 🥶 EXTREME COLD WARNING Remains In Effect Until Noon CST Thursday. Dangerous wind chills as low as zero degrees Fahrenheit. Of

34°/18° Cloudy with a slight chance of flurries this morning then partly cloudy this afternoon. North winds 20 to 25 mph with gusts up to 35 mph. Wind chill readings as low as zero

CANASTA at OTHG: Today, my wife Ella and I made a joint decision to stay indoors and not brave the cold weather to drive to our usual meeting spot at the Over The Hill Gang building to play canasta. We were met with freezing temperatures of 19° and strong winds, with even a skift of snow on the ground. In the Texas Hill Country, this may be considered a blizzard.

Despite our love for the game and our regular playmates, we decided it would be best to stay warm and safe at home. We notified our fellow players of our decision and left it up to them to decide whether to gather or not. As much as we enjoy our weekly canasta games, our health and well-being take priority, especially in such extreme weather conditions. We will certainly miss the warmth and camaraderie of our usual gatherings, but we are content with our decision to stay cozy indoors. .

LUNCH: The beans and pork belly that I started yesterday was ready for lunch

RUMMIKUB: Ella, Steve, Jo, and Jane played Rummikub this evening.

HUMP DAY: The midweek potluck was well attended. We took rice and beans as well as a cherry cobbler. Others brought gumbo, shrimp, potato salad, a cheese and meat tray, pies and other desserts

*Events means “quit breathing”

2025 February 18 Tuesday in Leander

BREAKFAST: sausage, egg, and toast.

COFFEE KLATSCH: Donna, Dianna, Maureen, Fran, Michelle, Joan, Grace, Suzie, Val, Ella, to and I at coffee

🗓️AGENDA:

HVAC T-switch replacements 👨‍🔧

Love your spouse❤️

9:00 a Coffee at the Hills☕

10:00 a Fresh Produce Life church🛍️

1:30 p Food Pantry Church Of Christ🛍️

5:00 p 5 Crowns👑

5:00 p Mexican Train

WED February 19 tomorrow

Love your spouse❤️

9:00 a Coffee at the Hills☕

10:00 a Canasta at OTHG ♠️♦️♣️❤️

7:30 p Hump day🐪

PRODUCE: According to my calendar we were to drive to the LIFE Church to pick up fresh fruits and vegetables today. Incidentally that calendar was only good through 2024. I will need to check the calendar for February and March 2025 on their website to update my calendar with proper date and location. Since I was l still looking forward to some fresh produce we went over to the Hill Country Community Ministries food pantry where I was able to get a bag of chopped iceberg lettuce, a single grapefruit, a dozen eggs, and a pan of cornbread. .

PINTO BEANS: Now that I had some cornbread I decided to make a pot of beans. I had some pork bellies in the freezer. I took some of that and chopped it into the beans. I brought it to a boil and then let it sit for a couple of hours until the beans were fully rehydrated. Then I set them to slow cook until tomorrow for lunch.

55 PLUS: This afternoon we drove to Brighter Days food pantry. We patiently waited in line for about a half an hour for two plastic crates of food. Each crate contained a carton of shelf stable milk, a bag of lentils, a bag of spiral pasta, a bag of yellow corn grits, a can of tuna, a can of green beans, a can of peaches, one can of vegetarian beans, one pound of ground turkey, and several individual servings of applesauce. One bag each of grits and pasta will go to our in-house food pantry. Both bags of lentils will also be regifted.

WEATHER: 65°/25° Cloudy. Patchy fog in the morning. A slight chance of very light drizzle in the morning then a chance of showers in the afternoon. Southeast winds 5 to 10 mph. Becoming North winds 15 to 25 mph with gusts up to 35 mph. 🥶Wind chill readings as low as 12 after midnight. Chance of rain 50 percent.

Extreme Cold Weather Advisory in effect from midnight Tuesday through Thursday morning, dangerously cold wind chills as low as 0 degrees are possible.

GAMES: Tonight I played Five Crowns with Ann, Lucille, Cindy, Fran, Steve, and Jane. I lost big-time. I'm was concerned about Ann's health. She kept falling asleep during the game.

Ella played Mexican Train with Maureen, Maggie, and Sandy.

🏥HEALTH: BP 145/81💓Pulse 71, oxygen🫁98%, Sleep 💤 ( 11:20 PM to 06:52 AM, Total 07h 15m, 90% of goal, REM👀 00h 30m, deep😴 02h 55m, light🥱03h 50m, awake⏰ 00h 17m), 2.5 Events*/hr, Weight 270.6 lb, 2120 Steps.

*Events means “quit breathing”

2025 February 17 Monday in Leander

COFFEE KLATSCH with Val, Suzie, Joan, Grace, Michelle, Muriel, Ella, Dianna, and I.

BREAKFAST: We had sausage, egg, and cheese biscuits plus an additional biscuit with raspberry preserves.

🗓️AGENDA:

PRESIDENTS DAY

Love your spouse

INR Check (Home)

9:00 a Coffee at the Hills

5:00 p Canasta

5:09 p Mexican Train

TUE February 18 tomorrow

HVAC T-switch replacements HVAC Love your spouse

9:00 a Coffee at the Hills

10:00 a Fresh Produce (Life church,

1:30 p Food Pantry +55 Leander Church Of Chrust

5:00 p 5 Crowns

5:00 p Mexican Train

LUNCH: The convenience of a jarred pumpkin maple bisque that could be easily heated in the microwave enticed me to give it a try. However, upon tasting it, I was disappointed to find that it lacked the depth and richness of flavor I had hoped for. Not wanting to waste the soup, I remembered a can of evaporated milk in my pantry and decided to give it a chance. After combining the two and reheating, I was pleased to find that the addition of the milk transformed the bisque into a much more flavorful and satisfying dish. The creaminess of the milk balanced out the sweetness of the maple and enhanced the natural flavors of the pumpkin. What started as a lackluster meal from a jar turned into a delicious homemade soup with just one simple addition. This experience reinforced my belief that sometimes, a little creativity and experimentation in the kitchen can result in a much better outcome than relying solely on convenience foods.

WEATHER: 56°/48° Mostly clear. Southeast winds 5 to 10 mph becoming south 10 to 15 mph with gusts up to 25 mph then becoming south winds 5 to 10 mph with gusts up to 20 mph.

I never stuck my head out of the doorway to check on today's weather. So I have no empirical evidence with which to verify or contradict today's forecast.

CANASTA: Ella, Ann, Jo, Steve, and I played cards tonight. It seemed that everyone was lacking in energy today. Our get-up-and-go had got up and gone. Normally we play to five thousand points. Tonight we declared Jo the winner with thirty-six something and went our separate ways.

GROCERIES: I scheduled a grocery delivery for between eight and ten o'clock tonight, anticipating that our card game would not end before eight. I could have scheduled it for sooner, since my initial estimate proved to be incorrect as we called a halt to the card game just before seven-thirty. So now, at the end of my day, I find myself sitting and waiting for the delivery person to arrive. While I wait, I will use this time to finish writing and posting this blog. Once that is done, I plan on unwinding by watching some YouTube or TV until the food arrives. It's the perfect way to cap off a long and uneventful day, knowing that I will soon have a fresh supply of groceries to enjoy. This delivery not only saves me time and effort, but it also allows me to relax and take care of other tasks while someone else takes care of my grocery shopping. Overall, scheduling a grocery delivery has been a convenient and stress-free experience, making me grateful for the modern conveniences that make our lives easier.

God bless and goodnight.

🏥HEALTH: BP 151/81💓Pulse 81, oxygen🫁98%, Sleep 💤 ( 12:00 AM to 08:37 AM, Total 08h 23m, 💯% of goal, REM👀 00h 56m, deep😴 02h 50m, light🥱04h 36m, awake⏰ 00h 14m), 2.5 Events*/hr, Weight 270.6 lb, 1555 Steps.

*Events means “quit breathing”

2025 February 16 Sunday in Leander and Liberty Hill

SUNDAY SCHOOL: There were ten of us today as we finished the last chapter in the book we've been studying about Acts. There is an epilog which we will cover next week. We will them begin a Lenten study of Luke's gospel by Rev. Adam Hamilton.

WORSHIP: Sermon: “The People Called Methodists: Grace” by Reveren David McMinn

LUNCH: After church, I decided to cook a hearty meal of steak and potatoes in my trusty Instapot. To add some extra flavor, I also made a delicious mushroom gravy and heated some canned corn on the side. For dessert, I served some apple sauce.

To cook the steak to perfection, I seared it on both sides until it had a beautiful medium brown color. However, because my dining companion Ella has trouble chewing anything too tough, I opted to pressure cook the steak and potatoes for about forty minutes. This resulted in a tender and juicy steak that was easy for her to eat.

To top it off, I made a creamy gravy using real sliced mushrooms, adding a burst of earthy flavors to the dish.

Despite being tempted to eat the steak as it was after searing, the end result was worth the wait. And with the addition of apple sauce for dessert, it was a satisfying and comforting meal that left us both feeling content and satisfied.

🗓️AGENDA:

✔️Love your spouse❤️

✔️8:00 a Coffee Bar at Church☕

✔️9:00 a Sunday school📚

✔️10:00 a Worship💒

MON February 17 tomorrow

PRESIDENTS DAY

Love your spouse

INR Check (Home)

9:00 a Coffee at the Hills

5:00 p Canasta

5:09 p Mexican Train

WEATHER: 49°/31° Sunny. North winds 15 to 20 mph with gusts up to 30 mph becoming Northeast winds 5 to 10 mph.

