and the worm turns again

Just when I was feeling good about things going better, the fates heard me and did a revision.

Phil's dad was found unconscious on his living room. The police and the EMR broke into his house after his caregiver and a neighbor were unable to get any response by telephone or knocking.

He has been struggling with shingles on and off , and trying to balance steroids for the shingles, his insulin for diabetes, and several other medications, and apparently his blood sugar bottomed suddenly to 41. They gave him some insulin, he roused and was oriented and knew why they were taking him to the hospital etc.

We have spoken to him and he is feeling better, his blood sugar levels are normalizing, and he is now making arrangements to have someone be with him on weekends, as well as his daytime assistant for four hours a day. It has also finally pushed him into admitting that he really needs to be in an assisted living situation, preferably near us.

While I admire his independence and his insistence on living alone although blind from macular degeneration, struggles with shingles and diabetes and some ongoing heart problems, I have been terribly afraid that something like this might happen without him being found.

So we'll see. He needs to put his house on the market, but I have been doing some research around here and found several places that might suit him, each of which would allow him to keep his beloved Beau dog, but would also give him a safe environment, and most importantly, contact with other people more than with his comfort keeper, Gayla, for four hours a day. Because, frankly, we are talking quality of time rather than length of time, although I hope he lasts a good long time, it really is time to consider end of life issues.

I had another good ride today, but I didn't want to push it because I also had a workout with Taylor, the trainer, this afternoon. Since I didn't make it to either workout last week, or manage to get in to the gym on my own or ride, I am feeling stiff, old, crotchety and out of shape.

The weather continues coolish, although the temp is gradually climbing upwards, at least the humidity is staying low. It is so refreshing that although I am still sweaty, at least it feels cooler when I start riding again instead of feeling like I am just plunging through a waterfall of warm spit.

The only other thing of note is that I rode past a lot of the prison farm fields today. The last time I went by there, before the hurricane, the cotton was all ready to harvest, with evey plant loaded with bolls. After the hurricane, nothing is left but brown and dying stalks which were being plowed under.

I have learned an interesting factoid. Martha Stewart is actually from Sugar Land, Texas. In a warped and bizarre sort of way, this goes a long way to explaining both Sugar Land and Martha Stewart.

Todays stats
35 miles
2 hours 11 minutes
16.1 mph