A Fifth Anniversary Is Coming Up!

Posted on Thursday, July 17, 2025 by Paul

We spent a couple of hours working in the garden before getting ready for Girl’s Night Out at the Elks.  The first Girl’s Night Out visit was on July 23, 2020, when Bob Z, Mike A, and Bill C. pulled me out of the house and took me to lunch.  Sue had just passed in February, and I was a mess.

Today was a small group consisting of us, Bob Z., and George.  We had another person join us, and he turned out to be a Starlighter, so he was welcomed into the group.

We rested for a bit before heading to The Muckenthaller in Fullerton for an evening with Vicky, Jim, and The Alley Cats.

Mary prepared a fabulous picnic, complete with wine, grapes, blackberries, assorted nuts, and lemon squares.  She even brought flowers in a vase to set the mood!

I love this girl!!

We were home by 9:30 pm and headed for bed.  Scout the Wonder Dog decided to sleep with us this evening, so we had to remember to be careful if we get up during the night.

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Wednesday Has Arrived

Posted on Wednesday, July 16, 2025 by Paul

Mary keeps everyone on their toes!

It’s Wednesday, and we’re off to the gym.  Since the staff knows of my impending operation, they are taking special care of me; no hanging by the neck or head-twisting exercises.

After the gym session, we went to Mary’s doctor’s appointment near UCI Orange Hospital.  By 10:30 am, we were off and running home to check on Scout, the Wonder Dog.

After two hours at home, we were back on the road to visit the cardiologist who gave the OK to get the Carotid surgery ASAP.

Carotid artery endarterectomy: The doctor recommended that I undergo a carotid endarterectomy since my carotid arteries are narrowed or blocked due to plaque.  In your neck are two major blood vessels called the carotid artery that carry oxygen-rich blood from your heart to your brain.  You can feel the pulse of the carotid artery in your neck.  Fatty deposits, known as atherosclerotic plaques, can build up inside the carotid artery.  These plaques can narrow the passageway of the artery and interfere with blood flow to the brain.  This blockage or narrowing is referred to as a stenosis.  If blood flow to the brain is temporarily blocked, a transient ischemic attack, also known as a TIA, may occur.  When the blood flow is completely obstructed, as in carotid artery blockage, a stroke can occur.

Before the procedure, an intravenous line will be started.  A carotid endarterectomy is usually done under general anesthesia, which will put me to sleep for the duration of the procedure.  In this case, a breathing tube will be inserted into your mouth to assist with breathing during the operation.

On the side of my neck along the blocked artery, the surgeon will make an incision that may run just behind the ear to the point that is close to the collarbone.

The surgeon will find the carotid artery and temporarily clamp off blood flow through it.  She will open up your artery and make a temporary bypass to keep blood flowing to the brain.  She will then remove the plaque within the arterial wall.  After the blockage has been removed, he will sew the artery wall back together, usually by placing a patch.  The patch may be made of part of one of my veins or an artificial material such as Dacron.  Finally, she will close the incision with staples and cover it with bandages.  A temporary drain is frequently left in the wound.

After the procedure, I will be taken to the recovery area where the staff will monitor my vital signs and neurologic condition.  You will be given pain medication as needed, and gradually progress from a liquid to a solid diet.

Mary will have plenty of company as Irene, Vicky, Robin, Jope, and probably Colleen will be with her.

By the time we departed the office, we were hungry and decided to visit Aces for a small snack; salad and a glass of wine.

When we got home, we took a short nap and then Mary hit the kitchen with a vengeance.  She made another batch of corn chowder, which turned out quite amazing.

So yummy!

Mary prepared dinner, making stuffed bell peppers and a small bowl of chowder.  Who needs to go out to eat when you can dine like a king at home??

We visited Jeff and brought him chowder, as he had been pretty fond of the last batch about a week ago.

We watched the series entitled “Wednesday”.

Wednesday Addams is expelled from her school after dumping live piranhas into the school’s pool in retaliation for the boys’ water polo team bullying her brother, Pugsley.  Consequently, her parents, Gomez and Morticia Addams, transfer her to their high school alma mater, Nevermore Academy, a private school for monstrous outcasts, in the town of Jericho, Vermont.  Wednesday’s cold, emotionless personality and defiant nature make it difficult for her to connect with her schoolmates, causing her to run afoul of the school’s principal, Larissa Weems.  However, she discovers she has inherited her mother’s psychic abilities, which allow her to solve a local murder mystery.

