Just found out that an acquaintance of mine suffered a dizzy spell the
other
night while in the shower and showed signs of loosing motor control
functions.

Over his objections, the wife called the paramedics who took him to
the E/R
where the ran either an MRI or a Cat Scan and discovered he had an
aneurysm
in his brain.

Wheeled him directly into surgery where they were able to ultimately
get the
bleeding stopped.

At this writing, haven't learned what the long term results will be,
but there WILL
be some.

He turns 72 later this week and was just beginning to settle into
retirement.

The message is pretty clear.

Nobody gets out alive.

If you don't stop and smell the poesies while you can, you don't have
anybody
to blame but yourself.

The chase to catch the almighty $ often demands and gets a very high
price.

Lew

On 1/25/2014 10:02 PM, Lew Hodgett wrote:
Just found out that an acquaintance of mine suffered a dizzy spell the
other
night while in the shower and showed signs of loosing motor control
functions.

Over his objections, the wife called the paramedics who took him to
the E/R
where the ran either an MRI or a Cat Scan and discovered he had an
aneurysm
in his brain.

Wheeled him directly into surgery where they were able to ultimately
get the
bleeding stopped.

At this writing, haven't learned what the long term results will be,
but there WILL
be some.

He turns 72 later this week and was just beginning to settle into
retirement.

The message is pretty clear.

Nobody gets out alive.

If you don't stop and smell the poesies while you can, you don't have
anybody
to blame but yourself.

The chase to catch the almighty $ often demands and gets a very high
price.

Lew


I think the message is to take care of yourself.

Leon wrote:
On 1/25/2014 10:02 PM, Lew Hodgett wrote:
Just found out that an acquaintance of mine suffered a dizzy spell
the other
night while in the shower and showed signs of loosing motor control
functions.

Over his objections, the wife called the paramedics who took him to
the E/R
where the ran either an MRI or a Cat Scan and discovered he had an
aneurysm
in his brain.

Wheeled him directly into surgery where they were able to ultimately
get the
bleeding stopped.

At this writing, haven't learned what the long term results will be,
but there WILL
be some.

He turns 72 later this week and was just beginning to settle into
retirement.

The message is pretty clear.

Nobody gets out alive.

If you don't stop and smell the poesies while you can, you don't have
anybody
to blame but yourself.

The chase to catch the almighty $ often demands and gets a very high
price.

Lew


I think the message is to take care of yourself.

I think Lew's message is better. Too many people have fallen prey to the
misguided belief that if they take care of themselves, that all will be
well. That's just not universally true. Too many people have succumbed to
too many things that they seemingly should not have, to justfiy that
thinking. Just had a friend of a friend, and also the son of a friend (two
different cases), die in their 40's after just going down for a nap.
Non-smokers. Fit, active individuals. Take care of yourself? Who can ever
tell?

--

-Mike-

"Mike Marlow" wrote in news:lc3plt$qol$1@dont-
email.me:

Leon wrote:
I think the message is to take care of yourself.

I think Lew's message is better. Too many people have fallen prey to the
misguided belief that if they take care of themselves, that all will be
well. That's just not universally true. Too many people have succumbed to
too many things that they seemingly should not have, to justfiy that
thinking. Just had a friend of a friend, and also the son of a friend (two
different cases), die in their 40's after just going down for a nap.
Non-smokers. Fit, active individuals. Take care of yourself? Who can ever
tell?

There are no guarantees, to be sure, but taking care of yourself certainly improves your
odds. Five years ago, SWMBO's parents moved in with us because their health had
declined to the point where they were no longer able to live independently -- and *every bit*
of that was due to problems that could easily have been prevented by proper diet and
regular exercise. Sadly, they had neither. My FIL passed away a year ago at the age of 89
-- having spent his last ten or fifteen years *wishing* he'd died in his 70s -- and my MIL is
now in the "memory care" unit of a local nursing home due to dementia resulting from 40
years of not managing her Type II diabetes, that due to years of poor eating habits and
never, ever exercising at all.

