2023 Was a Blogspot Wash

 So here I am again apologizing for lack of blogging. I totally spent this year on healthcare initiatives for me mainly heart related. Two ablations and 3 cardio versions. Next week we'll find out how it all went.

I sent my Christmas cards out to my 5 peeps one high school and 4 Army buddies. In reviewing the annual letter I noted how COVID had changed not only business but lifestyles. I'm not traveling instead spending more time on the phone sometimes lobbying for changes to government and business. So this blog will be about hoping to do better next year and thanking the people around me for another year.

Thank you Taylor and Carmen my daughter and wife who put up with me. 

The staff at Dr Quinn's and Cardiology at The Infirmary Mobile Al. They have done an outstanding job are friendly and have XXL socks for me every time I've been in for a procedure. 

The staff at Busey Bank for watching what little money I have as if it's 1. They're own  2. much much more. Jay Santos helped me move my CD's initially and the staff at the Busey Cape Coral Florida Branch has helped me get best rates.

The  VA Wholehealth coordinator Ray in Pensacola for trying to change alternative medicine, how it's viewed and administered. The VA support people have been stellar.

Angela and George My Life Extention vitamin and supplement suppliers out of Orlando. I been buying from them a long time now. It's a great value and quick turnaround.

Thanks for those who read these and again my apologies.

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

SIETE Offers Sauces

SIETEFOODS.COM

Just as I am halfway through my first bottle of SIETE sauces  I read today that a mega corporation is making hot ketchups. Well I won't be buying them, preferring to support small family businesses or local. Siete has some great gluten free products. Mostly, that's what I eat. These new sauces are very flavorful and will leave a little heat on your lips. What I do is reach in the fridge and get the nearest bottle and squeeze a few drops on. Whether its chips, beans, my Stonnigton Farms grass fed grass finished beef with Australian cheddar or the lunch I made today shown below. 

This is my typical lunch. I prepare a stack of veges...celery, carrots, broccoli, brussel sprouts, onions seasoned with olive oil, white pepper and garlic powder. Sometimes the veges get a sprinkle of parmesan cheese and bacon bits. The Corning glass 12 x 20 feeds us all week. The veges are organic. On the left side of the plate is Organic baby spinach, a handful microwaved for 45 seconds. 

A healthy lunch and it supports local growers and Siete. Today's sauce is habanero. It doesn't matter which sauce I get it's always good and always a surprise.

OK OK Where have I been?

 I know I promised I would post once a week. Well a little guidance is needed to navigate this. I have been sidetracked doing what I've been blogging about. I've been developing menus and recipes using a hybrid of Dr. Gundry, Gregor and Tom Brady's nutritional programs mainly plant based. Developing exercise and fitness routines.

 I've been exploring my own medical issues mainly heart related this year with numerous tests. My siblings and I all have atrial fibrillation so I'm hoping to help solve that. I'm using various modalities some approved and payed for by the VA. Acupuncture, chiropractor, massage, Shakti Mat, Yoga, Tai Chi and more. Especially nutrition.

I've spent much time helping the VA understand the Whole health needs of not only myself but the many other veterans. I didn't realize that when I joined the Army during the Viet Nam Era I would miss the fight in  Asia but now at my age of 69 fighting the good fight to save those same veterans from drug abuse (legally prescribed) and mental health issues. That PTSD doesn't always come from combat. That most health problems are caused by what we eat and how little we do. 

So many of you have my card or spoken to me on the phone and I advise you to read from the beginning of the blog to get the information and see the pictures I refer to in our conversations.

Thanks so much to those who support my endeavors and those who get out of the way.

A Holiday Luncheon Surprise

https://www.fillupwithbillups.com/

So my daughter Taylor is off work through the New Year from her job at USM Gulf Coast. She's an Academic Advisor and we are so proud of her. Her dog was at the vet and then to the groomer so she and I went to the Island View Casino. We typically play penny slots on the smoke free side. We held our own today and left down about $15 but with a complimentary coffee and Christmas cookie. I would use the word free but I've paid for the cookie many times over.