We watched it until 11:30 p.m. and finally crashed.  We enjoyed the series and are eagerly awaiting the August arrival of the second season.

When we finally got home, we visited Jeff for a while and then went to bed.  It has been an eventful day!  Now we need pulmonary clearance, which we will get this week.  On the bright side, we have a plan of attack!

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More Work And Then The Goodies

Posted on Tuesday, July 15, 2025 by Paul

You guessed it, we went to the garden first thing.  We have to because it’s summer, and it quickly gets too hot to work. Today we had a plan, trim the roses, and I needed to build a varmint protection fence for some additional lettuce plants we procured.  We also trimmed the watermelons and found a cantaloupe vine with twenty blooms on it!

As we headed out with our tools in hand, Mary stopped to smell the roses.   One of the many reasons I love her is that she finds great joy in the simple things in life!

I was so happy, I burst out in a poem: Roses are red, violets are blue; I want to watch Netflix and chill with you.  Sometimes, I cannot help myself!

It’s not ALL vegetables.

On the same rose bush, we found other delights.

Amazing colors.

The roses were so bright I needed sunglasses to avoid the gleaming reflections.

Mary could not help herself; she broke out in a poem to me. Roses are red, violets are blue; You look like a monkey, and you smell like one, too.

Looks like a paint pallet

At noon, Mary got ready for the third semester of watercolor class.  She drove today to keep in practice.  They learned about trees

I decided I liked it so much, I framed it.

In the afternoon, we rested, so to speak.  I picked some bell peppers from the garden and cleaned them, removing the seeds.

Bell peppers are a fun and nutritious fruit that comes in various colors, with red ones being the sweetest due to their ripeness.  They are rich in vitamins, especially vitamin C, and make a great addition to a healthy diet.  Fun facts about bell peppers include that they are technically fruits, all colors come from the same plant, and they lack the heat of hot peppers because they don’t contain capsaicin.

Freshly picked!

While I finished off the bell peppers by putting them face down in 1/4″ of water and nuking them for 10 minutes, Mary worked feverishly on the filling. I could hear Mary going over the ingredients as she added them to the filling.

I heard her say,  “a pinch of fairy dust” mixed with “a spoonful of giggle juice” or a “hair from a grumpy gnome.”,  “three pickled eyeballs,” “a squirt of unicorn tears,” and “a feather from a sleeping dragon.”

Ah ha, now I know why she wanted to go to Costco!

Mary does her magic.

She was in her cooking uniform, but it was too hot for the black witches’ hat.

Hard at work!

We discussed the upcoming operation on my neck in great detail.  I kept getting this visual!

I keep thinking about this image!

The dinner was so good that I forgot to take pictures of the finished product. We brought some over to Jeff around 8:00 pm, and he will enjoy it for lunch tomorrow.

Returning home, we went to the TV room; there was no swimming tonight, as we were too tired.  At ten o’clock, I declared victory and went to bed.  No breathing treatment tonight or for the next months. Yeah!

Mary followed me in and we both crashed!

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Ah, Monday, A Day Of Rest (Between Doctors)

Posted on Monday, July 14, 2025 by Paul

5:30 am, and Alexa went off just as requested.   I jumped out of bed and dashed to Mary’s bathroom to turn on the overhead heater. I get into serious trouble if I don’t do that first thing.

The next activity is to water the dog and make coffee. Watering the dog means I let him out to visit the yard. Scout was in his new favorite position, blocking access to the front door. I finally woke him up and pointed to the patio, and he was off like a rifle shot.

I have this coffee-making thing down to a science. I like coffee because it gives me the illusion that I might be awake.

Mary’s coffee was delivered to her bathroom, where she was doing her hair. I did notice something different.

So off we went to Mary’s doctor’s office, and I took the side street instead of the freeway; we got there 30 minutes early. From now on, we will take the side street, as the freeway can sometimes get jammed up.

On the way home, we stopped at Orange Farmers Supply and got two more six-packs of lettuce. Six of them will be put into another round container with a two-foot wire fence around them. The others will be used in another area where I will try a new protection scheme from “the varmit!”.

Mary fixed a bacon and egg sandwich for lunch, which was outstanding. We departed for the doctor’s office at 2:00 pm.