It was sure an eye-opener for both of us, and really lit a fire under our butts to get ourselves
back in shape. Since then, SWMBO and I have lost a combined total of about 75 pounds,
targeting 100, and it feels like rolling the clock back 20 years: many aches and pains that
we thought were going to be perennial companions have simply vanished. We have a
tandem bicycle that we ride regularly -- put 300+ miles on it last summer -- and we're
planning on some real long-distance excursions with it this year, trying to see if we can
manage 100 miles in a single day. Our best so far is 48 in half a day.

On 1/26/2014 2:21 PM, Doug Miller wrote:
"Mike Marlow" wrote in news:lc3plt$qol$1@dont-
email.me:

Leon wrote:
I think the message is to take care of yourself.

I think Lew's message is better. Too many people have fallen prey to the
misguided belief that if they take care of themselves, that all will be
well. That's just not universally true. Too many people have succumbed to
too many things that they seemingly should not have, to justfiy that
thinking. Just had a friend of a friend, and also the son of a friend (two
different cases), die in their 40's after just going down for a nap.
Non-smokers. Fit, active individuals. Take care of yourself? Who can ever
tell?

There are no guarantees, to be sure, but taking care of yourself certainly improves your
odds. Five years ago, SWMBO's parents moved in with us because their health had
declined to the point where they were no longer able to live independently -- and *every bit*
of that was due to problems that could easily have been prevented by proper diet and
regular exercise. Sadly, they had neither. My FIL passed away a year ago at the age of 89
-- having spent his last ten or fifteen years *wishing* he'd died in his 70s -- and my MIL is
now in the "memory care" unit of a local nursing home due to dementia resulting from 40
years of not managing her Type II diabetes, that due to years of poor eating habits and
never, ever exercising at all.

It was sure an eye-opener for both of us, and really lit a fire under our butts to get ourselves
back in shape. Since then, SWMBO and I have lost a combined total of about 75 pounds,
targeting 100, and it feels like rolling the clock back 20 years: many aches and pains that
we thought were going to be perennial companions have simply vanished. We have a
tandem bicycle that we ride regularly -- put 300+ miles on it last summer -- and we're
planning on some real long-distance excursions with it this year, trying to see if we can
manage 100 miles in a single day. Our best so far is 48 in half a day.


I am a proponent to staying active. Kids these days have more health
related problems because of inactivity. I started exercising regularly
in 2006 and I feel much better today than I did 10 years ago. My wife
retired about 18 months ago and we ride out bikes quite a bit, 10~20
miles on average.

If you want to feel like you are a kid again, be active like a kid again!

On a side note, a customer of mine rode her bike from Houston TX to
Austin TX in 2 days. That is about 150 miles IIRC. She is in her late
70's.

Doug Miller wrote:
"Mike Marlow" wrote in
news:lc3plt$qol$1@dont-
email.me:

Leon wrote:
I think the message is to take care of yourself.

I think Lew's message is better. Too many people have fallen prey
to the misguided belief that if they take care of themselves, that
all will be well. That's just not universally true. Too many
people have succumbed to too many things that they seemingly should
not have, to justfiy that thinking. Just had a friend of a friend,
and also the son of a friend (two different cases), die in their
40's after just going down for a nap. Non-smokers. Fit, active
individuals. Take care of yourself? Who can ever tell?

There are no guarantees, to be sure, but taking care of yourself
certainly improves your
odds. Five years ago, SWMBO's parents moved in with us because their
health had
declined to the point where they were no longer able to live
independently -- and *every bit* of that was due to problems that
could easily have been prevented by proper diet and
regular exercise. Sadly, they had neither. My FIL passed away a year
ago at the age of 89 -- having spent his last ten or fifteen years
*wishing* he'd died in his 70s -- and my MIL is now in the "memory
care" unit of a local nursing home due to dementia resulting from 40
years of not managing her Type II diabetes, that due to years of poor
eating habits and
never, ever exercising at all.


