I'm Not Gonna Have the "Big One" ------------Yet!!!!!!!

Well, we went to see the cardiologist today. We got there at the appointed time (at least I thought it was the appointed time) and they couldn't find me on the schedule. Somewhere between WorkMed and me writing the time down, I put the wrong time down. We were 2 hours early. M couldn't go with me since it was later. She had a RS commitment so I went alone.
The Dr talked with me and looked at the films and pointed out the 2 spots that they were concerned about. I told him that he could do whatever he had to do to get me back to work: roto rooter my arteries, angiograms, whatever - just get me fixed up so I can drive fast and make lots of noise. I'm not bad enough for roto rooting, just stronger meds and a half an aspirin a day is all I need to do.
He wanted me to do a treadmill test before he would sign me off to return to work. Well, I didn't collapse doing that so he gave me the official okey dokey to go back to work. He just wanted to see me in 3 months for blood work to see if the new meds are working better on my cholesterol. I can handle that!!!!
I guess M doesn't need to start looking for my replacement yet.

I'm On "Vacation" for a Week & a Half

Every other year, the city gives us firefighters a physical. Over 50 years old, you have to have a Coronary Calcium CT scan. Two years ago, when I had one, my calcium score was 84, which means mild possibility of Coronary Artery Disease. On the 9th of September, I reported to UVRMC Radiology dept. and had that procedure done. It took me longer to drive there than it took for the test!!!!! Well, today was the physical part of the test. I got poked, prodded, punctured, the "over 50" prostate check, hearing, pulmonary function, UA, eyesight , TB test - you name it, it was done to me. Well, I had talked to the doctor and he said I was in good shape. Here comes the kicker. He hadn't seen the results for the Calcium test yet. This year my results were 123. That number means moderate possibility of CAD. Well, he said that the person who wrote the report from the test said that I have some calcium buildup (you think??) in one of my coronary artieries which could be BAD. Well, the Dr. said I had to go on "light duty" till I can be seen by a cardiologist. They don't want me exerting myself and popping something loose in an artery and having the "big one." Well, instead of working light duty, Monday thru Friday and having to wear a dress shirt and tie in the front office of the Fire Department, I opted to use sick leave until I get cleared to go back to full duty as a firefighter.

I have an appointment next Tuesday to see a cardiologist and have him evaluate the films from the aforementioned test. The doc at WorkMed today said that those tests have as many false positives as actual real results so he told me not to worry but to be on the safe side, I needed to see the specialist. I guess it could be worse - I could have had the big one during my physical!!!!!

I still am going to work my normal shifts at HD - this little set-back isn't going to slow me down. I'm too onery to get sick!!!!!!!!

So, M is going to have me under-foot until at least next Friday. That is the first day that I would normally be at the fire station after seeing the cardiologist. It could be longer if he wants to run more tests on me but I am keeping my fingers and toes crossed. I want to get back to work - I don't do not having much to do well. At least it is still warm and I can work in the yard and stuff like that but yard work won't keep me occupied all the time. There is alway temple sessions while M is teaching!!!!! Might as well do something good while I can't work.

More From Our Vacation

Well, we survived the sailing excursion so you get another day of vacation highlights. We had planned on doing the San Diego Temple while we were there but somehow M couldn't find her recommend before we left. She had looked where it usually is but it wasn't there. The last time she used it was when Brian & Lindsay got married. Well, we couldn't find it anyplace so we weren't able to do as we had planned. We just went and wandered around the temple grounds and talked to a sister missionary there. Her and her husband were on their 6th couples mission!!!

I had never been to that temple before and I agree that it is a very beautiful temple but all the temples are beautiful in their own way. The way it just sort of appears at the side of the freeway as you drive in just takes your breath away.

After wandering at the temple for a while, we headed to Coronado island. We parked along the main drag and did some wandering and window shopping and ended up at the Hotel Del Coronado. I had only seen this hotel in a movie and it is bigger than I imagined. The beach is wonderful but the sand was super hot that day. M got soaked up to her waist while enjoying the beach. It is one of our dreams to be able to afford to stay at the Del Coronado hotel just one night before we cash in our chips!!!!!!! We can always dream so we might as well dream big.

We had such a great time at the beach, we decided to pose for a picture of us with the ocean and waves as our backdrop.