The doctor said the carotid surgery is the priority, but we need to see the pulmonary doctor first. Then, we need to see a nephrologist because the kidney blood tests seem to be a little off track.

A doctor who specializes in kidney health and diseases is called a nephrologist. They are trained to diagnose and treat kidney conditions, such as kidney failure, kidney stones, and urinary tract infections. Nephrologists may also perform kidney transplants and provide care for patients undergoing dialysis. End-stage renal disease – Doctors and departments – Mayo Clinic

We had waited so long in the doctor’s office that we decided to stop by Ace’s for dinner.

We were relaxed and full, ready to go home and watch TV. We didn’t stay up too late watching TV and hit the hay around 9:00 pm. We had too many doctors on this fine day.

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Work Work Work!

Posted on Sunday, July 13, 2025 by Paul

At 6:15 am, we hit the garden with a vengeance.  We stopped for a cup of coffee, but then we got back to work.  I went around each raised bed and cleaned out the undergrowth, including pulling veggies that were ready to go.  We have enough red onions for two large Mason jars of pickled onions, yeah!

Mary worked inside for about two hours, doing the washing and folding clothes, and planned a fantastic dinner.  I was kind of glad she went inside because outside, she was “helping” me.

Penny for my thoughts?

Onions everywhere!  It’s okay, we already have another large area planted with onions.

Red pickled onions, wow!

Easy Peasy!

The day was magnificent with just a slight breeze to cool us off as we worked.

The creepy-crawley was doing his job!

Did I mention watermelon?  We have about ten of these puppies going.  This was in a box along our center wall.  The others are in the larger raised bed.  Tomorrow, I will inspect the watermelon garden thoroughly because if the melon vines are trimmed correctly, we will either lose the fruit or it will be too small to eat.

We are keeping our eye on him!

Yesterday, I trimmed back the leaves on the grapevines so the grapes would receive more sun.   We have an enormous number of grapes coming to fruition!   We will have table grapes for weeks to come!

Grapes galore.

During my cleanup of the undergrowth, I straightened the bell peppers and placed them on stakes, carefully tying them in a manner that made the fruit visible and accessible.

These two beauties will become dinner this week!  Mary makes an excellent filling for stuffed peppers.

Peppers were everywhere once I cleaned out the undergrowth.  These are shashiot peppers which Bob D. will be grilling up for us on the upcoming “Perogie Day”/

They look too good to eat!

The Anaheim chilies are coming along nicely, and they will be cleaned and stuffed in about two weeks.

We can hardly wait!

The tomatoes now require us to get a small stepladder to retrieve them.  They are reaching for the sky!

We can play hide and seek in the garden!

We gave up around 3:00 pm as it was getting too hot.  We cleaned up our work and ended up filling two 90-gallon trash cans with cuttings and throwaways.

Inside, Mary began her magic, which required my participation.   I had to cut the rather large zucchini in half lengthwise.  Oh my, bring on the skill saw, a hydraulic jack, and a large share knife.  Mary had 911 on speed dial in case I miscalculated.

While I was opening the zook, Mary created an amazing filling.  It was made even more amazing by the fact that she accidentally added hot chili flakes to the mix.  This filing had a kick!

Stuffed zucchini, often made into “boats” or stuffed round zucchinis, typically involves hollowing out the zucchini and filling it with a mixture of ingredients, such as meat, vegetables, rice, cheese, and breadcrumbs.  The stuffed zucchinis are then baked until tender and golden.  Below is a YouTube video that shows the basics.  Mary has secret ingredients that we cannot reveal, but they do involve Halloween and witches.

After dinner, we brought some over to Jeff.  We eat dinner early, so we hit Jeff just before we were going to make dinner.   Perfect timing.

After our visit, we headed to the pool to float around and kibitz for an hour.  We sat by the fire and then decided it was time to head to bed.  We were both exhausted, but a “good” tired.  We could see the results of our work!

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Always On Saturday!

Posted on Saturday, July 12, 2025 by Paul

Estimated reading time: 5 minutes

We got to work early!

We sat on the patio with Robin for two hours shooting the s**t, and then when Robin headed for home, we broke out the gardening tools and got underway.  Talking to myself is okay.  Answering back is risky.

Robin said that after swimming last night, she crashed for eight hours straight, a record unheard of for her!  While Mary trimmed her flowers, I varmint-proofed Mary’s new lettuce with 1/4 square steel netting.

Being a good eye doctor, Mary always wears her safety glasses when trimming!