I understand what you are saying Doug, and I don't disagree, but on the
other hand my mother is in the same sort of home after a very active life, a
very self-suficient life, and none of those other conditions your describe
with your MIL. You just can't point to all of those other conditions or
life patterns as the culprit for everything that happens to people. Stuff
just happens - it's part of life.

--

-Mike-

On 1/26/2014 6:30 PM, Mike Marlow wrote:
Doug Miller wrote:
"Mike Marlow" wrote in
news:lc3plt$qol$1@dont-
email.me:

Leon wrote:
I think the message is to take care of yourself.

I think Lew's message is better. Too many people have fallen prey
to the misguided belief that if they take care of themselves, that
all will be well. That's just not universally true. Too many
people have succumbed to too many things that they seemingly should
not have, to justfiy that thinking. Just had a friend of a friend,
and also the son of a friend (two different cases), die in their
40's after just going down for a nap. Non-smokers. Fit, active
individuals. Take care of yourself? Who can ever tell?

There are no guarantees, to be sure, but taking care of yourself
certainly improves your
odds. Five years ago, SWMBO's parents moved in with us because their
health had
declined to the point where they were no longer able to live
independently -- and *every bit* of that was due to problems that
could easily have been prevented by proper diet and
regular exercise. Sadly, they had neither. My FIL passed away a year
ago at the age of 89 -- having spent his last ten or fifteen years
*wishing* he'd died in his 70s -- and my MIL is now in the "memory
care" unit of a local nursing home due to dementia resulting from 40
years of not managing her Type II diabetes, that due to years of poor
eating habits and
never, ever exercising at all.


I understand what you are saying Doug, and I don't disagree, but on the
other hand my mother is in the same sort of home after a very active life, a
very self-suficient life, and none of those other conditions your describe
with your MIL. You just can't point to all of those other conditions or
life patterns as the culprit for everything that happens to people. Stuff
just happens - it's part of life.


You are exactly right! But if you take care of your self the odds of
living a longer and healthier life increase significantly in your favor.

On Sun, 26 Jan 2014 15:06:15 -0500, "Mike Marlow"
wrote:

Leon wrote:
On 1/25/2014 10:02 PM, Lew Hodgett wrote:
Just found out that an acquaintance of mine suffered a dizzy spell
the other
night while in the shower and showed signs of loosing motor control
functions.

Over his objections, the wife called the paramedics who took him to
the E/R
where the ran either an MRI or a Cat Scan and discovered he had an
aneurysm
in his brain.

Wheeled him directly into surgery where they were able to ultimately
get the
bleeding stopped.

At this writing, haven't learned what the long term results will be,
but there WILL
be some.

He turns 72 later this week and was just beginning to settle into
retirement.

The message is pretty clear.

Nobody gets out alive.

If you don't stop and smell the poesies while you can, you don't have
anybody
to blame but yourself.

The chase to catch the almighty $ often demands and gets a very high
price.

Lew


I think the message is to take care of yourself.

I think Lew's message is better. Too many people have fallen prey to the
misguided belief that if they take care of themselves, that all will be
well. That's just not universally true. Too many people have succumbed to
too many things that they seemingly should not have, to justfiy that
thinking. Just had a friend of a friend, and also the son of a friend (two
different cases), die in their 40's after just going down for a nap.
Non-smokers. Fit, active individuals. Take care of yourself? Who can ever
tell?

Number three brother died in his sleep on vacation at his SIL's place
in England last year. He was the most fit of the four of us (spent an
hour or hour and a half in the gym every day) and if anyone guessed,
he would be the one to outlive us all.

"Mike Marlow" wrote in message ...

