Notes to Self

Some people reflect on their goals and values and visions for their respective lives at the end of the year, translating any perceived discrepancies between actual and authentic narratives into "resolutions."

Not me, man. I tend to do these kinds of reflections when I am on vacation, regardless of time of year, such as this fortnight of vacation I am currently experiencing in New Zealand and Australia. My reflections primarily tend to revolve around diet and exercise, because these two domains (and correlates of mental, physical, and spiritual well being) are ones that are sometimes difficult to optimize whilst on vacation. I am currently (in Brisbane AUS) craving a healthy salad or grain bowl, for which there seems to be a dearth in this locale. The Aussies generally adhere to a Western style diet that is, in some ways, sh!ttier than the Standard American Diet, with lots of fat, refined carbs, meat, and salt. We've been getting by thus far on this trip finding vegan options, but I am eager to get back to my healthy routine when we return to Madison WI next week.

My plan is to drink more smoothies for breakfast, like Deborah does. I also want to eat lots of salads and meal prep healthy batches of chili, curry, and "dish" (my word for concoctions of my creation that don't fit easily into typical recipe descriptions). I plan to prep and freeze some vegan burritos and eat more fruit as well.

I am eager to get back into my regular aerobic exercise routine too, intentionally directed at disenfranchising the Diabolical Forces in the Universe. In the colder winter months, this typically comprises Peloton exercise bike workouts.

The End.

I Get It

Having recently dealt with a family medical emergency, I can say with a high degree of confidence that I understand why some people commit violence against the upper managers at private health insurance companies. I don't condone it, but I totally get the frustration and emotion behind it. It's potent, when these powerful people f**k with powerless people's health and lives, and there is no legal recourse or remedy for their terrible and sociopathic behavior. Most people do not like injustice. Some people don't let injustice go unpunished. I hope the upper echelons of management at the big amoral health insurance companies understand that they now have one of the world's most dangerous jobs.

Have a great day!

Bardy CAM

For a dumb reason that is beyond the scope of this post, I have to wear a Bardy CAM for two weeks. A Bardy CAM is a wearable heart monitor. It is adhered to the middle of the chest over the sternum, with adhesive, and it is supposed to be worn for two weeks. However, this device is not functionally designed for a person/patient like me. I think it is probably best suited to a sedentary patient with heart disease, which is about as far from a description of me as it is possible to be, although the Bardy CAM's purpose is to rule in/out heart diseases of various kinds. It's adherence to my chest is dependent on me not sweating too much and keeping it protected from water while showering. But, I exercise aerobically every day and I cannot go for two weeks or even two days without exercise...and therefore sweat.

Suffice to say, the Bardy CAM adhered to my chest for all of about 3.5 days before my activity level exhausted its ability to remain adhered to my chest. I was able to gerry-rig it in place using some medical Tegaderm patches (often used to keep IVs in place for long periods of time in hospitals) that my wife Deborah (who is a nurse) got from work. It's doing the job for now, but I am highly skeptical that this thing is going to stay on me for another week and a half, despite the Tegaderm. We'll see.

Ciao!