I also trimmed a lot of the leaves and vines off the grapes, as they were growing a little wild.  The bright side is that I can cut the leaves, put them in a bag, and bring them to the gym.  I ended up filling half a 90-gallon container.  The shears were warm to the touch!

Remember: Grape minds think alike.

To trim grapevines mid-season (summer pruning), focus on controlling excessive growth to improve fruit quality, sunlight exposure, and air circulation.  Here’s how to do it effectively:

1.  Remove unwanted shoots: Cut back vigorous, non-productive shoots that crowd the canopy and block sunlight.  This helps direct the plant’s energy into developing better fruit.

2.  Thin the canopy: Selectively thin leaves and lateral shoots around grape clusters to increase airflow and reduce disease risk, such as powdery mildew.

3.  Pinch or trim shoot tips: If shoots are growing far beyond the trellis or support, pinch or cut back the tips to keep growth manageable and encourage the plant to focus on fruit production.

4.  Remove suckers and water sprouts: Cut off shoots growing from the base of the trunk or along the main canes that won’t bear fruit.

 

While trimming, I came across several clusters of grapes that were ready.

No, they are NOT wine grapes, they are table grapes!

The primary differences between wine grapes and table grapes are found in their physical characteristics, cultivation methods, and intended uses:

Size and Appearance

• Table grapes are larger, juicier, and usually seedless.  They have thin skins and a crisp texture, making them appealing for fresh eating.
• Wine grapes are smaller, with thicker skins and multiple seeds (usually two to six per grape).  The thick skins are crucial for imparting tannins and color to wine.

Sugar and Acidity

• Wine grapes contain more sugar (measured as Brix, typically 24–26 at harvest) and higher acidity.  This is essential for fermentation and the production of alcohol.
• Table grapes have less sugar (Brix around 17–19) and lower acidity, making them milder and more refreshing to eat.

Flavor and Texture

• Wine grapes have a more concentrated flavor due to their small size and thick skins.  Their seeds and skins contribute bitterness and tannins, which are desirable in wine but not for eating.
• Table grapes are bred for mild, sweet flavor and juicy texture, with minimal bitterness and no tannins.

Cultivation and Yield

• Table grapes are grown for high yield and visual appeal, often using trellis systems that prevent clusters from touching, resulting in up to 30 pounds per vine.
• Wine grapes are grown for quality over quantity, with lower yields (often less than 10 pounds per vine) to concentrate flavors.

Intended Use

• Table grapes are meant for fresh consumption, snacks, and salads.
• Wine grapes are explicitly cultivated for winemaking; their composition is not ideal for eating fresh due to seeds, thick skins, and intense flavor.

 

We worked from 9:00 am until almost 3:30 pm doing chores.  Mary, way in the background, is pulling weeds from the South-40 behind the grape vines.  She also replanted lettuce and the green containers, as “the varmint” ate them to the ground last week!

Tomorrow we will plant angel hair shade grass in this area, which should cover the ground and avoid the weed issue.

At 3:30 pm, we stopped and headed to the showers to get ready for the evening.  We had dinner at the Elks Lodge, but this time we did NOT order two burgers.  We shared a small flatbread pepperoni pizza and a small dinner salad.   Mary even brought her tomatoes from home to add to the salad!

We were so happy with our selection of a good diner that we celebrated with some spumoni dessert!

Vicky joined us this evening, so I got to dance with Vicky and Mary.  We had a load of fun!

After dancing several times, I need to relax and re-wine.

On our way out, one of the security guards snapped our picture to prove we were here.  The Elks had a wedding and a 1985 High School reunion also going on in the building.

Tonight we brought our wine, two-buck Chuck from Trader Joe’s.  We find it much better than the $60/bottle of Chalk Hill Chardonnay served at the Elks.

We headed home and were in the house by 9:30 pm.  We opted NOT to go swimming this evening as six hours in the garden did us in!  We crashed.  Before I could finish my inhalation activities, Mary was dead to the world!  I prayed her e-book from her hands, flipped off the light, and was in dreamland three seconds later.

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Friday Has Arrived! The Weekend Gets Near!

Posted on Friday, July 11, 2025 by Paul

Estimated reading time: 4 minutes

Yes, I know it’s Friday, but we had a doctor’s visit on Monday, so we rescheduled the gym for today.  That gave me two extra days without pain.   I was asked which exercise I enjoyed the best, and I answered!