It actually was a little warmer at 52° than the predicted 49°. However, with the high wind, the wind chill made a couple extra degrees unnoticeable.

GAME: we played a round of Five Crowns this evening.

🏥HEALTH: BP 148/83💓Pulse 82, oxygen🫁97%, Sleep 💤 ( 10:35 PM to 06:55 AM, Total 08h 07m, 💯% of goal, REM👀 00h 56m, deep😴 03h 04m, light🥱04h 07m, awake⏰ 00h 18m), 1.6 Events*/hr, Weight 269.2 lb, 2297 Steps.

*Events means “quit breathing”

2025 February 15 Saturday in Leander

🗓️AGENDA:

✔️Love your spouse❤️

✔️9:00 a Coffee at the Hills☕

SUN February 16 (Tomorrow)

Love your spouse❤️

8:00 a Coffee Bar at Church☕

9:00 a Sunday school📚

10:00 a Worship💒

LUNCH: turkey meat so spaghetti sauce over spaghetti squash.

CARDS: Ella and I played a game of 5 Crowns before bed tonight.

🌞WEATHER: 70°/36° Fog cloudy with a slight chance of very light drizzle this morning then mostly sunny. Southwest winds 10 to 15 mph with gusts up to 30 mph.

The weather turned out to be very close to accurate with a high of 70° and a nice sunny afternoon. We will see how close the overnight temperature will be.

🏥HEALTH: BP 148/83💓Pulse 82, oxygen🫁97%, Sleep 💤 ( 11:51 PM to 07:53 AM, Total 08h 01m, 💯% of goal, REM👀 01h 18m, deep😴 02h 29m, light🥱04h 14m, awake⏰ 00h 01m), 1.1 Events*/hr, Weight 269.2 lb, 967 Steps.

*Events means “quit breathing”

2025 February 14 Valentine's Day Friday in Leander

☕✔️: Dianna, Fran, Val, Suzie, Michelle, Joan, Grace, Ella, and I attended the coffee group this morning. Discussion was about the cold, coupons, and cute things on our phones.

🗓️AGENDA: 💘 Valentine's Day

✔️Love your spouse❤️

✔️9:00 a Coffee at the Hills☕

✔️11:30 a Leander 50+ Luncheon🍝

✔️6:00 p Happy Hour🎉

SAT February 15 tomorrow

9:00 a Coffee at the Hills☕

11:30 a LUMC Leander 50+ Luncheon🍝

11:00 a Leadership retreat

☁️WEATHER: 50°/45° Entirely cloudy. East winds around 5 mph becoming south 5 to 10 mph.It was a very gray day.

🎉HAPPY HOUR⏳ We played music trivia. I knew very few of them. Even when it was over and, they played the whole song I didn't recognize them. Mostly from the wrong generation I guess.

🏥HEALTH: BP 146/85💓Pulse 92, oxygen🫁97%, Sleep 💤 ( 11:19 PM to 07:28 AM, Total 07h 50m, 97% of goal, REM👀 00h 36m, deep😴 03h 07m, light🥱04h 07m, awake⏰ 00h 19m), 1.1 Events*/hr, Weight 271.2 lb, 1642 Steps.

*Events means “quit breathing”

2025 February 13 Thursday in Leander and Liberty Hill

COFFEE KLATSCH: Andrea, Rae, Grace, Suzie, Michelle, Joan, Fran, Ella, Romain, Sandy, and I at coffee today

AGENDA:

✔️Love your spouse❤️

✔️9:00 a Coffee at the Hills☕

✔️11:00 a Over The Hill Gang⛰️🧓👴

✔️1:00 p Town Hall Meeting 🌇

✔️3:30 p HCCM🛍️

✔️6:00 p Bingo 🅱️🔟

FRI February 14 tomorrow

Love your spouse❤️

9:00 a Coffee at the Hills☕

11:30 a LUMC Leander 50+ Luncheon🍝

6:00 p Happy Hour🎉

WEATHER: 43°/36° Mostly cloudy in the morning then becoming partly cloudy. North winds 10 to 15 mph with gusts up to 25 mph becoming northeast 5 to 10 mph.

OVER THE HILL GANG: 48 people for lunch today. Two new members Rey and Linda. We shared it table with Del and Ursula. Del, 92, is from Keokuk, Iowa which is one of Ella's home town's. His wife Ursula, 83, is from Germany. The picture below is from last Hat Day. I'm the tall good-looking guy framed by the doorway. My loving wife is right in front of me. She's wearing a white shirt with red sleeves. It's a photo of a photo so the resolution isn't too good

HILL COUNTRY: There is plenty of food for the two of us. Thank you God and Hill Country Community Ministries.

And, because our cup runneth over, there was plenty to add to the in-house food pantry at the Hills of Leander Senior apartments.

BINGO at the HILLS: Ella as usual lead the Thursday night bingo group in an hour of fun and prizes.

HEALTH: BP 146/85💓Pulse 92, oxygen🫁98%, Sleep 💤 ( 06:21 PM to 07:24 AM, Total 09h 04m, 💯% of goal, REM👀 00h 37m, deep😴 03h 34m, light🥱04h 53m, awake⏰ 03h 59m), 1.1 Events*/hr, Weight 270.6 lb, 3100 Steps.

*Events means “quit breathing”

2025 February 12 Wednesday in Leander and Liberty Hill

COFFEE KLATSCH: We missed it this morning because making biscuits, cinnamon rolls, scrambled eggs, and sausage gravy take longer to cook/bake than eggs and toast. We ran out of time to go up for coffee before leaving for Over The Hill and canasta.

AGENDA:

✔️Love your spouse❤️

✔️9:00 a Coffee at the Hills☕

✔️10:00 Canasta at OTHG ♣️ ❤️ ♦️♠️

❌5:00 p Refuel ⛽

❌7:30 p Hump Day🐪

THU February 13 (Tomorrow)

Love your spouse❤️

9:00 a Coffee at the Hills☕

11:00 a Over The Hill Gang⛰️🧓👴

1:00 p Town Hall Meeting 🌇

3:30 p HCCM🛍️

6:00 p Bingo 🅱️🔟

BREAKFAST: scrambled eggs, biscuits, and gravy with a breakfast dessert of cinnamon rolls.

WEATHER: 68°/31° Cloudy this morning then clearing. Areas of fog this morning. Northwest winds 5 to 10 mph becoming 10 to 15 mph with gusts up to 25 mph.

CANASTA at Over The Hill today with Sandy, Ella, Nathern, and I. Anne is still not with us. We are concerned about her. She want at church this past Sunday either.

MESSAGE: We received the message below and decided to not go tonight. If there is no Bible discussion I don't see a reason to attend. We can have soup and play games at home.

Refuel Fun and Fellowship February 12th @ 5PM
With Pastor Brad in recovery we would like to invite everyone to a Refuel night of fellowship and games. Please bring a board and/or card game, or just bring yourself to get to know others in the congregation.
Soups and salad will be provided but if you would like to bring something else please feel free to bring what you would like. Hope to see everyone there!
For questions please reach out to Kandice or email the church at crosstrackschurch@gmail.com.

SUPPER: That message about soup inspired me to open a can of chicken noodle soup. The problem with soup is that I'm too shaking to get it to my mouth without it sloshing off of the spoon. Crackers are my salvation.

HEALTH: BP 137/83💓Pulse 73, oxygen🫁98%, Sleep 💤 ( 12:35 AM to 07:52 AM, Total 06h 55m, 86% of goal, REM👀 00h 53m, deep😴 01h 51m, light🥱04h 11m, awake⏰ 00h 22m), 1.1 Events*/hr, Weight 267.0 lb, 1062 Steps.

*Events means “quit breathing”

2025 February 11 Tuesday in Leander and Liberty Hill

COFFEE KLATSCH: Val, Suzie, Joan, Grace, Michelle, Muriel, Sandy, Ella, Dianna, Fran, and I were at coffee this morning. I left soon after to go to a men's meeting in Liberty Hill.

AGENDA:

✔️Love your spouse❤️

✔️9:00 a Coffee at the Hills☕

✔️10:30 a Men's Emmaus group 🐓

✔️5:00 p 5 Crowns👑

✔️5:00 p Mexican Train🚂

WED February 12 tomorrow

Love your spouse❤️

9:00 a Coffee at the Hills☕

10:00 Canasta at OTHG ♣️ ❤️ ♦️♠️

5:00 p Refuel ⛽

7:30 p Hump Day🐪

EMMAUS: The first men's Emmaus 4th Day meeting at El Mariachi restaurant was a productive experience. As seven of us gathered together, we discussed and made plans for future meetings. After consideration, it was decided that we would meet on the first and third Tuesdays of every month at ten thirty in the morning. This regular meeting schedule would allow us to connect and support one another on our spiritual journeys. The warm and welcoming atmosphere of the restaurant provided the perfect setting for our first gathering, and I left feeling encouraged. I was grateful for the opportunity to come together as a community and look forward to the growth and fellowship that will come from our regular meetings.

WEATHER: 60°/46° Thunderstorms, fog, and showers. Northeast winds five to ten miles per hour. Chance of rain 80 percent.

It rained off and on throughout the day. Even when it wasn't actively raining there was still a dampness to the air.

