What is this about 10% inflation?

The media has been claiming that inflation is at 9 or 10%. Not where I am looking. I saw a breakdown on the news the other morning while treading at cardiac rehab where they claimed groceries were at 10%.

Lies!

Okay, so we don't buy meat. At this time of year we are buying vegetables, as what we put up last year is running out. 

Most items we buy at the grocery store up up 50 to 100%. There are exceptions. Laundry detergent seems to be up only 10-12 percent. But bleach is up over 100%. Coffee is up 50%. Eggs - well everyone knows about them - up 400 to 500%. 

Our overall grocery bill is close to double what it was a year or a year and a half ago - not sure when it all started. 

So maybe the stuff that hasn't gone up in price is stuff we don't buy. 

Oremus pro invicem!

Education of Men

As an adjunct I have noticed the trend over the last nine years of a decline of men in my classroom, especially noticeable in that I teach Physics and Astronomy. The former was course was always had predominantly male students; no longer the case. 

I read an article recently - but I lost track of where I saw it - which quoted statistics of the overall decline of men going to college. It also quoted statistics of the significant decline of males in leadership positions in companies. 

On one hand it is troubling that men are not pursuing higher education and therefore will be less and less in leadership roles in industry and government. 

On the other hand, it occurred to me recently that with the current "woke" atmosphere of today's higher educational institutions, is may be fortuitous that these men are not getting indoctrinated (at least past high school.) 

I am sure that this is not the reason men are not pursuing higher education; it is probably the decline of the value of a higher degree when it comes to supporting a family, at least in many majors available. There is tremendous needs for skilled tradesmen, and they can make a good living. 

Oremus pro invicem!

Planting ...

We put in a small section of sweet corn yesterday. ("We" is an exaggeration - I just watched). It is a chance, but corn can take a light frost, and if it makes it, we will beat the yearly drought and get a good crop.

Putting broccoli and brussel sprouts in today. We buy started plants from a nearby greenhouse.

We also expanded a pig pen yesterday and fixed the wipers on the truck. Only the last "we" includes me. 

Oremus pro invicem!

Is it worth it?

 I don't like to dwell too much on my surgery and recovery, but what else is there? I still have trouble concentrating enough to read deep. But I am still thinking, but still occupied with the whole experience.

So, do I recommend it? That is do I recommend open heart surgery? More accurately, was the fun I had for 58 or so years clogging my arteries worth the pain of Cbbg X 4 and the current ongoing recovery. 

I guess it is analogous to our life and Heaven vs. Hell. We can chase pleasure, power, wealth and (supposed) happiness for our 58 or 93 years or whatever time we have on this Earth and consequently suffer Hell. 

Of course surgery and recovery is not eternal, so the analogy eventually breaks down. 

But going forward, I certainly will try to avoid a repeat even if I need to suffer a little bit more. I am finding out that many of my elderly neighbors have had multiple open hearts. Not sure I am man enough to go through it again.

Oremus pro invicem!

More than a month out

So here I am more than a month out. I am walking a lot (on my own and in Cardiac Rehab). I am driving a very little. And my upper body muscles I am sure are atrophying - I am not allowed to do much with my arms.

My left pinky and ring finger are numb most of the time and my left arm is either numb or in pain much of the time. I am told by various sources that this is just expected collateral damage OR this is very rare. I am told this may take a month to heal; I am told this may never go away - depending on the source. Not sure what to believe.

Good days and bad days, but happy to be alive. Each good day is better than the last good day; each bad day is less bad than the last bad day.

Not recovered enough to be back at work completely, but in this online world, I do have some work I can do.

I have always respected the work nurses do, but my 10-day stint in the hospital in December just enhanced that respect. At first I thought my human dignity was being stripped away as the nurses and techs took control of all my functions and abilities. But by the time I left the hospital I realized that instead of stripping my human dignity they were preserving it by taking care of my every need when I couldn't. God bless all nurses and techs. (Of course, Mrs. Curley was staying with me and taking care of me too.)

Oremus pro invicem!

Walking

I walked about a mile yesterday, in quarter-mile segments. Over to the neighbor's; talk for 1/2 hour; walk home. Repeat.

When I first got home, I was having trouble reading, or concentrating, or maybe comprehending. I think that is getting better. 

Not sleeping well. I have to sleep on my back-which has never been my habit. I am still not used to it. At least I can now get up without help!

Sounds like I am doing lots of complaining; but really just trying to keep track of things for the future.

Doctor said I am clear to begin driving again tomorrow (1 month out from surgery), but I am NOT ready. I love driving, but even as a passenger, I am uncomfortable now. I will give it at least another week or more before I venture behind the wheel.

Good news! Another Curley wedding in the works. This time it will be in Wisconsin. I need to be ready for the road trip in a few months.

Oremus pro invicem!

out of pj's

So today is the first day I have actually put on a pair of pants since the 16th of December! I have been in pj's or sweats (their equivalent) everyday. 

I usually won't even drink coffee unless I am fully dressed, so this past month has been a real anomaly for me.

Earlier in the week Thomas and Bernadette put down a pig while I sat inside doing nothing! Today they are butchering it. I have been out to do some consultation and light cutting, but Mrs. Curley sent me in as she felt I was violating doctor's orders on some of my movements.

Read about Cardinal Pell this morning. My his soul and all the souls of the faithful departed rest in peace!

Oremus pro invicem!

Reading

During pre-op I finished a book my son had loaned me: The Unbroken Thread. It is a book about tradition. The final chapters are about death and acceptance (my third warning. The first was Fr. Kirby's All Saints Day homily; the second was advice from a priest during confession where he reminded me - sort of out of the blue - that I would not live forever!)

Now that I am on semi-rest regime (I can walk all I want, but can't lift anything or do anything useful), I thought it would great time to catch up on years of reading. Yet, I am having a hard time concentrating when reading. In the hospital post-op, I couldn't even concentrate enough to watch TV. I have "progressed" to movies now at home, but still have a hard time reading.

I hope this will change.....

Oremus pro invicem!

Red's litter

 Well, contrary to what I thought a few weeks ago, I was home for Red's litter. She gave birth to 10 healthy pigs on 12/30.

Here they are.

Oremus pro invicem!

Here I am again!

 Merry Christmas!

I am home! Surgery a great success and "miraculous" in the words of the surgeon. Without going into too many details, 4- 100% blockages successfully bypassed, when initially, it was questionable if a by-pass would even work. Doctor didn't understand why I was still walking around especially being so active.

Now, some may say it is all the bacon and sausage I consume, but not only do we not eat so much of that, it is more the food I consume when I am off-farm which has gotten me. (I love doughnuts!).

In any event I have been given further chances in this life. Very interesting reading this week. Hopefully more on this later.

Oremus pro invicem!