It’s called “Turn and pull!”

Our trainer’s son was in the house today, visiting from Texas!  He plays baseball for Texas A&M.  I did feel a little short next to him.  With my 200 pounds, I could look like him if I were put on a stretching machine.

I was once this tall, now I am 5’8 1/2″ … I shrunk!

We again limped out of the gym, but today, no blood was visible.  We did find some new muscles that had never been used before!  The sound we made walking to the car reminded me of the breakfast cereal, Snap, Crackle, and Pop!

On the way to the car, my iPhone buzzed, reminding me of this day five years ago.  The Dudas took the old man to Patty’s Place for dinner, trying to keep me moving after losing Sue.

I looked like a homeless person with a wild beard.

The beard was getting a little bushy now!

On this day five years ago, I received a call from Jan Mongel, who was checking in on me.  She mentioned that Mary was alone and that I should have dinner with her and catch up on things (COVID was just getting started).

I waited a few days, hoping the doctor would a) remember me and b) not dismiss my offer of dinner because I was a lowly engineer.   Remembering me was no problem as they had known each other since the mid-1990s.  When I mentioned I was retired, she did NOT ask what from, so (a) and (b) were taken care of.

The fifth anniversary of our first “date”  is approaching on July 28th!  Our fourth wedding anniversary is coming on July 28th!  But I digress!

First “date”

When Robin popped in, we were watching a movie, and soon thereafter, we headed for the Elks to listen to Ronnie and grab dinner.  It was a busy night as it was a new members’ welcome dinner, and the lounge was full.

The three of us shared a bottle of Chardonnay, and Mary and I had a “Doc’s Burger,” which consisted of eight pounds of burger and three pounds of fries.  Robin was brilliant, and she had the small shrimp salad.

Note to self: Next time, order one and share with Mary!!

The house was packed and quite loud.  Mary and I danced a few dances, and then Mary did a line dance.  She asked Robin, but Robin was wearing her rubber-soled work shoes, which are not suitable for the dance floor.

Always a smile!

So help me, I will learn how to line dance again.  I used to know how, but after years of not dancing, I’ve forgotten.

Go, Girl, Go!  Stir up that dust!!

We found a friend who took our picture on the way out.

We had a wonderful time!!

We got home after dark and decided a swim in the 92-degree pool would be nice.  The three of us paddled around and told stories for a couple of hours.  We then had a visitor.  Robin saw him first!

Splish Splash, we were taking a bath!  “Who brought the soap?”

Full tunnies and warm water are a sure recipe for sleep, and we did just that.  We were all sawing logs within a few minutes!

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It’s Thursday And That Means “Girl’s Night out!”

Posted on Thursday, July 10, 2025 by Paul

Estimated reading time: 6 minutes

The day was so pretty that we went to the patio to drink our coffee.   While we were outside on the patio, we spoke with Joe to bring him up to date on the medical situation.  Since we’re going to the Elks today, Mary had me pick a bunch of cherry tomatoes in case we have salads.

Mary took her shower, and I ventured into the badlands of Casa Valencia.  On the way to the back door, I ran across our burglar alarm, which was sound asleep.

Someone was a sleepyhead!

Looking at him made me want to go back to sleep!

Via the patio, I entered the backyard on the way to the garden.  I was greeted by “Old Red,” a local climber.

Even the patio flowers are blooming!

Continuing on my journey, I looked at our potted cantaloupe, and it had at least seven fruits in the process of maturing.

We have seven cantaloupes on this vine!

1.  Not All” Cantaloupe” Is the Same: In the U.S., what we call” cantaloupe” is a type of muskmelon (Cucumis melo var. reticulatus) with a netted rind.  True European cantaloupes have a smoother, pale green skin.  Ancient Origins: Cantaloupes have been cultivated for thousands of years.  They are believed to have originated in Persia (modern-day Iran) and Africa, and were later popularized in Europe.

3.  Name Game: The “ame “canta “oupe” comes from the Italian town of Cantalupo, near Rome, where the melon was introduced to Europe from Armenia in the 1700s.

4.  Nutrient Powerhouse: Cantaloupe is packed with vitamin A (in the form of beta-carotene) and vitamin C, making it great for your skin and immune system.