FIVE CROWNS: Lucille, Fran, Jane, Steve, Ann, and I played cards tonight. Jane won. 5 Crowns is a card game combining elements of rummy and poker. We play with a special deck of cards, including jokers, and can accommodate 2-7 players. The objective of the game is to be the first player to get rid of all their cards by forming runs and sets. Unlike traditional rummy games, 5 Crowns has 5 suits instead of 4, with stars being the fifth suit. Also it has no aces or deuces. This adds an exciting twist to the gameplay as players must strategize and adapt to the changing wild card each round. With simple rules and endless possibilities, 5 Crowns is a fun and challenging game that we enjoy nearly every Tuesday evening.

MEXICAN TRAIN: while I played 5 Crowns Ella played dominos with Sandy and Maggie.

HEALTH: BP 145/82💓Pulse 84, oxygen🫁98%, Sleep 💤 ( 12:00 AM to 06:33 AM, Total 06h 33m, 81% of goal, REM👀 00h 52m, deep😴 02h 38m, light🥱03h 03m, awake⏰ 00h 00m), 1.1 Events*/hr, Weight 268.0 lb, 2045 Steps. INR 2.2

*Events means “quit breathing”

2025 February 10 Monday in Leander

COFFEE KLATSCH: Dianna,Michelle, Avis, Grace, Vicky, Jo, Andrea, Ella, & I.

LUNCH: Arik was going to bring barbeque from Stiles Switch BBQ. However he found that they are closed on Mondays. I did a quick Google search and found Lazy G’s not far from where he was. He went there and found that it is a food truck park and Lazy G’s wasn't there. I sent him a one word text, “improvise.” He responded, “KFC it is then.”

He arrived around noon with chicken and sides. We talked for a couple of hours until he had to go and pick up groceries at curbside pickup.

AGENDA:

✔️Love your spouse❤️

✔️INR Check (Home)🩸2.2

✔️9:00 a Coffee at the Hills☕

✔️11:30 a Lunch with Arik🍱

✔️5:00 p Canasta ♣️♠️♦️❤️

✔️5:00 p Mexican Train🚂

TUE February 11 tomorrow

Love your spouse❤️

9:00 a Coffee at the Hills☕

10:30 a Men's Emmaus group 🐓

5:00 p 5 Crowns👑

5:00 p Mexican Train🚂

CANASTA: Ann, Jane, Ella, Jo, Steve, and I played canasta. There were three teams made up of Ann and Jo, Jane and Steve, and Ella and I. Steve and Jane won.

WEATHER: 57°/54° Cloudy. Patchy very light drizzle and fog. Northeast winds 5 to 10 mph. Later 50% chance of showers with east winds around 5 mph.

Tomorrow's, (February 11) forecast

8 AM 52° 60% Precip Prob
9 AM 54° 60% Precip Prob
10 AM 56° 60% Precip Prob
11 AM 57° 60% Precip Prob
12 PM 58° 40% Precip Prob

I have a meeting tomorrow morning in Liberty Hill. The weather may decide whether I go or stay home.

HEALTH: BP 156/81💓Pulse 83, oxygen🫁98%, Sleep 💤 ( 11:35 PM to 09:05 AM, Total 09h 26m, 💯% of goal, REM👀 00h 53m, deep😴 03h 47m, light🥱04h 46m, awake⏰ 00h 04m), 1.5 Events*/hr, Weight 267.0 lb, 2045 Steps. INR 2.2

*Events means “quit breathing”

2025 February 09 Sunday in Leander and Liberty

RADIATOR: It seems that our car has a slow leak in the radiator because I need to add antifreeze about once a month. Do this morning I poured a half bottle of radiator stop leak into it. As per instructions I say and let the car idle for a while. I watched the coolant display slowly climb to 174° and level off. Since it didn't get any hotter, after about five minutes I decided to go ahead and drive to church. Interestingly (at least to me) as I drove the temperature went down to around 167°± a few degrees.

⛪ CHURCH: Pastor Brad was on his own today because Teresa was away helping her mother celebrate a birthday. It was also announced that she is retiring at the end of this month. I'm not “in the know” about if/when they will replace her or with whom. Anywho, that's why Brad was on his own and had the children's sermon as well as the big people's sermon today. Cross Tracks Church sermon on Facebook.

AGENDA:

✔️Love your spouse ❤️

✔️8:00 a Coffee Bar at Church☕

✔️9:00 a Sunday school📚

✔️10:00 a Worship💒

MON February 10 tomorrow

Love your spouse❤️

INR Check (Home)🩸

9:00 a Coffee at the Hills☕

12:00 p Lunch with Arik🍱

5:00 p Canasta ♣️♠️♦️❤️

5:00 p Mexican Train🚂

WAL-MART: After church and before going home we went to Walmart so Ella could purchase some Zyrtec. While she was there I went to Murphy USA and filled the car with gasoline. It is the wrong season to send Ella shopping by herself. “What season?” you ask. Girl Scout Cookie® season.

LUNCH: Chicken and rice with chicken gravy plus a lettuce salad was what I fixed for our late lunch. If breakfast plus lunch is brunch, is lunch plus supper lupper?

WEATHER: 62°/47° Mostly cloudy. Northeast winds 5 to 10 mph becoming North winds 5 to 10 mph.

HEALTH: BP 156/81💓Pulse 83, oxygen🫁98%, Sleep 💤 ( 11:17 PM to 06:24 AM, Total 07h 02m, 87% of goal, REM👀 00h 50m, deep😴 01h 55m, light🥱04h 17m, awake⏰ 00h 05m), 0.8 Events*/hr, Weight 267.0 lb, 1192 Steps.

*Events means “quit breathing”

2025 February 08 Saturday in Leander

COFFEE KLATSCH:

AGENDA:

✔️Love your spouse❤️

✔️9:00 a Coffee at the Hills☕

✔️1:00 p Second Hand Saturday🙌

SUN February 9 tomorrow

Love your spouse

8:00 a Coffee Bar at Church

9:00 a Sunday school

10:00 a Worship

LUNCH: Ella had some leftover lasagna, I had some leftover salmon. I chose to make patties and have pork and beans, and pear slices.

WEATHER: 83°/61° Mostly cloudy then clearing. South winds 10 to 15 mph with gusts up to 25 mph. Then becoming mostly cloudy with South winds 5 to 10 mph.

2nd HAND SATURDAY: Once a month people Jane the opportunity to unburden themselves of unwanted unneeded clutter. It also provides the opportunity to carry home other people's clutter at no charge.

Do you see that tree in the above photo? It followed Ella home and now lives on our patio. And it has a metal birdhouse in it. For metal birds I suppose. That's alright because it's not really a tree either. It is bamboo. Some of it is really bamboo but the leaves are all plastic. It's bound to survive longer than the other plants on the patio.

PUDDING: Ella made pudding for supper. Just kidding she had Cream Of Wheat for supper. The pudding was a snack or a dessert - I don't know.

HEALTH: BP 154/65💓Pulse 105, oxygen🫁98%, Sleep 💤 ( 12:39 AM to 08:18 AM, Total 07h 39m, 95% of goal, REM👀 00h 20m, deep😴 02h 39m, light🥱04h 40m, awake⏰ 00h 00m), 1.2 Events*/hr, Weight 266.2 lb, 1216 Steps.

*Events means “quit breathing”

2025 February 07 Friday in Leander

Still crazy after all these years!

AGENDA:

✔️Love your spouse❤️

✔️9:00 a Coffee at the Hills☕

✔️6:00 p Happy Hour🎉

SAT February 8 tomorrow

Love your spouse❤️

9:00 a Coffee at the Hills☕

1:00 p Second Hand Saturday🙌

BREAKFAST/BRUNCH: My special pancakes*, sausage, and eggs.

*I add eggs, oil, and vanilla to the pancake mix. In essence I'm making waffle batter to make pancakes.

WEATHER: 82°/63° Mostly cloudy then partly cloudy. Patchy fog. South winds 5 to 15 mph.

HAPPY HOUR: I made a rice and pork dish to take to the Happy Hour potluck tonight. However, I failed to notice that the frozen finely diced vegetable medley that I added was predominantly onion to which I'm highly allergic. It bummed me out because I'd been really looking forward to the dish. That's what I get for not reading the ingredients more carefully before dumping it into the mix. Oh well other people seemed to really enjoy it. There were enough other items on buffet table that I didn't go hungry.

5 CROWNS: When Ella and I got home, she challenged me to a game of Five Crowns. She was excited to show off her skills and had a great game with only 78 points. However, to her disappointment, I ended up having a better game with only 41 points. For those who are unfamiliar with the game, the goal is to have the lowest points by the end of the game. In the end, it was a great way to spend our evening with some friendly competition.

HEALTH: BP 167/95💓Pulse 96, oxygen🫁98%, Sleep 💤 ( 12:13 AM to 07:11 AM, Total 06h 56m, 86% of goal, REM👀 00h 12m, deep😴 02h 21m, light🥱04h 23m, awake⏰ 00h 02m), 1.2 Events*/hr, Weight 265.6 lb, 1828 Steps.

*Events means “quit breathing”

2025 February 06 Thursday in Leander and Liberty Hill

Hat day

COFFEE KLATSCH: Jo, Joan, Grace, Nancy, Fran, Donna, Michelle, Sandy, Dianna, Ella, and I at today's coffee group.

AGENDA:

✔️Alyssa C's birthday 🎂

✔️Love your spouse❤️

✔️9:00 a Coffee at the Hills☕

✔️11:00 a Over The Hill Hat Day⛰️🎩

✔️6:00 p Bingo at the Hills🅱️🔟

FRI February 7 tomorrow

Love your spouse❤️

9:00 a Coffee at the Hills☕

6:00 p Happy Hour🎉

OVER THE HILL GANG: Forty-one people were there for lunchmeat sandwiches, chips, potato salad, ham and beans carrots, desserts and other good stuff. It was Hat Day. I wore my tophat that you can see in today's proof of life photo at the top of this post

WEATHER: 82°/65° Mostly cloudy in the morning then becoming partly cloudy. Patchy fog in the morning. South winds 05 to 15 mph with gusts up to 20 mph.