Don't we make a wonderful looking couple!!!!!!!!!

We wandered more of the main drag and then went to a city park and had a "picnic" lunch. We headed to the harbor area to wander more shops and just sight-see like typical tourists.

After a wonderful time on Coronado island, we headed back to San Diego and relaxed and had a little dinner.

WWDOOV (part 3)

Tuesday morning we were scheduled to sail on the "California." It is the official "tall" ship for California. It is over 120' long with 2 masts. It has 7 sails with over 7000 square feet of canvas. There are 4 guns that they can move from side to side. The captain told us the diference between a gun and a cannon but I can't remember what it is.

When we signed up to do the sailing trip, the lady told us to wear good shoes cause they put you to work (if you want to help) and to dress accordingly because you will be sailing on the ocean and you never know what the weather will be like. Well, M only took flip flops with her so she was worried that they wouldn't be suitable so bright and early that morning we made a trip to PayLess for sensible shoes. She found a nice pair and you know a woman can never have too many pairs of shoes so they won't be just used for that day. She has a coat in the car all the time so that was tied around her waist.

Anyone who wanted to help hoist the sails was able to. We were instructed on what to do and what commands to listen for. It was fun but I wouldn't want to have to do it without lots of help. It was amazing how much difference each sail made.

The cruise usually lasts about 4 hours but there was a documentary crew filming about national parks and they wanted us to fire the guns for that then we began the actual sailing. We had to sail around in the harbor until they were ready to film us so we go more time than normal.

The weather was perfect that day. The captain said that usually the wind doesn't blow much in August. They were excited and didn't care if we stayed out longer than normal. While we were sailing, one of the sail boats that is going to be competing in the America's Cup was there. It was the BMW Oracle and is a pretty unique sail boat. They claim due to the design and engineering features that it has it can go 30% faster with the same wind as other sail boats.

We sailed around for probably 4 hours and they pointed out different sights and we were listing so far to either side that water was coming onto the boat thru the deck drains. The captain said that we were doing about nine knots which is over 10 miles an hour. It seemed a lot faster than that. It was very relaxing and fun.

There were navy helicopters and planes flying all around and at one point a navy F-16 flew so close and banked away from us that we were deafened by the sonic boom it made. The crew of the boat was very friendly and we could ask them anything about the boat that we wanted. Whether what they said was true or not, who knows. They could of dazzled us with their brilliance or baffled us with their BS,

Every time they go into port after a cruise they fire the guns so we go a double dose of gunfire that day. There was a small boat going past us when they were going to fire the guns so they were yelling and waving at them to get out of the way. They use a tin foil ball of flour to simulate a ball and it makes more smoke when it fires.

It was real fun day. After sailing, we wandered the maritime museum. There is a Russian submarine and the USS Dolphine there. The ship that was used in the movie "Master and Commander" is there, and normally the "Star of India is there also but it is in dry dock having work done on it. It is even bigger that the California - it has over 20,000 square feet of sail and all the sails are square.

The museum is in an old ferry. There was a gentleman making a miniature sail boat from scratch...he was carving and fitting pieces and we interupted him to ask him questions. Every time we go on vacation to someplace unique we pick up a Christmas decoration to put on the tree. This time we got an ornament of the California sail boat.

That night we went to Old Town and had dinner at the Old Town Mexican Cafe where B and B went. We were impressed, just like B.

It was a fun day that we will never forget. Next time you are in San Diego, try to do the sailing thing.

WWDOOV (part 2)

Before I get started, let's take a moment and remember the victims of 9/11. The war on terrorism is still being waged and there isn't an end in sight. It's amazing how the senseless acts of a few can impact so many people.

Our first full day in San Diego and we decided to tackle the zoo. Thanks to the trusty GPS and lots of patience from M, we got there. It was a beautiful day (everybody says every day in San Diego is beautiful so I'm not mentioning anything that people don't already know.) The zoo is such a big place it was hard to decide where to go first but thanks to the map, we just headed off and went from one display to another. We got there bright and early so there wasn't much of a crowd (yet) and we didn't have to look around or thru people to see the animals. M says her favorite thing there was a furry brown bear that was having a fight a branch in his cage. It was in his way and he was trying to move it so he could get someplace else. He would push and pull at branches until they either broke off or stayed out of his way but at one point he thought he could get over the branch and he sort of got high centered and really had to struggle to free himself. Right next to him was a bear having a really bad hair day. He had to have a little OCD going on. He would go partially behind a wall in his place and rock from side to side for a while then come out and perform a little then go back and start over again with the rocking. We stood and watched him for probably 20 minutes and that is all he did - rock then come out and do something (doesn't take much to entertain us, does it?)

