I don’t know why I have strayed from blogging … maybe too much is going on and that is good but if this blog is the one thing that survives the future I had better update my history for the future anthropologists from three solar systems over.

The big news for me is that I had my cardiac checkup on May 30th. The cardiologist basically (in a nice and professional way of course) told me to “Get Out and Stay Out”. My blood flow is restored, the blood work is good, I am on the right meds, I am on the right path.

So I have been given a great gift. As I have stated in previous posts, the vast majority of people on the planet do not have access to this sort of surgery and for the vast, vast, history of humanity this surgery did not exist. My total out of pocket expense for this whole journey has been a couple of hundred bucks; parking and Tim Horton’s coffees and sandwiches. I take a daily baby aspirin, two beta blockers, a calcium blocker, and a statin. You need money to do this, or a drug plan and I am lucky enough to have both.

I have the time and ability to run or cycle or kayak. I have a stable job for a wonderful employer. I have a spiritual home in many places (Galilee Centre is just one) and at many times, although Thursdays do come to mind. And I come home to love with my wife of over a decade. And then there are a collection of 20 legs and 5 tails that challenge, sooth, and instruct every day.

So what do I do with this gift I have been given? I am mindful of the The Parable of the Bags of Gold in Matthew 25 (14 to 28 for those interested). Here is the quick version. Dude goes traveling and puts homeboys in charge of cash. Homeboy One and Homeboy Two invest cash in markets and provide returning dude with original investment plus bonus. Homeboy Three stuffed loot under mattress and returns it a bit sweaty but otherwise untarnished BUT no bonus, no interest, no nothing. The dude was , to out it mildly, pissed , in fact megapissed. Now I am no theologian, but I do not think that Jesus was advertising mutual funds. I think he was saying, if you have a gift, if it has been granted to you by the grace of a power greater than yourself.

Stay tuned on how I am investing the gift …..

Just like a year ago today, May 15th is still my birthday. A few details: I did go into emergency to check out that side pain (can't be too careful) and it turned out to just be muscle pain due to my raking - that felt good! (no, not the pain, but the relief at it being muscle pain) .
I was up north of Massey Ontario fishing for the last few days. I was with some life long friends and their kids. Other than that making me feel old, it was a lot of fun and I am glad that they let me be part of their family. It was a lot of driving - 1200 kilometers in four days and kind of tiring but I am glad that I was able to do it. It really made be grateful for my health.
Today I woke up in a warm house with my wife at my side and a beagle and assorted cats near by. I read birthday greetings on Facebook. I had local fiddleheads for dinner. I had a rhubarb custard tart (more like a pie!) for dessert. Yet again my cup runneth over.

Yesterday, I had a full day of raking and picking up branches strewn about in a recent storm over at Galilee Centre in Arnprior. (it was a Work Bee) Being in a cushy day job that involves either sitting, or driving, or yapping, or meeting, or doing deep thinking the physical effort on my part was perhaps a bit more excessive than a wiser man would have done. We had a group chili dinner and as I sat up after the meal my muscles did a bit of a rebellion. I got home, did a soak in the tub and then it was off to bed.

This morning I woke up and noted a bit of soreness in my chest / left side. CHEST PAIN!! So what should I do? I suppose that I should have thought about heading off to the local hospital. But the pain was very mild. It did not migrate. It did not radiate. It seemed to get a bit more noticeable when I moved my left arm. So I decided that it was muscle related to raking.

A week ago yesterday I participated in a 5K run - a actual race! Here is my race time: 196 37:44.1 7:33 1203 (196th out of 227 runners with a time of 37 minutes and 44.1 seconds, I paced 7:33 per km and 1203 was my bib number, not great but I am proud of myslef). I have been running 15 to 18 K a week. I am careful of what I eat, I take my drugs like I am supposed to, so I find the idea of chest pain very irritating. So I took it to be muscle pain due to raking. As I compose this in the evening I find it (the pain) hardly there.

So am / did I do the right thing by ignoring? Stay tuned.

I blog to capture my feelings and to a certain extent be cute. If I for a second thought that something was really awry, I would go to the hospital. I am not suggesting that anyone ignore chest pain or discomfort, I am just saying that I think I know my body better than anyone and I am doing the right thing.

































































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Today was a Deifenbooker Practice Run We go in the opposite direction of the actual "real run" and today was six and ones. The actual "real" run takes you through the Blast Tunnel of the Diefenbunker but that is not available until race day ...... I mean run day . They group is down to 35 or so runners. I can certainly boast that I am part of the Top 35!