LICENCES: I just renewed my international driver's license and my sleigh flying licence for another century.

EYE COLOR: on a related subject, Santa is sometimes asked why his eyes are sometimes brown and sometimes blue, hazel, grey, green, or some other shade?

The scientific explanation has to do with the coronal mass ejection of particles from the heliosphere that, while interacting with the Earth‘s magnetosphere, disturb the mythomagical pigmentation and the frequency of the light scattering the turbid medium in the stroma of his irises.

To put it more simply, it has to do with the effects of the Northern lights.

I hope that clears this up for you.

BINGO: About five thirty Ella took her wagon load of bingo prizes, a Bluetooth speaker, and her cell phone to the community room. Some of the bingo players were getting the bingo cards and markers out of storage when she arrived. Promptly at six an app on her phone began randomly calling bingo numbers which were amplified by the speaker.

Ella chooses which bingo game is played and controls the speed and volume making sure that everyone understands and has time to check their cards. .

There is no charge to play. However people are requested to bring things to be used as prizes. Some people choose to donate cash. Ella uses the cash to occasionally shop for prizes. Tonight about a dozen people played which is about average for Thursday nights. .

Ella told me that one person is taking and keeping specific bingo cards. Even taking them home with her. To be clear, the cards do not belong to her - the bingo cards are there for everyone's enjoyment. Ella said that she doesn't understand why this person is doing this. .

HEALTH: BP 151/83💓Pulse 90, oxygen🫁97%, Sleep 💤 ( 11:23 PM to 07:41 AM, Total 08h 09m, 💯% of goal, REM👀 00h 17m, deep😴 02h 52m, light🥱n /a, awake⏰ 00h 19m), 1.2f Events*/hr, Weight 268.8 lb, 1828 Steps.

I received the report on my PSA from yesterday's blood draw. 0.3 that's good. For more info see yesterday's post.

*Events means “quit breathing”

2025 February 05 Wednesday in Leander and Liberty Hill

COFFEE KLATSCH: Sandy, Donna, Val, Suzie, Joan, Grace, Michelle, Muriel, Cindy, Fran, Ella, and I at coffee this morning. Donna looked at the February calendar and said something to the effect that she didn't see Jesus there. Cindy told her that if she wanted to start a group to let her know for next month’s calendar. I asked if she meant a Bible study. She said it was less about the Bible and more about sharing with each other.

CANASTA at OTHG: My wife Ella and I were eagerly waiting for our friends Anne, Sandy, and Nathern to arrive for our weekly game of canasta. It is a favorite pastime of ours and a perfect way to spend a lazy Wednesday morning. However, to our disappointment, Anne’s daughter called to inform us that Anne was not feeling up to coming to play. We were sad to hear this as Anne was an integral part of our canasta group and we always looked forward to her company. Nevertheless, we all decided to proceed with the game. Ella and I partnered against Sandy and Nathern.

As I shuffled the cards, I couldn't help but reminisce about our first game of canasta with our friends. It was a few years ago when we had just moved into the neighborhood. We met Anne at Grandies, a church sponsored event, and hit it off instantly. She introduced us to canasta. Ever since that day, we have been hooked on this game and have spent many days playing it with Anne and our other friends.

Sandy and Nathern arrived, and we began the game. As we dealt the cards, we could feel the excitement building within us. The first few rounds were going in our favor, and we were leading by a good margin. However, as the game progressed, our opponents began to catch up. They were making canastas and scoring more points than us. We could feel the tension rising, but at the same time, we were having a great time.

As I considered my next move, I couldn't help but admire the camaraderie that canasta fosters. It is a game that brings people together and encourages teamwork. Each player has a role to play, and everyone's contribution is crucial to the team's success.

As we reached the end of the game, Sandy and Nathern had caught up to our score. The last few rounds were intense, with each team trying their best to outsmart the other. In the end, Sandy and Nathern beat us by a small margin. We congratulated them on their win, but more importantly, we were grateful for the time we spent together playing this wonderful game.

As we packed up the cards and said our goodbyes, I couldn't help but reflect on how much fun we had playing canasta. It wasn't just about winning or losing; it was about spending time with friends, engaging in healthy competition, and bonding over a shared interest. Canasta not only tests our skills but also helps us build stronger relationships with our friends.

As I write this blog, I can't help but smile at the memories of our game of canasta today. Though Anne was not able to join us, her absence did not dampen our spirits. If anything, it made us appreciate her presence even more. As we plan for our game next week, I am reminded of the saying, "It's not about the destination; it's about the journey."

AGENDA:

✔️Love your spouse❤️

✔️9:00 a Coffee at the Hills☕

✔️10:00 a Canasta at OTHG ♦️♠️♣️❤️

5:00 p Cross Tracks REFUEL⛽

7:30 p Hump day🐪

THU February 6 tomorrow

Alyssa C's birthday 🎂

Love your spouse❤️

9:00 a Coffee at the Hills☕

11:00 a Over The Hill Hat Day⛰️🎩

6:00 p Bingo at the Hills🅱️🔟

LUNCH: After a morning of canasta, my bride and I were hungry and ready for a filling lunch. As soon as we arrived home, I wasted no time in getting to work on our meal. I decided to make boneless pork chops in the instant pot, lightly seasoning them before searing them to perfection. While the chops were cooking, I prepped some carrots and potatoes, roughly chopping them into pieces. Once the pork chops were ready, I added the veggies to the pot along with a can of cream of chicken soup. The soup made an instant seasoning and gravy.

With the instant pot set to pressure cook for twenty minutes, I had some time to quickly shred some iceberg lettuce for a simple salad. In the meantime, I drained a can of corn and placed it in a microwavable bowl, seasoning it with salt, pepper, and a tablespoon of butter before microwaving it for a couple of minutes.

And just as the instant pot was completing its cycle, the corn was also ready. To balance out the meal, I also added some individual containers of applesauce. The end result was delicious and satisfying - a well-rounded lunch that filled our stomachs and tasted pretty darn good, if I do say so myself.

NOTICE: The apartment management sent the February newsletter by email and physically posted to each apartment door. The following is only a small part of the notice.

I point this out because the office staff is only onsite Monday through Friday from nine to four. It's unlikely that they will ever see the group of people who sit on the patio outside the community room nearly every night and smoke. One violation with a notice and the second violation brings eviction sounds like they mean business but I think it's all bark and no bite.

WEATHER: 81°/65° Cloudy in the morning then becoming partly cloudy. South winds 10 to 15 mph with gusts up to 25 mph

REFUEL: Pizza and salad was there to fill out stomachs. Professor Doctor Brad King was there to fill our minds. We are going to be studying the gospel of Mark. However we began tonight by learning about the traditional literary style that the gospel use. Plus the supposed sources from which each of the synoptic gospels drew information.

HEALTH: BP 151/83💓Pulse 90, oxygen🫁97%, Sleep 💤 ( 11:09 PM to 07:52 AM, Total 08h 18m, 💯% of goal, REM👀 n/a, deep😴 n/a, light🥱n /a, awake⏰ n/a), 1.1 Events*/hr, Weight 268.8 lb, 2025 February 05 Wednesday in Leander and Liberty Hill

AGENDA:

✔️Love your spouse❤️

✔️9:00 a Coffee at the Hills☕

✔️10:00 a Canasta at OTHG ♦️♠️♣️❤️

5:00 p Cross Tracks REFUEL⛽

7:30 p Hump day🐪

THU February 6 tomorrow

Alyssa C's birthday 🎂

Love your spouse❤️

9:00 a Coffee at the Hills☕

11:00 a Over The Hill Hat Day⛰️🎩

6:00 p Bingo at the Hills🅱️🔟

NOTICE: The apartment management sent the February newsletter by email and physically posted to each apartment door. The following is only a small part of the notice.

WEATHER: 81°/65° Cloudy in the morning then becoming partly cloudy. South winds 10 to 15 mph with gusts up to 25 mph

HEALTH: BP 151/83💓Pulse 90, oxygen🫁97%, Sleep 💤 ( 11:09 PM to 07:52 AM, Total 08h 18m, 💯% of goal, REM👀 n/a, deep😴 n/a, light🥱n /a, awake⏰ n/a), 1.1 Events*/hr, Weight 268.8 lb, 2551 Steps.

For some reason my watch failed to register completely my sleep metrics today.

*Events means “quit breathing”

2025 February 04 Tuesday in Leander and Cedar Park

BREAKFAST: scramble eggs, sausage, and toast.

COFFEE KLATSCH: Diana, Jo, Joan, Michelle, Grace, Suzie, Val, and I were at coffee before Ella arrived. Once my bride was there it was time for her and I to go to the doctor.

DOCTOR: Ella and I followed the nurse back to the exam room where she began asking for the list of medications that have changed since my last visit in September of last year. Once the list was updated she then clipped a device to my finger to measure oxygen, pulse, and blood pressure.

She wanted to do a blood draw to check my PSA*. However, when I told her that the best place to get my blood was from the back of my hand, she went to bring in another nurse who was more experienced.

This nurse looked at my arm instead. I told her that, if she was going to attempt to use those veins, to not be timid. If you go slow the veins will roll. She replied that some people just don't know how to do it. She want timid and she got blood on the first and only try.