5.  Water Content: Cantaloupe is about 90% water, making it a refreshing, hydrating snack, perfect for hot summer days.

6.  Seed Facts: The seeds are edible!  In some cultures, cantaloupe seeds are roasted and eaten as a snack.

7.  Ripeness Test: A ripe cantaloupe will have a sweet fragrance at the stem end and will give slightly when pressed.  The netting on the rind should be thick and well-defined.

7.  Space Melons: In 2006, Japanese astronauts grew cantaloupes on the International Space Station as part of an experiment on food production in space.

8.  World Record: The heaviest cantaloupe ever recorded weighed 67 pounds 1.8 ounces (30.47 kg), grown by William McCaslin in the USA in 2019.

 

I continued my exploration of the garden and came across some great-looking tomatoes!

Tomatoes everywhere.

The yellow pear tomatoes are lovely.

At a distance, they could have been strawberries.  These Romas make for delicious eating.

Mary had me pick a mess of tomatoes so she could pass them out at the Elks to everyone having salads (or use as a pre-lunch snack!).

I looked back at our home and realized we still have plenty of room.  Every day, we go out for some trimming and use Mary’s small garden cart, then throw the unwanted growth directly into the trash.

Looking back at the house from the garden.

Before we departed, I finally finished the July 4th Day website.  Please enjoy!

Click to see the website.

11:00 am means time to ramble over to the Elks.  We took the hot rod today, as Precious needed to get out and run!

Zoom!!!

We are approaching our fifth anniversary of having lunch at the Elks on Thursdays at noon.  I recall the first Girl’s  Night Out, which was five years ago, on July 23, 2020.  Mike Andersen, Bill Capps, and Bob Zaitz were there to assist me in moving forward after losing Sue in February.  They were all so kind, trying to help me through the loss of Sue, just five months ago.  We have done Thursday lunches at the Elks ever since.

Today, we had seven of us, and we just had a ball, teasing each other and creating chaos in the lounge.

We returned home and crashed for about an hour.  Scout came in and showed us how it was supposed to be done.  We would have lain on the floor with him, but alas, old age is creeping in, so we left him in the hallway and went to the bedroom.

By 4:00 pm, we were up and moving, and Mary planned to fix a carrot salad.  She worked for an hour on our relatively meager carrot crop.  I joined her and watched a movie.  Even after all her work, neither of us was hungry, so we decided it was time for the pool.

We cavorted in the pool for an hour or so.  I floated scaring the bugs to death, and they dropped dead mid-flight, dropping into the pool with a small splash.  Mary had her trusty bug net with her and collected my victims.  I still believe some of the insects fell into the water because they were startled by the light, not because I was flashing them.

Into the pool we went.

When we came inside, it was too late to start a movie, so I developed a plan!  I sent Mary off to get ready for bed, and I offered to close up shop and make sure Scout, the wonder Dog, had his time outside.

Being a sneaky kind of guy, I had a reason for being nice.  While the baby was outside and Mary was busy in her bathroom, I would raid the refrigerator, and Mary would never know.  I know there was cake hiding in the fridge along with a leftover hot dog and some delicious rat cheese.   OUCH!!!!!

My genius bride found a way to keep me out of the fridge, avoiding those late-night snacks!

We crashed after I applied first aid to my beat-up arm!

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More Doctors! More Dining! More Swimming!

Posted on Wednesday, July 9, 2025 by Paul

Estimated reading time: 4 minutes

We were up early because we had to visit the torture chamber commonly known as “The Gym”.  I had a reason for going this morning.  For some reason, I developed a stiff neck.  Upon entering the gym, I announced that my neck was out of commission.  My trainer took care of the problem.  He used twists and turns of the neck and machines that pounded deep into the muscles, and I felt much better.

Why don’t I trust my personal trainer?  It’s easy, he is always pulling my leg

From the gym, we headed back to St. Joe’s and met with our vascular surgeon, Dr. Tiffany Wu.  The news was not great; my usable carotid artery is 80% blocked, and I cannot get a stent because MY artery has a built-in kink!   Stents do not work around corners!

So, some time shortly, I will undergo a carotid endarterectomy.  Dr. Wu has performed over 1,000 of these surgeries, so she has some understanding of the procedure.  She and Dr. Cobb will consult this week, and we will get a “go-forward” plan on Monday when we see Dr. Cobb again!

No nonsense, straight ot the point, and talked to Dr. Mary about the details. Our kind of doctor.