I run at the back of the pack, and the more experienced runners now really get a jump on we laggards. The story for me started just after my Red River Cereal breakfast. I was also set to take my morning dose of pills which include a beta-blocker and a 81 mg ASA. I was so ecstatic about the Red River Cereal my wife had made (banana, pecans, dried apricots, and dried cranberries) that I forgot to take my pills. (but it took me a while to figure that out .. read on)

I arrived early at the meet point in the Carp Fair Grounds and was surprised to see the parking lot so full. Ahhh - The Gun Show was on (this is the Ottawa Valley After All) I joked that the pace runners (who wore bunny ears) were at risk. Someone said that wearing antlers would have been worse.

Anyway, we hit the trail and , even though I was at the back of the pack, we all did well. About half way through I saw two little poodles walking with their masters. "I can catch you little dog , and your master too" I thought in my best Wicked Witch of the West thought wave. And I did catch up and pass both little dogs, although one of them wagged his tail at me mockingly. The last hill is up Fall Down Lane, but I did run the hill and not fall down

I was ignoring the heart monitor but when I looked down I was hitting 160 bpm at the top of the hill and this was with me being hot, sweaty, and conductive. And then the big YIKES. I was running without meds!

Since I am writing this a few hours later and M. Night Shyamalan is nowhere to be seen I am thinking that I am likely in the land of the living. I will have to ask the cardiologist about this . SO note to self : Don't forget the pills, no matter how good the Red River

Well I am back to heart monitor and watch for running. Jessica the Exercise Coordinator at my clinic really thinks that cardiac guys should run with a monitor so I dusted it off and ran with it a couple of runs. Not sure if it needs a battery change ; today after a minute of running I was at 160 beats per minute and no way I was doing that. After I got a bit of a sweat on, the thing hovered in the 103 to 117 range which is in the okay field for me.

Since I am signed up for 5K of Diefenbooker I have decided to follow their running schedule sort of - this week we should be running six and ones in tomorrow's five kilometer run, but my wife inspired me to do ten and ones this week. I am sure that she would not want to take the credit but it is her doing.

I feel strangely serene when I run except when I run up a hill and then vomiting crosses my mind. (it has been my experience that vomiting and serenity are often mutually exclusive) Bur then I feel like a soaring beagle and sniff myself ahead.
And for the record (and the benefit of my wife) I do know that nausea is a cardiac danger side and my refernece to vomiting is factious. I do struggle in hill running, but runners do say the "hill is your friend", and at times I do believe them.

When my wife reads that she inspired the ten and ones she will act bewildered and I will giggle hysterically, which I often do when I am , er, what is the word - am lying. It was my idea, inspired by the good weather to run those ten and ones. But I love my wife a great deal and want to be around for her so I can receive her love and give her mine. So it really was her fault and that is no lie.

Personal Inventory Time:

I was doing fine on the abstinence from meat thing until about 6:30 pm today. I was invited to a simple dinner to share with friends but, as the simple dinner was served it was chicken and rice. Common sense and good manners trumped my need to follow my “rules” blindly so I enjoyed the deliciously fowl meal (this is my blog so the humour can be as bad as I like)

I did say no to the carrot cake offered for dessert so I am batting 1000 in the No Sweets reflection of gratitude although I did partake in a Hot Chocolate to warm up one day.

The bread thing has been a bit of a challenge as I have been on the road a fair amount and often the quickest and most practical thing to do is have some kind of sandwich. Maybe the bread thing was not that smart a thing to focus upon.

In the same traveling and on the road vein I have had salmon at least on two occasions. As bad as that fish can be from an environmental stance (Norway to Germany to China to British Columbia to Ontario) it sill seemed the best choice on the menus that I was being presented. But I am going to try a potato / sardine cake on the weekend – I will see how that goes.

As for the running – well I am back on the tyranny of the clock. I have signed up for a 5 K race and am going to running classes at my health clinic. They have us on timed walk and runs and I am doing four and ones this week.

But more later …….

Not being Catholic, or not having the pleasure of really wearing any formal religious mantle I have complete freedom to ignore Lent which of course means I will not.
Here is what I am doing for 40 days:

Coffee – One cup a day of Small Producer and Roaster coffee in the morning to be aware of the wonder of the drink, that it connects you to a part of the world that is the same and yet different from Canada. Purchasing and drinking the coffee still helps small producers, coffee does have health benefits, and yet drinking it in a limited way makes you mindful of the distance that it travels and that not everybody can get it.
Meat – Abstaining from all meat unless it is from Renfew County. This is better for the environment and supports the local farmer who we will desperately need in the near future.
Fish – Fish like sardines and anchovies can be eaten in unlimited quantities. No salmon, no large fish. Frozen fish in our freezer and canned fish in our pantry is acceptable.
Bread – Only home baked bread in mindful quantities.
Sweets – No cakes, pies, cookies, chocolates, candies(except throat lozenges if needed) , doughnuts, soda pop (artificially sweetened or not), etc.
Purchases - No purchases of books, clothing, downloads, electronics, appliances, etc., unless truly needed