Leon wrote:
On 1/25/2014 10:02 PM, Lew Hodgett wrote:
Just found out that an acquaintance of mine suffered a dizzy spell
the other
night while in the shower and showed signs of loosing motor control
functions.

Over his objections, the wife called the paramedics who took him to
the E/R
where the ran either an MRI or a Cat Scan and discovered he had an
aneurysm
in his brain.

Wheeled him directly into surgery where they were able to ultimately
get the
bleeding stopped.

At this writing, haven't learned what the long term results will be,
but there WILL
be some.

He turns 72 later this week and was just beginning to settle into
retirement.

The message is pretty clear.

Nobody gets out alive.

If you don't stop and smell the poesies while you can, you don't have
anybody
to blame but yourself.

The chase to catch the almighty $ often demands and gets a very high
price.

Lew


I think the message is to take care of yourself.

I think Lew's message is better. Too many people have fallen prey to the
misguided belief that if they take care of themselves, that all will be
well. That's just not universally true. Too many people have succumbed to
too many things that they seemingly should not have, to justfiy that
thinking. Just had a friend of a friend, and also the son of a friend (two
different cases), die in their 40's after just going down for a nap.
Non-smokers. Fit, active individuals. Take care of yourself? Who can ever
tell?


It's about risk management. Smoking, weight issues, lack of exercise,
blood pressure, chlorestoral are all factors that likely elevate your risks
relative to one's longevity. I think the best you can do is to manage your
risk factors to give yourself the best odds possible. But, in the end [pun
intended], there are no guarantees.

Dave in South Texas

On Sat, 25 Jan 2014 20:02:15 -0800, Lew Hodgett wrote:

If you don't stop and smell the poesies while you can, you don't have
anybody
to blame but yourself.

The chase to catch the almighty $ often demands and gets a very high
price.

Lew

Amen! We're leading a somewhat austere old age because I semi-retired at
50 and completely at 62 or so. But we're living :-). And we had so much
added good times together during those years that we have no regrets.

--
This msg is for rec.woodworking - not homeowners hub.

"Lew Hodgett" wrote:

Just found out that an acquaintance of mine suffered a dizzy spell
the other
night while in the shower and showed signs of loosing motor control
functions.

Over his objections, the wife called the paramedics who took him to
the E/R
where the ran either an MRI or a Cat Scan and discovered he had an
aneurysm
in his brain.

Wheeled him directly into surgery where they were able to ultimately
get the
bleeding stopped.

At this writing, haven't learned what the long term results will be,
but there WILL
be some.

He turns 72 later this week and was just beginning to settle into
retirement.

The message is pretty clear.

Nobody gets out alive.

If you don't stop and smell the poesies while you can, you don't
have anybody
to blame but yourself.

The chase to catch the almighty $ often demands and gets a very high
price.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
7 weeks later and things are just beginning to fall into place.

Had 4 weeks in hospital followed by a couple of weeks in a rehab
facility
and now at home with 24/7 live in support.

Has muscle strength on left side but without brain control.

His auto driving days are history.

Will need 24/7 live in support at home for at least another
2-3 weeks and then another evaluation can be made.

Meanwhile another member of that group is about 90 days
into stage 4 lung cancer that is spreading to other organs
and have just received that two (2) more of my high school
classmates have cashed in their hands.

Those poesies keep smelling better and better.

About time to do some sailing while still able and warmer
weather is coming to enjoy it.

What's your way to enjoy those poesies?

Lew

Lew Hodgett wrote:

Those poesies keep smelling better and better.

About time to do some sailing while still able and warmer
weather is coming to enjoy it.

What's your way to enjoy those poesies?


No so much anything directly Lew, but I will say that it just seems to come
more naturally now to enjoy things just for the sake of it, to let go of
junk that I just don't need to carry around, and probably the biggest - to
not have to win every little thing. Maybe that's just a sign of getting
older and lazier, but it's probably as close to enjoying those poesies as I
get right now.