We then waited for the doctor to come in. When he did, he greeted me with a warm smile and a reassuring tone that put me at ease.

Since I hadn't had a blood draw before arriving today, the doctor couldn't give me an exact update on my PSA levels. However, he did tell me what he hoped to see - a level of about .5. My mind processed this information and I couldn't help but feel hopeful. Just a few years ago, my PSA levels were at a staggering 7, indicating aggressive prostate cancer. But thanks to medication and radiation therapy, they had dropped to an undetectable level of .00.

I couldn't help but feel grateful to God as well as for modern medicine and all the advancements that have been made in cancer treatment. Just a few decades ago, a diagnosis like mine would have been considered a death sentence. But here I was, alive and hopeful for even better news today.

As the doctor continued his examination, he reminded me that even though my previous PSA levels were undetectable, it was expected that they would rise now that I nominate to the medication and that the radiation treatment was over

The doctor also explained that at my previous visit six months ago, my PSA levels were detectable but at a level that was expected after treatment ended. This was a good indication that the cancer was no longer present in my body. I couldn't help but let out a sigh of relief knowing that my body was responding well to the treatment.

As I left the doctor's office today, I couldn't help but reflect on my journey with prostate cancer. It had been a difficult road, filled with fear, uncertainty, and numerous treatments. But at this moment, I felt a sense of hope and gratitude for the progress I had made.

I realize that my story was just one of many. Millions of people around the world face a cancer diagnosis every year, and each one has their own unique journey. Some may have a more difficult time than others, but what unites us all is the strength and resilience we have in the face of this disease.

I also couldn't help but think about the importance of regular check-ups and early detection in fighting cancer. If I had ignored my symptoms or put off seeing a doctor, my story could have ended much differently. It's crucial for everyone to prioritize their health and listen to their bodies.

As I eagerly await my PSA results, I know that regardless of the outcome, I have faith in my creator, modern medicine and, in myself. Cancer may have been a part of my life, but it doesn't define me. I am so much more than this disease and I refuse to let it control me.

To anyone going through a similar journey, know that you are not alone. Lean on your loved ones for support, stay positive, and trust in the power of prayer. And most importantly, never lose hope. Because with determination and the right treatment, anything is possible.

*The PSA test is a blood test used primarily to screen for prostate cancer. The test measures the amount of prostate-specific antigen (PSA) in your blood. PSA is a protein produced by both cancerous and noncancerous tissue in the prostate, a small gland that sits below the bladder in males.

AGENDA:

INR Check (Home)🩸

Love your spouse❤️

9:00 a Coffee at the Hills☕

9:50 a Tom to Urology Austin🩺

10:30 a Men's Emmaus group 🐓

5:00 p 5 Crowns👑

5:00 p Mexican Train🚂

WED February 5 tomorrow

Love your spouse❤️

9:00 a Coffee at the Hills☕

10:00 a Canasta at OTHG ♦️♠️♣️❤️

5:00 p Cross Tracks REFUEL⛽😀🥦🥦🍅q

7:30 p Hump day🐪

LUNCH: Ella had cheese lasagna while I had chicken pot pie.

WEATHER: 80°/65° Cloudy in the morning then becoming partly cloudy. Patchy fog in the morning. South winds 10 to 15 mph with gusts up to 20 mph.

Since we've had such great weather for the last few days I was wondering how long it was going to last.

Looks like the answer is until Sunday morning.

FIVE CROWNS: Lucille, Cindy, Jo, Fran, Ann, and I I came in fourth place out of six. Well, we all had fun, which is went we play

HEALTH: BP 141/82💓Pulse 86, oxygen🫁97%, Sleep 💤 ( 08:38 PM to 07:15 AM, Total 10h 28m, 💯% of goal, REM👀 00h 30m, deep😴 03h 2/57m, light🥱 06h 01m, awake⏰ 01h 09m), 1.3 Events*/hr, Weight 267.4 lb, 1967 Steps.

*Events means “quit breathing”

2025 February 03 Monday in Leander and Cedar Park

COFFEE KLATSCH: Andrea, Dianna, Fran, Muriel, Michelle, Avis, Suzie, Val, Donna, Sandy, Mary, Joe, Grace, Ella, and I discussed movies we would like to see in the theater room. The Donna today was not the same Donna that is usually here with Ricky for coffee.

DOCTOR: The experience at the Doctor's Office

Going to the doctor's office can induce a mix of emotions for most people. For some, it may bring feelings of anxiety or fear, while for others, it may bring a sense of comfort knowing they are taking care of their health. As for me, I have always fallen somewhere in between. However, after our recent experience at the doctor's office, I have a newfound appreciation for the struggles that come with getting blood drawn.

It all started with a simple routine checkup for my wife Ella and me. We arrived at the doctor's office last Friday. After our nurse practitioner, Kamal, had given us a good report and a hug she said we need to schedule a blood draw.

On the way out of the office we took a wrong turn and didn't go to the check-out desk. So we went to the check-in desk. There was quite a line so I told Ella we could just call for an appointment. My legs aren't made for standing and neither is my temperament.

Only, after going out for lunch and then going home, we forgot to schedule the appointment. By the time we thought of it the clinic was closed until Monday.

Monday morning, slightly after eight, we called. The receptionist said that she would have Kamal's nurse call us back to set the appointment. It was a fasting lab so we didn't eat until after one o'clock when I have up and fixed us a meal. We never got a call that day.

Tuesday morning we skipped breakfast and drove to the office. Once there we were able to get appointments for ten thirty and ten forty-five the following Monday (today).

We arrived at ten-fifteen today and waited about a half an hour which was okay. We weren't in a hurry.

We were soon greeted by the phlebotomist (or "fancy name for a vampire," as I jokingly referred to her). She led us to a room and explained that we would be having our blood drawn for some routine tests.

Now, I have to admit, I am not a big fan of needles. But over the years, I have learned to tolerate them and watch as they take my blood.

Apparently, it was much harder to get Ella's blood than mine. The phlebotomist had tried sticking her in one arm and both hands before finally being able to draw enough blood for the tests. I couldn't help but feel sorry for both Ella and the nurse.

On the other hand, my experience was quite different. The phlebotomist simply stuck me once in the back of my hand and quickly drew the necessary amount of blood. I was in and out of that room in a matter of minutes.

After our experience at the doctor's office, I have come to realize that getting blood drawn is not as easy as it may seem. It takes skill and patience from the phlebotomist and a lot of patience from the patient.

But most importantly, it made me realize the importance of taking care of our health. Without those routine checkups and blood tests, we may not catch potential health issues early on and it could lead to more serious problems in the future. So even though getting blood drawn may not be the most enjoyable experience, it is a necessary one for maintaining our overall well-being.

AGENDA:

✔️Love your spouse❤️

❌INR Check (Home)🩸

✔️9:00 a Coffee at the Hills☕

✔️✔️10:30 a Blood work for us both💉

✔️5:00 p Canasta♦️♠️♣️❤️

✔️5:00 p Mexican Train🚂

TUE February 04 tomorrow

Love your spouse❤️

9:00 a Coffee at the Hills☕

9:50 a Tom to Urology Austin🩺

10:30 a Men's Emmaus group 🐓

5:00 p 5 Crowns👑

5:00 p Mexican Train🚂

BRUNCH: It was lunch time when we left the clinic. I asked Ella which she preferred, Dairy Queen or Golden Chick. They both have ice cream and they both have food. Somewhat to my surprise she chose Golden Chick.

When we arrived she wanted to economize by ordering one larger meal and sharing it. We ordered the four piece fish platter which comes with fries and one side dish. I ordered dirty rice. Ella ordered coleslaw and a drink. When they brought the meal to our table it had the four fish, the fries, and a coleslaw but no dirty rice.

I looked at the receipt and found we were only charged for the platter and an extra drink. I guess the cashier was confused by ordering the coleslaw and thought it was instead of the rice dish. It wasn't a big deal so we just shared the coleslaw. We both got ice cream from the self-serve machine.

WEATHER: 82°/65° Mostly cloudy this morning then clearing. Patchy fog this morning. South winds 10 to 15 mph with gusts up to 25 mph later becoming south 5 to 10 mph with gusts up to 20 mph.

Another spectacular day.

PRIZES: Ella hosts bingo on Thursday evening at the apartments. Instead of charging money people are to bring items that can be used for prizes. Quite a few people prefer to donate money instead. So, every week or two Ella goes to Dollar Tree and purchases knick-knacks and inexpensive consumables to be used as giveaways. Today that included individual Kleenex packs, air fresheners, ballpoint pens, game books and trash bags, scarves, and other assorted items that people at our senior apartments can use.

CANASTA: Jane and I against Ella and Steve. It was a close game but Jane and I prevailed.

HEALTH: BP 151/93💓Pulse 91, oxygen🫁97%, Sleep 💤 ( 12:27 AM to 07:52 AM, Total 07h 24m, 92% of goal, REM👀 00h 46m, deep😴 02h 24m, light🥱 04h 14m, awake⏰ 00h 01m), 1.3 Events*/hr, Weight 269.6 lb, 1849 Steps.

*Events means “quit breathing”

2025 February 02 Sunday in Leander and Liberty Hill

TODAY: We arrived at Cross Tracks Church slightly before right o'clock this morning. We have an app on our phones that unlocks a door to the vestibule. Once inside we began turning on lights and unlocking the other five doors. Ella turned the coffee machine on and then gets some of the snacks out for the coffee bar. While she did that, I arranged the chairs around the cafe tables just inside the main doors. By them the coffee machine was heated enough to begin making the first pot of coffee. Decaf first then regular and finally hot water for cocoa and tea.