A carotid endarterectomy operation typically takes about 1 to 2 hours to perform. Some sources specify the average duration as approximately one hour and 40 minutes, but the consensus is that the procedure is usually completed within this 1–2 hour window. Operating times longer than 140 minutes are associated with a higher risk of complications.

What did the doctor prescribe to the man who couldn’t stop breaking wind?   A kite.

To “celebrate,” we went to Francoli Gourmet for lunch.  We had a great lunch, and in fact, they made chicken picata, which was NOT on the menu, just for Mary.  It must be nice to be pretty.

I asked for something off the menu, and I got a soiled napkin with a pile of crumbs!  Life is not fair!!

It got the Mary stamp of approval!

I changed my order and settled on one of their menu items, the cioppino (fish soup).  Cioppino is a hearty seafood stew that originated in San Francisco, California, created by Italian-American immigrants in the late 1800s. The dish is closely related to Mediterranean fish stews, particularly the Ligurian ciuppin from Italy, but has become a signature of San Francisco’s Italian-American community.

There was more than I could eat, so I took it home

Did I mention they have a nice selection of wines?  I prayed for an earthquake so I could help with the cleanup afterwards.  Next time, we’ll get a table closer to the wine rack.  It will avoid eye strain.   Two-Buck-Chuck, eat your heart out!

Hic!!

After letting the doctor’s findings and lunch settle in, I had a thought!

After getting home, we took a short nap and then worked in the office, finishing up our trip cancellation and meeting with our insurance agent to review all our insurance policies.  We wanted to ensure that everything was up to date and accurately reflected the increase in costs associated with replacing or repairing items.

Mary worked on her computer and said things to it that cannot be repeated here.  It was so bad that the light above her head began to flicker on and off.   `

We are lucky the computer didn’t end up going through the window!

We were going to have company over to go swimming, but everyone cancelled for various reasons.  Mary asked her classmate, Geri, to join us for a glass of wine around 7:00 pm (we found out she lives just a block away).

Geri got the grand tour, and we spent a good hour talking on the patio.  We went to the garden and sent Geri home with three bags of veggies; she loved picking her tomatoes, cucumbers, and other goodies.

At 9:00 pm, we went swimming; the water was 92 degrees, and it was a full moon!  Life does not get better than this!

The gazebo lighting is controlled via Alexa, making it easy to turn on and off.

Time for bed!  We didn’t even watch TV.  Between the doctor, the computer fight, swimming, and our guest, we were pooped out.

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Run Paul Run!

Posted on Tuesday, July 8, 2025 by Paul

Estimated reading time: 7 minutes


Another early day.  Alexa went off at 6:15 am, giving us slightly over an hour to get ready again!  In Mary’s case, it is easy; Paul requires a lot of work to look presentable.  We visited Dr. Cobb’s building, located adjacent to St. Joseph’s Hospital in Orange, specifically the Cardiac Center, where we met with Dr. Tyson Cobb, who was present “in case?” It’s only a pharmacological stress test!

Why did the bucket go to the doctor?  He had a pail face.

Did You Know?  A chemically induced heart stress test is also known as a pharmacological stress test or a pharmacologic nuclear stress test.  It’s used when a patient cannot exercise on a treadmill, and involves using medications to simulate the effects of exercise on the heart.

Here’s a more detailed explanation:

Purpose: This test helps diagnose coronary artery disease, determine the risk of heart attack, and assess heart function under stress.

How it works: Medications like Lexiscan (regadenoson) or Adenoscan (adenosine) are injected to dilate the coronary arteries, mimicking the effect of exercise on the heart.  (I suggested they use Chardonnay, but Dr. Cobb nixed that plan)

Procedure: A radioactive tracer is injected, and images of the heart are taken at rest and after the medication is administered to visualize blood flow.

Monitoring: Patients are closely monitored during the test, with vital signs checked and potential symptoms reported to medical staff.

Medication and Imaging: Depending on the type of test (nuclear or echocardiogram), either a radioactive tracer or a contrast agent is used for imaging

 

Thank goodness St. Joseph’s Pavilion is so close.  Without traffic, we can get there in a matter of minutes, eleven to be exact.

The freeway is the easiest method!

Did You Know?  Since its founding by the Sisters of St. Joseph of Orange in 1929, St. Joseph Hospital has welcomed generations of babies, treated serious injuries and illnesses, performed unprecedented procedures, and invested in cutting-edge facilities, technology, research, and clinical trials to ensure our patients receive superior care.