--

-Mike-

So true, and how many of us go on.....without worrying or thinking
about.....enjoying the posies.....
john

"Lew Hodgett" wrote in message
eb.com...


"Lew Hodgett" wrote:

Just found out that an acquaintance of mine suffered a dizzy spell the
other
night while in the shower and showed signs of loosing motor control
functions.

Over his objections, the wife called the paramedics who took him to the
E/R
where the ran either an MRI or a Cat Scan and discovered he had an
aneurysm
in his brain.

Wheeled him directly into surgery where they were able to ultimately get
the
bleeding stopped.

At this writing, haven't learned what the long term results will be, but
there WILL
be some.

He turns 72 later this week and was just beginning to settle into
retirement.

The message is pretty clear.

Nobody gets out alive.

If you don't stop and smell the poesies while you can, you don't have
anybody
to blame but yourself.

The chase to catch the almighty $ often demands and gets a very high
price.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
7 weeks later and things are just beginning to fall into place.

Had 4 weeks in hospital followed by a couple of weeks in a rehab
facility
and now at home with 24/7 live in support.

Has muscle strength on left side but without brain control.

His auto driving days are history.

Will need 24/7 live in support at home for at least another
2-3 weeks and then another evaluation can be made.

Meanwhile another member of that group is about 90 days
into stage 4 lung cancer that is spreading to other organs
and have just received that two (2) more of my high school
classmates have cashed in their hands.

Those poesies keep smelling better and better.

About time to do some sailing while still able and warmer
weather is coming to enjoy it.

What's your way to enjoy those poesies?

Lew

On Sat, 22 Mar 2014 09:01:57 -0700, "jloomis"
wrote:



Those poesies keep smelling better and better.

About time to do some sailing while still able and warmer
weather is coming to enjoy it.

What's your way to enjoy those poesies?

Lew



I'm still employed, but doing less and less and taking time off more
and more. I have a very unusual job in that I can come and go as I
please, take off all the time I want, and I like the people I work
with. No stress, no deadlines, no good reason to outright retire.

We've been traveling a bit more. This summer I hope to take a very
long road trip from here in CT to granddaughter's graduation in Las
Vegas with stops on the way back at Yellowstone, Mr. Rushmore and a
dozen other places along the way. Three to four weeks with no
timetable other than the graduation.

On 3/22/2014 12:18 PM, Ed Pawlowski wrote:
On Sat, 22 Mar 2014 09:01:57 -0700, "jloomis"
wrote:



Those poesies keep smelling better and better.

About time to do some sailing while still able and warmer
weather is coming to enjoy it.

What's your way to enjoy those poesies?

Lew



I'm still employed, but doing less and less and taking time off more
and more. I have a very unusual job in that I can come and go as I
please, take off all the time I want, and I like the people I work
with. No stress, no deadlines, no good reason to outright retire.

We've been traveling a bit more. This summer I hope to take a very
long road trip from here in CT to granddaughter's graduation in Las
Vegas with stops on the way back at Yellowstone, Mr. Rushmore and a
dozen other places along the way. Three to four weeks with no
timetable other than the graduation.



You might want to think close to double that time table if you want to
see a dozen other places. Yellowstone alone could take you 3~4 days if
you want to see it all. And while you are near Las Vegas, Page, Arizona
at Lake Powell is beautiful. The all day train ride from Durango CO. to
Silverton Co and back should be on your bucket list. Gunnison CO, Black
Canyon of the Gunnison is a treasure. Ouray CO has breath taking scenes
along the million dollar highway. ........

On 3/22/2014 1:56 PM, Leon wrote:



You might want to think close to double that time table if you want to
see a dozen other places. Yellowstone alone could take you 3~4 days if
you want to see it all. And while you are near Las Vegas, Page, Arizona
at Lake Powell is beautiful. The all day train ride from Durango CO. to
Silverton Co and back should be on your bucket list. Gunnison CO, Black
Canyon of the Gunnison is a treasure. Ouray CO has breath taking scenes
along the million dollar highway. ........