After we left Island View she asked if she could buy me lunch. For those who read my blog you know I'm a pretty healthy eater. I said I'll just do my regular veges and spinach lunch. She decided to stop at McDonalds for her lunch. lol I quickly reconsidered and we decided to go to Fillips by Billups in Pass Christian, about 2 miles from the house.

https://www.fillupwithbillups.com/

We had had carry out burgers during covid and they were great. Huge, juicy and stacked tall with condiments. Today I craved pizza.

Pizza Pizza Pizza

I grew up in the NW Indiana corridor known as "da region". It's the Lake Michigan version of the Gulf Coast and borders Chicago. So we had Flamingos (Gary IN), House of Pizza (the BLVD), John's (Calumet City IL), Barton's (Lansing IL) and later one of my customers was Gino's East of Chicago a Richard Melman deep dish Chicago legend. So we know pizza.

Today Taylor and I had an all meat and a cheese pizza and took the remainder home for Carmen. Truly this was the best I've had in a seriously long time. We lived over 20 years in Florida and I even had independent pizza restaurant customers. We love Sal and Mookies, Anthony's and Sarduccis here on the Gulf Coast. The pizza today was outstanding. Sorry guys it was better.

Perhaps Megan our server, Taylor my host or the old Pioneer/ Bose 901 sound system playing Motown hits helped make it an enjoyable lunch. Megan was efficient and personable sharing information about the restaurant and it's history. Taylor was of course chipper and engaging in conversation as usual. Always a special time with my wingbuddy. The sound system was favored by many Viet Nam ERA veterans coming back from Europe and a standard sale at the Post Exchange aka PX. Motown is well...Motown. 

The result made my day and exceeded expectations not met since definitely before covid and possibly my move from the midwest.

They even had the in house made doughballs stored in the old plastic bins similar to the ones we sold at Edward Don and Halco. The latter we created in a durable less heavy plastic that stacked. We basically recreated the heavy fiberglass standard for the Detroit mega chains. 

What a nice lunch with Taylor and a chance to reminisce about the food service days. 

Thanks Rudy! 

BIG Money Lottery UPDATE

 Well, I had my challenge during the 2 Billion Powerball rush last week. I went multiple times had help with the forms and on Wednesday played my numbers again. Or so I thought. Turns out I had a couple numbers right and thought I won a couple bucks. I went in Friday morning and the Circle K lady said...you have the Mississippi Mega Millions tickets for tonight. What? Not even the right lottery. I finally sort the Powerball deal out but NOT?

All's well that ends well. I had the same winnings from the Mega Millions and now can finally move on to tonight's Powerball. Yes it's only paying 150 million or so but that should be enough for me to get by on.

WINTER FOOD for a CHILLY SATURDAY

Meanwhile I got my instantpot out to make something warm and tasty. The cold front is coming in. It's snowing in Indiana so I feel fortunate. I put peas, cannelloni beans fire roasted tomatoes and seasoned it with garlic powder, sea salt, white pepper and onion flakes. Cooked for 35 minutes the peas and tomatoes turned into a soup consistency and the beans were all dente. I served in on crusty sourdough bread drenched with olive oil. Very nice. No pictures as I ate it as I made it. lol Not much of a blogger am I Next time for sure. Bon Appetit.  

Scientific Experiments Wa Ha Ha

 So soon after Halloween and still using ghostly voiceovers, my usual Virgo self is staying busy doing experiments and being creative. With the Powerball over 2 Billion and a winner Tuesday morning (delayed due to technical difficulties) I stopped in the Circle K to check it out last week. I've never been in the store and we've lived here 2.5 years so I needed help filling out the forms and understanding the rules. Last Wednesday I got the quick pick and Monday after 3 trips to the kiosk got my form correct picking my own numbers. Monday night skipped and Wednesday night I used my VERY scientific  formula. I watched a you tube video of a guy offering to sell me his system. Hmmm. It sounded pretty easy to do and I got my clipboard out and crunched the numbers from last year. Low and behold I got the powerball number right. $4 cash out and now am excited and thinking I may be able to make Carmen rich. Dangerous right?