I think my favorite animal there was the hippopottamus (sp). He was right up at the front of his enclosure, leaning against the glass. The only time he moved was when he would surface for a breath then he would sink back down and sit there for at least 2 minutes. His ears were folded back to keep water out and every time he surfaced they would open and twitch then he would seal them up again as he submerged. What a life!!!!!!! Sleep, breath and eat.

We both liked the elephants and the great display that they live in.

We were there for over 6 hours and neither of us remembered a hat and M didn't pack sunscreen so we got a little bit fried but we had a great time. I've never been there before and I was really impressed but I did feel sorry for lots of the animals - they were all alone, didn't have any company in their cages. Maybe it is best that way, I don't know, but I sure wouldn't want to be alone for my entire life.

I learned something there though. I figure if I learn one thing a day, the day isn't a complete loss. I learned that flamingoes are pink because they eat shrimp. Don't know when I will ever need this little bit of knowledge, but it might come up in a converstation sometime. It could happen, stranger things have.

After our day at the zoo, we typed in "Ocean Beach" into the GPS, and we went there. Ocean Beach was ok, your typical beach with muscle-bound guys, girls in bikinies and bathing suits, kids running around and litter) so we just drove around and ended up at Sunset Cliffs. Now we both really liked this place. 50 feet from the road are cliffs that drop down to the ocean. There are houses on this road that have nothing between them and the ocean but the road and the cliffs. Great views, surfers out on the water, beautiful sunsets - what more could you ask for? Now, I ask you, would you get tired of this? Maybe not tired but you would take it for granted after a while. We found a little house that was for sale a couple blocks up from the beach, didn't have much of a view and if their neighbor burped, you would be able to hear him in your house, the houses are so close together. It was about 1500 square feet and it was over 1.5 mill. I guess what they say in the real estate market is right. Location, Location, Location.

Well, we stayed at Sunset Cliffs watching surfers and just enjoying the scenery then headed back to the big city of San Diego. We drove past the airport and the harbor and the maritime museum and decided to stop for dinner. We ended up at Anthony's (they claim to be the best seafood restaurant in San Diego - that is what their sign says). We weren't disappointed, either. M had scallops and I had fish tacos. The service was great. It felt like we had our own water boy - you couldn't take a drink without him being right there to refill your glass. The restaurant was over the water on pilings and had a harbor view so we were able to watch the sunset.

We wandered the pier and ended up talking to a lady in a booth about sailing on the "Californian" the next day. I don't remember what it cost us, but we got admission to the Maritime Museum that night and the next day and a 4 hour sailing trip (it was well worth every penny we paid). More about our sailing adventure, with pictures, another day

Well, by this time, we had about vacationed ourselves to death so we went back to the motel/suite and called it a day.

What We Did On Our Vacation

We went on vacation a little while ago and had a great time. We had exchanged a week we have in Park City for a week in San Diego so that is where we were. We left on a Saturday morning and drove to Las Vegas, where we spent the night at a Holiday Inn Express. We didn't actually stay in Vegas, we stayed in Henderson and we couldn't even tell we were close to Vegas - no flashing lights, no street venders trying to give you business cards for different "entertainment", no bumper to bumper traffic on the Boulevard, there wasn't a casino we had to walk thru to check in, no smokey atmosphere - it was great!!! \ We drove up to the temple and wandered around, had dinner at IHOP and just relaxed that night.

Next morning, after having a nice free breakfast at the motel, we headed to San Diego. The BH decided it was her turn to drive so I got to relax even more. She drove all the way to San Diego. There aren't many people who I feel comfortable riding with (I really like to drive no matter what), but I'm fine when she drives. We got to San Diego way before we were supposed to be able to check in. They said that there was a room available right then if I wanted to check it out. I was given a key to check out the room and they said that something nicer might be available after check-in time. Let me tell you, after seeing the room that was available originally, I was ready to turn around and drive home. It was about the size of a bathroom. There was a window but it looked out onto another wall!!!!!! I told them we would wait.