Their nationally recognized programs in cancer treatment, kidney transplant, heart and vascular care, women’s services, spine and neurology, orthopedics, and more, paired with our four-time Magnet Designation as a Nursing Center of Excellence, make St. Joseph Hospital one of the most-trusted hospitals in the region.

 

The test went well, and the doctor didn’t seem worried.  He did agree that cancelling the trip to the Antarctic was a good idea.  They brought my heart rate to 140 for a couple of minutes so they could get some ultrasound views of what is going on.

Did You Know?  A heart ultrasound, also known as an echocardiogram, is a non-invasive imaging test that uses sound waves to create pictures of the heart.  It helps doctors evaluate the heart’s structure and function, including the heart chambers, valves, and blood vessels.  Echocardiograms can help diagnose various heart conditions, such as heart failure, valve problems, and congenital heart defects.

 

Mary loves this building because she gets to visit the gift shop!

The stockroom boy will bring the eight boxes to the car for her.

On the way home, we stopped by the Original Pancake House for an excellent breakfast.  Their omelets are out of this world.  We shared a veggie complete and still brought a third of it home for tomorrow’s breakfast.

At 3:00 pm, we again visited St. Joseph’s, this time to see the urologist.   On the way, we stopped at UPS to send Becky’s birthday package.   My PSA blood test came back indicating approximately 0.02, which is considered insignificant.  I do not have to go back for a year!  Good news!

Me: “Aren’t you going to treat me?”
Doctor: “I am treating you.”
Me: “You’re just staring at me.”
Doc: “It’s called silent treatment.”

What do you call a doctor who fixes websites?  A URL-ologist.

We returned home via the Orange Traffic Circle and found the “new” Italian restaurant, which we have been looking to try out.  Now we can go there next week without getting lost.  The Orange Circle, also known as Plaza Park, is a traffic circle and public park located in the heart of Old Towne Orange, California. It’s a historic area with a well-preserved 1886 layout and a 1937 mosaic tile fountain at its center, according to the Orange County Transportation Authority. The Circle is a popular gathering spot and a key feature of the largest nationally registered historic district in California.

I finally got out of the circle after making fourteen circles, a bit dizzy, but we made it!

We visited our friend and neighbor, Jeff.  We try to see each other every day.  We shared stories and made sure he was ready for the evening.  We often laugh and giggle.  A true friend is someone who thinks that you are a good egg even though they know that you are slightly cracked.

Visiting Jeff and swapping stories is always a fun experience!

Today, the high temperature was 91, but we always have a slight breeze coming through the hills on either side of us, so it was pleasant.   The pool was inviting, as it was 92 degrees, so we could stay in it for a long time without getting cold.

The pool kept saying, “Come on in, the water is fine!”

We entered the pool with a plastic glass of vino, and Scout, the Wonder Dog, came to check in on us!  He heard the splashing and wanted to make sure we were OK!  I really believe he was looking for his glass of wine!

Scout was eyeballing the pool!

Scout is such a happy baby.  The poor thing is losing his hearing, and his hind legs are getting weak.  He is 105 in dog years, but he never complains and is always smiling.   I hope I age as gracefully as Scout.

He decided it was too wet.

We spent almost two hours in the pool, talking to Bob Z, Bill C., Mike A., and Vicky K., and made calls to Becky and Hans (neither was at home).   We extended an invitation to several to join us tomorrow around 7:00 pm for a dip in the warm waters of Casa Valencia.

Mary saw she was becoming a prune and decided it was time to get out of the water and sit by the fire and howl at the full Moon!

Mary gets out of the pool!  I kept asking, “What is behind robe #1?”

Once the water settled down, the reflections were great, and the Moon was slowly moving across the nighttime sky!

I told Mary there’s cheese on the moon, and her response was to bring the crackers outside.

We had a full moon!

We went inside around 9:00 pm and attempted to watch a movie, but we both fell asleep in the TV room.  Finally, at 10:30 pm, we crashed.  Tomorrow we’re going to see another doctor, this time the vascular surgeon.  We will get her recommendation on whether or not I need a carotid endarterectomy.

A carotid endarterectomy is the most common surgical procedure to clear a blocked carotid artery, which is often caused by plaque buildup (atherosclerosis).  This procedure involves opening the artery and removing the plaque to restore blood flow to the brain, reducing the risk of stroke.

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