I'm still doing Dr Gundry's nutrition program and on my restocking trip to Walmart met the bread guy who does my Rustik brand Sourdough. It's very good and I told him I suspected that a small local restaurant may be buying up his bi weekly stock. He had a loaf on the truck for me and that made me happy. I also got a dozen Wild caught Atlantic Scallops and sauteed them in Braggs Olive Oil and 365 Organic garlic powder. My treat for the day was a chunk of the bread soaked in the finished juices. Wow. Delicious and I still have a dozen scallops reserved for my protein this weekend. I used a few pieces of Sourdough from Wholefoods which was perfect sponge. 

Todays tip...Never throw the pan juices out. Have a great weekend, hopefully by next week I'll be rich. 

Wow it's Halloween already.

 I know, I know I promised I would write weekly. Well I was doing a great job and then got sidetracked by health and fitness concerns. Having turned 69 in early September I've always tried to stay ahead of the health curve. I'm fortunate to have VA and service related medical coverage. 

Basically I've felt my life was like a speedometer and my fitness and nutrition has followed than line. So my early years I spent with Grandfather most Summers and weekends. I was the oldest grandchild.

He had a dump truck and tractor and leased property that would become Southlake Mall in Merrillville Indiana. We raised cantaloupe and tomatoes for Libbey Company. I loved taking them to the Alsip Illinois plant to be made into ketchup. We mostly ate what would be considered organic and healthy today, mostly vegetables and grass fed beef and chicken. We would stop at the farmers stalls in the Merrillville and Crown Point areas for our food. The chain grocery stores were just starting to open in the Gary area. This was around 1965 and I was lean and energetic. I was a catcher in little league.

The next phase was phase was middle school through college. I was in the middle of the conversion of "real" sugar drinks to fructose. I was a fry man at the local fast food restaurant, a Hotel school major at Michigan State and spent 4 years in the Army in Germany. So by my late 20's I weighed 310 (think 85 Bears lineman). We took KFC to our family reunions.

About that time fitness became a thing and after reading a book by Bob Haas who trained famous tennis players and my cardiologist warning me of future arterial bypasses I started my own fitness and nutrition routine. Eventually eating from Whole Foods and the like and running 6 miles a day. I was 215 and had some muscle going...lol sadly the running wasn't good for my hips. But as this life is a learning experience, I'm still learning. Sometimes less is more.

Yeah so here I am at 69. I've had AFIB Atrial Fibrillation (funky heartbeat) for about 15 years and treated the symptoms with acupuncture and herbs. I've always said if I had an event I would see the cardiologist immediately. I tell people I have a disco heartbeat in a jazz world...maybe a little rock too.

So that's where I've been this Summer. On June 9th I went to the ER ( my event) with RVR...a more serious AFIB related heart rhythm disorder. My herbs and fitness routine changed out for American drugs and therapy. The drugs while slowing my heart packed on 22 pounds of fluid and made me tired and gave me nightmares. I was scheduled for an Angioplasty. I aced the Angioplasty no plaque and no stents. I feel my plant based diet was the reason for that. Also my basic fitness level. I ride my bike, swim and lift moderate weights. 

We then scheduled the Ablation. My heart was shocked 7 times and regained my original 1980's heart rhythm for an hour. The following week I had the shock again and the rhythm remained 5 days. So that's where were at now I have one drug for the heart rate, one for thinning the blood (stroke risk) and the last for the fluid...I've gotten back to my original starting weight of 200. My eighth grade weight.

So that's catch up...I see the cardiologist next week. There is a chance my rhythm will revert to the  correct beat as my heart heals. I'm cleared to bike swim and lift my moderate weights. My main goal is to get off the drugs and back to herbs. I had my first acupuncture visit Saturday. That was beneficial.

I've added Trace Mineral drops and Vitamin C power pack each once a day. While taking the fluid retention drug they will keep my body healthy with minerals and core vitamins. I'm still doing the Dr Gundry diet with a little more calories. My thoughts are...the RVR may have been hormone related or weight loss as 200 is 32 pounds below my Army weight. Either way the Trace minerals have helped make my routine easier to administer while taking the American drugs. 

We'll see how long it takes me to get off the drugs and back to herbs. Here's to your health. Finding new ways to live longer and having fun doing it.  Thanks for stopping by.