Soon people arrived to set up the sound equipment and musical instruments. Then came the Sunday school teachers and folks to help with the snacks. Pastor Brad arrived sometime during this and went to his office to prepare for worship.

AGENDA:

Love your spouse

8:00 a Coffee Bar at Church

9:00 a Sunday school

10:00 a Worship

MON February 3 (Tomorrow)

Love your spouse

INR Check (Home)

9:00 a Coffee at the Hills

10:30 a Blood work for both of us (

5:00 p Canasta & Mexican Train

SUNDAY SCHOOL: Still in the book of Acts.

WORSHIP: Today's children's church lesson was about God's Happy Meal - communion.

Immediately following children's church little Arthur was baptized.

Pastor Brad started a new sermon series called “The People Called Methodists”. Today's sermon was “The Meal”.

Directly after worship was a lunch as a thank you to everyone who volunteers at or for the church.

WEATHER: 80°/56° Clear. Highs in the upper 70s. Southwest winds 10 to 15 mph. Becoming partly cloudy. South winds around 10 mph with gusts up to 20 mph.

It was such a beautiful day that I wish we were camping.

HEALTH: BP 164/98💓Pulse 94, oxygen🫁97%, Sleep 💤 ( 11:38 PM to 05:53 AM, Total 06h 10m, 77% of goal, REM👀 00h 18m, deep😴 02h 35m, light🥱 03h 17m, awake⏰ 00h 05m), 1.3 Events*/hr, Weight 269.6 lb, 2315 Steps.

*Events means “quit breathing”

2025 February 01 Saturday in Leander

COFFEE KLATSCH: Avis, Joan, Dianne, Andrea, Fran, and I spent time exploring childhood memories over a cup of coffee.

Sitting around cafe tables pushed together, sipping on steaming cups of coffee, Avis, Joan, Dianne, Andrea, Fran, and I gathered for our daily Coffee Klatsch. As usual, we caught up on each other's lives and shared stories about our recent experiences. But this time, something was different. A spark was lit when I read out loud the essay I had written yesterday about wash day. It was then that we took a trip down memory lane, delving into and sharing our childhood memories. The atmosphere suddenly shifted from casual chit-chat to nostalgic reminiscing. Each of us had a different upbringing and our memories reflected that.

Avis shared about growing up poor in Michigan with many of the same experiences from my story. She shared about eating green apples from their trees. My story about getting my hand caught in the wringer of the washing machine reminded her of her brother catching his arm in the wringer up to his elbow

Joan recalled her more sheltered life growing up with polio and living in a body cast. She was a city girl living in apartments with cousins which she babysat with from the time she was twelve. And then, once released from the polio restraints she became a wild child.

As each one shared their memories, I couldn't help but feel a sense of warmth and happiness in the room. It felt like we were transported back in time, reliving our carefree childhood days as well as some of the traumas.

But what struck me the most during our coffee klatsch was not just the memories that we shared, but also the things we learned about each other that we never knew before. Despite being friends for years, there were still hidden parts of our childhoods that we had never shared before. It was a beautiful reminder that there is always something new to discover about the people we think we know so well.

Through our childhood memories, we learned about the values and traditions that were important to each of our families. We learned about the love and sacrifices our parents made for us. We learned about the simple joys that brought us happiness in a time when life was much simpler.

But most importantly, we learned about the power of storytelling. As we listened to each other's memories, we could feel the emotions behind them and it made us feel closer to each other. We laughed together, shed a few tears, and bonded over the shared experiences of our childhoods.

In today's fast-paced world, where technology dominates and communication is often reduced to short text messages and social media posts, it's easy to forget the importance of storytelling. But as we sat there, with nothing but our cups of coffee and our memories, we were reminded of how powerful and meaningful it can be to sit down and share our stories with one another.

Our coffee klatsch today showed me the beauty of connecting over a simple cup of coffee. It brought our friendship to a deeper level as we opened up and shared a part of ourselves that we may not have shared before. It also reminded me of the importance of preserving our memories and passing them on to future generations.

As the morning drew to a close, we all left feeling grateful for the trip down memory lane that our coffee time had taken us on. I hope we will share more stories from our past and make new memories in the present.

In a world where time seems to fly by, it's moments like these that remind us to slow down and cherish the little things in life. So next time you're sitting down for a cup of coffee with your friends or loved ones, take a moment to share a memory or two. You never know what stories you may unearth and how it will bring you closer together.

AGENDA

Amy G's birthday🎂

John L's birthday🎂

Love your spouse❤️

9:00 a Coffee at the Hills☕

SUN February 02 tomorrow

Love your spouse❤️

8:00 a Coffee Bar at Church☕

9:00 a Sunday school📚

10:00 a Worship💒

WEATHER: 69°/48° Clear. West winds around 5 mph becoming south this afternoon 5 to 10 mph

It was an altogether beautiful day.

FAMILY: We talked to Amber for nearly an hour today. I found out that Lorelei is taking a double major. One in business and the other had something to do with the environment. She also has a pretty serious boyfriend. Emma is playing high school basketball. Sabrina is playing lacrosse. Niko is playing soccer. And Amber has a new job.

WE also talked to Kara this evening. She is having a lot of hip pain and is scheduled surgery soon.

JOHN'S birthday was today. Ella called several times to wish him a happy birthday.

HEALTH: BP 147/93💓Pulse 77, oxygen🫁97%, Sleep 💤 ( 12:41 AM to 08:30 AM, Total 07h 41m, 96% of goal, REM👀 00h 15m, deep😴 03h 03m, light🥱 04h 26m, awake⏰ 00h 05m), 1.3 Events*/hr, Weight 266.8 lb, 2025 February 05 Wednesday in Leander and Liberty Hill

AGENDA:

✔️Love your spouse❤️

✔️9:00 a Coffee at the Hills☕

✔️10:00 a Canasta at OTHG ♦️♠️♣️❤️

5:00 p Cross Tracks REFUEL⛽

7:30 p Hump day🐪

THU February 6 tomorrow

Alyssa C's birthday 🎂

Love your spouse❤️

9:00 a Coffee at the Hills☕

11:00 a Over The Hill Hat Day⛰️🎩

6:00 p Bingo at the Hills🅱️🔟

NOTICE: The apartment management sent the February newsletter by email and physically posted to each apartment door. The following is only a small part of the notice.

WEATHER: 81°/65° Cloudy in the morning then becoming partly cloudy. South winds 10 to 15 mph with gusts up to 25 mph

HEALTH: BP 151/83💓Pulse 90, oxygen🫁97%, Sleep 💤 ( 11:09 PM to 07:52 AM, Total 08h 18m, 💯% of goal, REM👀 n/a, deep😴 n/a, light🥱n /a, awake⏰ n/a), 1.1 Events*/hr, Weight 268.8 lb, 1967 Steps.

For some reason my watch failed to register completely my sleep metrics today.

*Events means “quit breathing”

2025 February 04 Tuesday in Leander and Cedar Park

BREAKFAST: scramble eggs, sausage, and toast.

COFFEE KLATSCH: Diana, Jo, Joan, Michelle, Grace, Suzie, Val, and I were at coffee before Ella arrived. Once my bride was there it was time for her and I to go to the doctor.

DOCTOR: Ella and I followed the nurse back to the exam room where she began asking for the list of medications that have changed since my last visit in September of last year. Once the list was updated she then clipped a device to my finger to measure oxygen, pulse, and blood pressure.

She wanted to do a blood draw to check my PSA*. However, when I told her that the best place to get my blood was from the back of my hand, she went to bring in another nurse who was more experienced.

We then waited for the doctor to come in. When he did, he greeted me with a warm smile and a reassuring tone that put me at ease.

Since I hadn't had a blood draw before arriving today, the doctor couldn't give me an exact update on my PSA levels. However, he did tell me what he hoped to see - a level of about .5. My mind processed this information and I couldn't help but feel hopeful. Just a few years ago, my PSA levels were at a staggering 7, indicating aggressive prostate cancer. But thanks to medication and radiation therapy, they had dropped to an undetectable level of .00.

I couldn't help but feel grateful to God as well as for modern medicine and all the advancements that have been made in cancer treatment. Just a few decades ago, a diagnosis like mine would have been considered a death sentence. But here I was, alive and hopeful for even better news today.

As the doctor continued his examination, he reminded me that even though my previous PSA levels were undetectable, it was expected that they would rise now that I nominate to the medication and that the radiation treatment was over

The doctor also explained that at my previous visit six months ago, my PSA levels were detectable but at a level that was expected after treatment ended. This was a good indication that the cancer was no longer present in my body. I couldn't help but let out a sigh of relief knowing that my body was responding well to the treatment.

As I left the doctor's office today, I couldn't help but reflect on my journey with prostate cancer. It had been a difficult road, filled with fear, uncertainty, and numerous treatments. But at this moment, I felt a sense of hope and gratitude for the progress I had made.

I realize that my story was just one of many. Millions of people around the world face a cancer diagnosis every year, and each one has their own unique journey. Some may have a more difficult time than others, but what unites us all is the strength and resilience we have in the face of this disease.

I also couldn't help but think about the importance of regular check-ups and early detection in fighting cancer. If I had ignored my symptoms or put off seeing a doctor, my story could have ended much differently. It's crucial for everyone to prioritize their health and listen to their bodies.

As I eagerly await my PSA results, I know that regardless of the outcome, I have faith in my creator, modern medicine and, in myself. Cancer may have been a part of my life, but it doesn't define me. I am so much more than this disease and I refuse to let it control me.