We drove around a little, then parked the car and wandered downtown San Diego till we could check into our room. We stayed at the Gaslamp Plaza Suites just a few blocks from Petco Stadium and a couple blocks from where Barbara says is her favorite place to stay when in San Diego (the Sophia.) Well, we went to our room and I was totally amazed at the difference between the first room and the one we were staying in. We could see the harbor from the wall of windows making up the west side of the room, there was an "office" area, a little mini kitchen with a fridge and microwave and some dishes, ample closet and storage space and the bathroom had a tub and shower. The BH was glad it had a tub since we don't have one in our house and she likes to soak. It was VERY nice and we both agreed that we would stay there again. There is valet parking, so we didn't even have to worry about the car being secure. Well, we got settled and then decided to wander some more.

We were only 2 blocks from the Horton Mall and that is where we ended up. We did a little window shopping and ate dinner there. We went back to our room and decided to see if we could find places of interest in the area. We were told that we could walk to Balboa Park and the zoo from there (it was only about a mile away). We drove there though and decided that we would do the zoo the next day. Well, we went back to our room and relaxed and planned the rest of the week then turned in for the night.

Just a little history - last Christmas, the BH gave me a GPS and we hadn't really used it to guide us to various places so we tried it on our vacation. We had map-quested directions to San Diego and the motel so we had printed instructions on how to get there and we also used the GPS. The GPS worked perfectly. We didn't use the printed instructions at all!!!! It gave us warnings several miles ahead of time so we knew when we needed to get in the appropriate lane to exit or when to stay left or right and then even said "after x number of yards, turn left or right - you have reached your destination." I only got lost once and that was when I attempted to go someplace without using the GPS since we had driven there the night before. I didn't follow the BH's directions and we ended up going in circles for a little while till she got me straightened out. I'm a man and you all know that men don't or won't ever ask for help in getting someplace.

Well, enough for one day.....stay tuned for another installment, possibly coming as soon as tomorrow!

Ten Years and Still Going Strong

It was our anniversary last Wednesday and I have to tell you - it has been the best 10 years of my life!!!!!!!! We went to our timeshare in Midway for a getaway from lessons, work, kids, and whatever else takes you away from each other. The timeshare sits right on the second tee of one of the golf courses in Midway and is neighbors to Zermatt resort. There are hot pots around the area and the Homestead Resort is just down the road.

We had dinner at one of our favorite Mexican restaurants (Don Pedro's) in Heber then drove up Daniel's Canyon to Strawberry reservoir just to enjoy the scenery. On our way back to Midway, we drove thru Lodgepole Campground and decided that we need to go camping there soon. We attempted to watch a video when we got back and had to have maintenance come and show us how to get the TV to work with the DVD player - I guess we are technically challenged!

The next morning, prior to heading to Park City to wander the factory stores, we exchanged presents. My wonderful BH gave me a new DVD player - our old one would stop working toward the end of any moview. We had tried to clean the heads on it but that didn't help and I had mentioned that we ought to buy us a new one. (A little sidebar to the story - we were even able to hook the new DVD player up when we got home without having to call any of the kids to talk us thru how to do it!!!!!) I was real happy with my present!!!!!

The BH was real nervous about her present because her DD already knew what I was giving her and had called her several times wanting to know if she had gotten it yet and that she was to call her as soon as she did get it. Well, most of you who know me, know that I like to wrap presents and sometimes I go overboard when I wrap things. Well, I went overboard with her present. I wrapped the box, put it inside a bigger box and wrapped that and then put that in an even bigger box.

When it was all said and done, she had a new diamond ring to wear. We have had matching rings that we got in Mexico and she had a ring that I gave her when we got married but it was gold (she doesn't like gold and I didn't know that) and it wasn't a real diamond.

Well, this is real and the bands around it have 10 diamond chips on them, one for each year that we have been married.

We had a great day together and we stopped on our way home and had some Greek food at a place we like in Salt Lake.

I Love You Babe and here's to the next 10 years together!!!!!!!