The train looks interesting. I'll have to look it all over. We had
planned to go last year, but my wife had surgery and it was a long
recovery. I've driven cross country east to west twice and flew back
and had limited time. This trip I want to do at a more leisurely pace.

On 3/22/2014 11:56 AM, Leon wrote:
On 3/22/2014 12:18 PM, Ed Pawlowski wrote:
On Sat, 22 Mar 2014 09:01:57 -0700, "jloomis"
wrote:



Those poesies keep smelling better and better.

About time to do some sailing while still able and warmer
weather is coming to enjoy it.

What's your way to enjoy those poesies?

Lew



I'm still employed, but doing less and less and taking time off more
and more. I have a very unusual job in that I can come and go as I
please, take off all the time I want, and I like the people I work
with. No stress, no deadlines, no good reason to outright retire.

We've been traveling a bit more. This summer I hope to take a very
long road trip from here in CT to granddaughter's graduation in Las
Vegas with stops on the way back at Yellowstone, Mr. Rushmore and a
dozen other places along the way. Three to four weeks with no
timetable other than the graduation.



You might want to think close to double that time table if you want to
see a dozen other places. Yellowstone alone could take you 3~4 days if
you want to see it all. And while you are near Las Vegas, Page, Arizona
at Lake Powell is beautiful. The all day train ride from Durango CO. to
Silverton Co and back should be on your bucket list. Gunnison CO, Black
Canyon of the Gunnison is a treasure. Ouray CO has breath taking scenes
along the million dollar highway. ........

3-4 days Won't begin to cover it at Yellowstone. We had reservations
for 5 days then had to leave, no vacancies (Fishing Bridge) We spent a
few more days at a park in Gardiner, MT. If you're that close to the
Grand Tetons make a stop there.
If you're able to make The Black Canyon by all means see the Colorado
National Monument at Grand Junction.

If you enjoy train rides (steam locomotive, narrow gauge) take the ride
from Durango but you'll have more and better photo opportunities if your
drive.

On 3/22/2014 1:18 PM, Ed Pawlowski wrote:
On Sat, 22 Mar 2014 09:01:57 -0700, "jloomis"
wrote:



Those poesies keep smelling better and better.

About time to do some sailing while still able and warmer
weather is coming to enjoy it.

What's your way to enjoy those poesies?

Lew



I'm still employed, but doing less and less and taking time off more
and more. I have a very unusual job in that I can come and go as I
please, take off all the time I want, and I like the people I work
with. No stress, no deadlines, no good reason to outright retire.

We've been traveling a bit more. This summer I hope to take a very
long road trip from here in CT to granddaughter's graduation in Las
Vegas with stops on the way back at Yellowstone, Mr. Rushmore and a
dozen other places along the way. Three to four weeks with no
timetable other than the graduation.


I'm the other way, un-employed and doing more and more at each job, for
less money. Jobs are short lived, and layoffs keep happening.
Also the terrain has changed, and those in charge are foriegn, and the
value is very skewed, they place more value in people who are quiet and
don't deal with problems, and don't voice them. Those that identify
prolbmes are themselves the problem.

A new world order.

--
Jeff

On Sat, 22 Mar 2014 14:15:58 -0400, woodchucker
wrote:




I'm the other way, un-employed and doing more and more at each job, for
less money. Jobs are short lived, and layoffs keep happening.
Also the terrain has changed, and those in charge are foriegn, and the
value is very skewed, they place more value in people who are quiet and
don't deal with problems, and don't voice them. Those that identify
prolbmes are themselves the problem.

A new world order.

If I had to deal with all of that, I'd be retired. I work for a small
company. My boss is the owner. He spends 3 months in Florida plus
some other trips. I've been there 24 years and with few exceptions,
everyone has been there for 10+ years and knows what to do. That
makes my job easy.