To anyone going through a similar journey, know that you are not alone. Lean on your loved ones for support, stay positive, and trust in the power of prayer. And most importantly, never lose hope. Because with determination and the right treatment, anything is possible.

*The PSA test is a blood test used primarily to screen for prostate cancer. The test measures the amount of prostate-specific antigen (PSA) in your blood. PSA is a protein produced by both cancerous and noncancerous tissue in the prostate, a small gland that sits below the bladder in males.

AGENDA:

INR Check (Home)🩸

Love your spouse❤️

9:00 a Coffee at the Hills☕

9:50 a Tom to Urology Austin🩺

10:30 a Men's Emmaus group 🐓

5:00 p 5 Crowns👑

5:00 p Mexican Train🚂

WED February 5 tomorrow

Love your spouse❤️

9:00 a Coffee at the Hills☕

10:00 a Canasta at OTHG ♦️♠️♣️❤️

5:00 p Cross Tracks REFUEL⛽😀🥦🥦🍅q

7:30 p Hump day🐪

LUNCH: Ella had cheese lasagna while I had chicken pot pie.

WEATHER: 80°/65° Cloudy in the morning then becoming partly cloudy. Patchy fog in the morning. South winds 10 to 15 mph with gusts up to 20 mph.

Since we've had such great weather for the last few days I was wondering how long it was going to last.

Looks like the answer is until Sunday morning.

FIVE CROWNS: Lucille, Cindy, Jo, Fran, Ann, and I I came in fourth place out of six. Well, we all had fun, which is went we play

*Events means “quit breathing”

2025 February 03 Monday in Leander and Cedar Park

DOCTOR: The experience at the Doctor's Office

Only, after going out for lunch and then going home, we forgot to schedule the appointment. By the time we thought of it the clinic was closed until Monday.

Tuesday morning we skipped breakfast and drove to the office. Once there we were able to get appointments for ten thirty and ten forty-five the following Monday (today).

We arrived at ten-fifteen today and waited about a half an hour which was okay. We weren't in a hurry.

Now, I have to admit, I am not a big fan of needles. But over the years, I have learned to tolerate them and watch as they take my blood.

AGENDA:

✔️Love your spouse❤️

❌INR Check (Home)🩸

✔️9:00 a Coffee at the Hills☕

✔️✔️10:30 a Blood work for us both💉

✔️5:00 p Canasta♦️♠️♣️❤️

✔️5:00 p Mexican Train🚂

TUE February 04 tomorrow

Love your spouse❤️

9:00 a Coffee at the Hills☕

9:50 a Tom to Urology Austin🩺

10:30 a Men's Emmaus group 🐓

5:00 p 5 Crowns👑

5:00 p Mexican Train🚂

WEATHER: 82°/65° Mostly cloudy this morning then clearing. Patchy fog this morning. South winds 10 to 15 mph with gusts up to 25 mph later becoming south 5 to 10 mph with gusts up to 20 mph.

Another spectacular day.

CANASTA: Jane and I against Ella and Steve. It was a close game but Jane and I prevailed.

*Events means “quit breathing”

2025 February 02 Sunday in Leander and Liberty Hill

AGENDA:

Love your spouse

8:00 a Coffee Bar at Church

9:00 a Sunday school

10:00 a Worship

MON February 3 (Tomorrow)

Love your spouse

INR Check (Home)

9:00 a Coffee at the Hills

10:30 a Blood work for both of us (

5:00 p Canasta & Mexican Train

SUNDAY SCHOOL: Still in the book of Acts.

WORSHIP: Today's children's church lesson was about God's Happy Meal - communion.

Immediately following children's church little Arthur was baptized.

Pastor Brad started a new sermon series called “The People Called Methodists”. Today's sermon was “The Meal”.

Directly after worship was a lunch as a thank you to everyone who volunteers at or for the church.

WEATHER: 80°/56° Clear. Highs in the upper 70s. Southwest winds 10 to 15 mph. Becoming partly cloudy. South winds around 10 mph with gusts up to 20 mph.

It was such a beautiful day that I wish we were camping.

*Events means “quit breathing”

2025 February 01 Saturday in Leander

COFFEE KLATSCH: Avis, Joan, Dianne, Andrea, Fran, and I spent time exploring childhood memories over a cup of coffee.

AGENDA

Amy G's birthday🎂

John L's birthday🎂

Love your spouse❤️

9:00 a Coffee at the Hills☕

SUN February 02 tomorrow

Love your spouse❤️

8:00 a Coffee Bar at Church☕

9:00 a Sunday school📚

10:00 a Worship💒

WEATHER: 69°/48° Clear. West winds around 5 mph becoming south this afternoon 5 to 10 mph

It was an altogether beautiful day.

WE also talked to Kara this evening. She is having a lot of hip pain and is scheduled surgery soon.

JOHN'S birthday was today. Ella called several times to wish him a happy birthday.

*Events means “quit breathing”

2551 Steps.

*Events means “quit breathing”

Steps.

For some reason my watch failed to register completely my sleep metrics today.

*Events means “quit breathing”

2025 February 04 Tuesday in Leander and Cedar Park

BREAKFAST: scramble eggs, sausage, and toast.

COFFEE KLATSCH: Diana, Jo, Joan, Michelle, Grace, Suzie, Val, and I were at coffee before Ella arrived. Once my bride was there it was time for her and I to go to the doctor.

DOCTOR: Ella and I followed the nurse back to the exam room where she began asking for the list of medications that have changed since my last visit in September of last year. Once the list was updated she then clipped a device to my finger to measure oxygen, pulse, and blood pressure.

She wanted to do a blood draw to check my PSA*. However, when I told her that the best place to get my blood was from the back of my hand, she went to bring in another nurse who was more experienced.

We then waited for the doctor to come in. When he did, he greeted me with a warm smile and a reassuring tone that put me at ease.

Since I hadn't had a blood draw before arriving today, the doctor couldn't give me an exact update on my PSA levels. However, he did tell me what he hoped to see - a level of about .5. My mind processed this information and I couldn't help but feel hopeful. Just a few years ago, my PSA levels were at a staggering 7, indicating aggressive prostate cancer. But thanks to medication and radiation therapy, they had dropped to an undetectable level of .00.

I couldn't help but feel grateful to God as well as for modern medicine and all the advancements that have been made in cancer treatment. Just a few decades ago, a diagnosis like mine would have been considered a death sentence. But here I was, alive and hopeful for even better news today.

As the doctor continued his examination, he reminded me that even though my previous PSA levels were undetectable, it was expected that they would rise now that I nominate to the medication and that the radiation treatment was over

The doctor also explained that at my previous visit six months ago, my PSA levels were detectable but at a level that was expected after treatment ended. This was a good indication that the cancer was no longer present in my body. I couldn't help but let out a sigh of relief knowing that my body was responding well to the treatment.

As I left the doctor's office today, I couldn't help but reflect on my journey with prostate cancer. It had been a difficult road, filled with fear, uncertainty, and numerous treatments. But at this moment, I felt a sense of hope and gratitude for the progress I had made.

I realize that my story was just one of many. Millions of people around the world face a cancer diagnosis every year, and each one has their own unique journey. Some may have a more difficult time than others, but what unites us all is the strength and resilience we have in the face of this disease.

I also couldn't help but think about the importance of regular check-ups and early detection in fighting cancer. If I had ignored my symptoms or put off seeing a doctor, my story could have ended much differently. It's crucial for everyone to prioritize their health and listen to their bodies.

As I eagerly await my PSA results, I know that regardless of the outcome, I have faith in my creator, modern medicine and, in myself. Cancer may have been a part of my life, but it doesn't define me. I am so much more than this disease and I refuse to let it control me.

To anyone going through a similar journey, know that you are not alone. Lean on your loved ones for support, stay positive, and trust in the power of prayer. And most importantly, never lose hope. Because with determination and the right treatment, anything is possible.

*The PSA test is a blood test used primarily to screen for prostate cancer. The test measures the amount of prostate-specific antigen (PSA) in your blood. PSA is a protein produced by both cancerous and noncancerous tissue in the prostate, a small gland that sits below the bladder in males.

AGENDA:

INR Check (Home)🩸

Love your spouse❤️

9:00 a Coffee at the Hills☕

9:50 a Tom to Urology Austin🩺

10:30 a Men's Emmaus group 🐓

5:00 p 5 Crowns👑

5:00 p Mexican Train🚂

WED February 5 tomorrow

Love your spouse❤️

9:00 a Coffee at the Hills☕

10:00 a Canasta at OTHG ♦️♠️♣️❤️

5:00 p Cross Tracks REFUEL⛽😀🥦🥦🍅q

7:30 p Hump day🐪

LUNCH: Ella had cheese lasagna while I had chicken pot pie.

WEATHER: 80°/65° Cloudy in the morning then becoming partly cloudy. Patchy fog in the morning. South winds 10 to 15 mph with gusts up to 20 mph.

Since we've had such great weather for the last few days I was wondering how long it was going to last.

Looks like the answer is until Sunday morning.

FIVE CROWNS: Lucille, Cindy, Jo, Fran, Ann, and I I came in fourth place out of six. Well, we all had fun, which is went we play

*Events means “quit breathing”

2025 February 03 Monday in Leander and Cedar Park

DOCTOR: The experience at the Doctor's Office

Only, after going out for lunch and then going home, we forgot to schedule the appointment. By the time we thought of it the clinic was closed until Monday.

Tuesday morning we skipped breakfast and drove to the office. Once there we were able to get appointments for ten thirty and ten forty-five the following Monday (today).

We arrived at ten-fifteen today and waited about a half an hour which was okay. We weren't in a hurry.

Now, I have to admit, I am not a big fan of needles. But over the years, I have learned to tolerate them and watch as they take my blood.

AGENDA:

✔️Love your spouse❤️

❌INR Check (Home)🩸

✔️9:00 a Coffee at the Hills☕

✔️✔️10:30 a Blood work for us both💉

✔️5:00 p Canasta♦️♠️♣️❤️

✔️5:00 p Mexican Train🚂

TUE February 04 tomorrow

Love your spouse❤️

9:00 a Coffee at the Hills☕

9:50 a Tom to Urology Austin🩺

10:30 a Men's Emmaus group 🐓

5:00 p 5 Crowns👑

5:00 p Mexican Train🚂

WEATHER: 82°/65° Mostly cloudy this morning then clearing. Patchy fog this morning. South winds 10 to 15 mph with gusts up to 25 mph later becoming south 5 to 10 mph with gusts up to 20 mph.

Another spectacular day.

CANASTA: Jane and I against Ella and Steve. It was a close game but Jane and I prevailed.

*Events means “quit breathing”

2025 February 02 Sunday in Leander and Liberty Hill

AGENDA:

Love your spouse

8:00 a Coffee Bar at Church

9:00 a Sunday school

10:00 a Worship

MON February 3 (Tomorrow)

Love your spouse

INR Check (Home)

9:00 a Coffee at the Hills

10:30 a Blood work for both of us (

5:00 p Canasta & Mexican Train

SUNDAY SCHOOL: Still in the book of Acts.

WORSHIP: Today's children's church lesson was about God's Happy Meal - communion.

Immediately following children's church little Arthur was baptized.

Pastor Brad started a new sermon series called “The People Called Methodists”. Today's sermon was “The Meal”.

Directly after worship was a lunch as a thank you to everyone who volunteers at or for the church.

WEATHER: 80°/56° Clear. Highs in the upper 70s. Southwest winds 10 to 15 mph. Becoming partly cloudy. South winds around 10 mph with gusts up to 20 mph.

It was such a beautiful day that I wish we were camping.

*Events means “quit breathing”

2025 February 01 Saturday in Leander

COFFEE KLATSCH: Avis, Joan, Dianne, Andrea, Fran, and I spent time exploring childhood memories over a cup of coffee.

AGENDA

Amy G's birthday🎂

John L's birthday🎂

Love your spouse❤️

9:00 a Coffee at the Hills☕

SUN February 02 tomorrow

Love your spouse❤️

8:00 a Coffee Bar at Church☕

9:00 a Sunday school📚

10:00 a Worship💒

WEATHER: 69°/48° Clear. West winds around 5 mph becoming south this afternoon 5 to 10 mph

It was an altogether beautiful day.

WE also talked to Kara this evening. She is having a lot of hip pain and is scheduled surgery soon.

JOHN'S birthday was today. Ella called several times to wish him a happy birthday.

*Events means “quit breathing”

Tom and Ella Williams

Friday, February 28, 2025

2025 February

DOCTOR: Ella and I followed the nurse back to the exam room where she began asking for the list of medications that have changed since my last visit in September of last year. Once the list was updated she then clipped a device to my finger to measure oxygen, pulse, and blood pressure.

She wanted to do a blood draw to check my PSA*. However, when I told her that the best place to get my blood was from the back of my hand, she went to bring in another nurse who was more experienced.

We then waited for the doctor to come in. When he did, he greeted me with a warm smile and a reassuring tone that put me at ease.

I couldn't help but feel grateful to God as well as for modern medicine and all the advancements that have been made in cancer treatment. Just a few decades ago, a diagnosis like mine would have been considered a death sentence. But here I was, alive and hopeful for even better news today.

As the doctor continued his examination, he reminded me that even though my previous PSA levels were undetectable, it was expected that they would rise now that I nominate to the medication and that the radiation treatment was over

As I left the doctor's office today, I couldn't help but reflect on my journey with prostate cancer. It had been a difficult road, filled with fear, uncertainty, and numerous treatments. But at this moment, I felt a sense of hope and gratitude for the progress I had made.

I realize that my story was just one of many. Millions of people around the world face a cancer diagnosis every year, and each one has their own unique journey. Some may have a more difficult time than others, but what unites us all is the strength and resilience we have in the face of this disease.

I also couldn't help but think about the importance of regular check-ups and early detection in fighting cancer. If I had ignored my symptoms or put off seeing a doctor, my story could have ended much differently. It's crucial for everyone to prioritize their health and listen to their bodies.

As I eagerly await my PSA results, I know that regardless of the outcome, I have faith in my creator, modern medicine and, in myself. Cancer may have been a part of my life, but it doesn't define me. I am so much more than this disease and I refuse to let it control me.

To anyone going through a similar journey, know that you are not alone. Lean on your loved ones for support, stay positive, and trust in the power of prayer. And most importantly, never lose hope. Because with determination and the right treatment, anything is possible.

*The PSA test is a blood test used primarily to screen for prostate cancer. The test measures the amount of prostate-specific antigen (PSA) in your blood. PSA is a protein produced by both cancerous and noncancerous tissue in the prostate, a small gland that sits below the bladder in males.

DOCTOR: Ella and I followed the nurse back to the exam room where she began asking for the list of medications that have changed since my last visit in September of last year. Once the list was updated she then clipped a device to my finger to measure oxygen, pulse, and blood pressure.

She wanted to do a blood draw to check my PSA*. However, when I told her that the best place to get my blood was from the back of my hand, she went to bring in another nurse who was more experienced.

We then waited for the doctor to come in. When he did, he greeted me with a warm smile and a reassuring tone that put me at ease.

I couldn't help but feel grateful to God as well as for modern medicine and all the advancements that have been made in cancer treatment. Just a few decades ago, a diagnosis like mine would have been considered a death sentence. But here I was, alive and hopeful for even better news today.

As the doctor continued his examination, he reminded me that even though my previous PSA levels were undetectable, it was expected that they would rise now that I nominate to the medication and that the radiation treatment was over

As I left the doctor's office today, I couldn't help but reflect on my journey with prostate cancer. It had been a difficult road, filled with fear, uncertainty, and numerous treatments. But at this moment, I felt a sense of hope and gratitude for the progress I had made.

I realize that my story was just one of many. Millions of people around the world face a cancer diagnosis every year, and each one has their own unique journey. Some may have a more difficult time than others, but what unites us all is the strength and resilience we have in the face of this disease.

I also couldn't help but think about the importance of regular check-ups and early detection in fighting cancer. If I had ignored my symptoms or put off seeing a doctor, my story could have ended much differently. It's crucial for everyone to prioritize their health and listen to their bodies.

As I eagerly await my PSA results, I know that regardless of the outcome, I have faith in my creator, modern medicine and, in myself. Cancer may have been a part of my life, but it doesn't define me. I am so much more than this disease and I refuse to let it control me.

To anyone going through a similar journey, know that you are not alone. Lean on your loved ones for support, stay positive, and trust in the power of prayer. And most importantly, never lose hope. Because with determination and the right treatment, anything is possible.

*The PSA test is a blood test used primarily to screen for prostate cancer. The test measures the amount of prostate-specific antigen (PSA) in your blood. PSA is a protein produced by both cancerous and noncancerous tissue in the prostate, a small gland that sits below the bladder in males.

DOCTOR: Ella and I followed the nurse back to the exam room where she began asking for the list of medications that have changed since my last visit in September of last year. Once the list was updated she then clipped a device to my finger to measure oxygen, pulse, and blood pressure.

She wanted to do a blood draw to check my PSA*. However, when I told her that the best place to get my blood was from the back of my hand, she went to bring in another nurse who was more experienced.

We then waited for the doctor to come in. When he did, he greeted me with a warm smile and a reassuring tone that put me at ease.

I couldn't help but feel grateful to God as well as for modern medicine and all the advancements that have been made in cancer treatment. Just a few decades ago, a diagnosis like mine would have been considered a death sentence. But here I was, alive and hopeful for even better news today.

As the doctor continued his examination, he reminded me that even though my previous PSA levels were undetectable, it was expected that they would rise now that I nominate to the medication and that the radiation treatment was over

As I left the doctor's office today, I couldn't help but reflect on my journey with prostate cancer. It had been a difficult road, filled with fear, uncertainty, and numerous treatments. But at this moment, I felt a sense of hope and gratitude for the progress I had made.

I realize that my story was just one of many. Millions of people around the world face a cancer diagnosis every year, and each one has their own unique journey. Some may have a more difficult time than others, but what unites us all is the strength and resilience we have in the face of this disease.

I also couldn't help but think about the importance of regular check-ups and early detection in fighting cancer. If I had ignored my symptoms or put off seeing a doctor, my story could have ended much differently. It's crucial for everyone to prioritize their health and listen to their bodies.

As I eagerly await my PSA results, I know that regardless of the outcome, I have faith in my creator, modern medicine and, in myself. Cancer may have been a part of my life, but it doesn't define me. I am so much more than this disease and I refuse to let it control me.

To anyone going through a similar journey, know that you are not alone. Lean on your loved ones for support, stay positive, and trust in the power of prayer. And most importantly, never lose hope. Because with determination and the right treatment, anything is possible.

*The PSA test is a blood test used primarily to screen for prostate cancer. The test measures the amount of prostate-specific antigen (PSA) in your blood. PSA is a protein produced by both cancerous and noncancerous tissue in the prostate, a small gland that sits below the bladder in males.

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