Hello everybody,

I just received sad news: one of my very nice neighbors, a 40-something man with stage 4 prostate cancer, died alone in his apartment last week while I was in the hospital. We'd talked a few times checking our postal mail at the community mailboxes. I cannot recall his name now but he was a well-dressed, well-groomed man that had a chemo pump installed on him much like an insulin pump).

That news reminded me of my own mortality and how after two heart attacks, two pulmonary embolisms, and a deep vein thrombosis, the law of probability isn't on my side anymore.

-- Sean

... Logic is an organized way of going wrong with confidence.
--- GoldED+/LNX 1.1.5-b20240209
* Origin: Outpost BBS * Johnson City, TN (618:618/1)

Hello Sean!

28 Mar 25 18:39, you wrote to all:

I just received sad news: one of my very nice neighbors, a
40-something man with stage 4 prostate cancer, died alone in his
apartment last week while I was in the hospital. We'd talked a few
times checking our postal mail at the community mailboxes. I cannot
recall his name now but he was a well-dressed, well-groomed man that
had a chemo pump installed on him much like an insulin pump).

That news reminded me of my own mortality and how after two heart
attacks, two pulmonary embolisms, and a deep vein thrombosis, the law
of probability isn't on my side anymore.

My mom had a heart attach recently and it reminded me that I am also a survivor. It was a scary time for us. But she is going strong at 86 :)

TheCivvie


... TCOB1: https://binkd.rima.ie telnet: binkd.rima.ie
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* Origin: <-Sean's Pointless Point-> (618:500/1.1)

I just received sad news: one of my very nice neighbors, a 40-something man with stage 4 prostate cancer, died alone in his apartment last week while I was in the hospital. We'd talked a few times checking our postal mail at the community mailboxes. I cannot recall his name now but he was a well-dressed, well-groomed man that had a chemo pump installed on him much like an insulin pump).

Ouch, that is young!


* SLMR 2.1a * Southern Serves the South
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Sean Dennis wrote to All <=-

That news reminded me of my own mortality and how after two heart
attacks, two pulmonary embolisms, and a deep vein thrombosis, the law
of probability isn't on my side anymore.

Sorry to hear this, I know what you mean. I dated a woman in college and
we remained friends, occasionally running into each other, sharing jokes
on Facebook, and meeting up every so often. We shared a similar sense of
humor, I knew if no one else would get she joke or reference, she would.
I pinged her on Facebook to get lunch on her birthday and found out
she'd passed away alone in her house the month before. No signs of foul
play, no signs of self-harm - just passed away at 55.

My daughter is increasingly worried because my wife and I are older than
all of her friend's parents. It's especially worrying to look forward to
how old we'll be when we likely pass away, then factor in how old our
kids will be. Not old enough.

My 15 year old is looking at how much effort we put into supporting my
mother, who we put into a memory care facility - and thinking she'll be
in mid career when we'll be needing more help.

That's a level of shit a teenaged kid shouldn't have to deal with.

Time to get healthier. My wife went on Ozempic and lost 30 pounds, wants
to lose another 30 by the time she turns 60 this year. I'd better get on
it or we'll be like those TV sitcoms with the overweight funny dad and
the hot wife... :)










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Hello Kurt!

29 Mar 25 10:56, you wrote to me:

she would. I pinged her on Facebook to get lunch on her birthday and
found out she'd passed away alone in her house the month before. No
signs of foul play, no signs of self-harm - just passed away at 55.

I'm sorry to hear that. I have a fear of just dropping dead by myself. I hope that doesn't happen to me.

My daughter is increasingly worried because my wife and I are older
than all of her friend's parents. It's especially worrying to look
forward to how old we'll be when we likely pass away, then factor in
how old our kids will be. Not old enough.

I haf a friend who was 21 and his dad was 83. That was 30+ years ago now.

Time to get healthier. My wife went on Ozempic and lost 30 pounds,
wants to lose another 30 by the time she turns 60 this year. I'd
better get on it or we'll be like those TV sitcoms with the overweight funny dad and the hot wife... :)

I took a GLP-1 suppressant and it permanently damaged my stomach (partial paralysis). Be careful.

Just get rid of processed foods and seed oils as much as possible. My mom, at 73, did that and started eating more meats, veggies, and healthy stuff and lost 60 pounds in four months. If she can do it, I can too.

Side note: I didn't think you were much older than me. I'm 52. I think that mostof us in Micronet are in the same general age group (give or take 5-10 years). I know that's a broad assumption but I've known most of you for several decades now.

-- Sean

... "In suggesting gifts: money is appropriate and one size fits all." - Hearst
--- GoldED+/LNX 1.1.5-b20240209
* Origin: Outpost BBS * Johnson City, TN (618:618/1)

Hello Sean!

** On Saturday 29.03.25 - 15:39, Sean Dennis wrote to Kurt Weiske:

Just get rid of processed foods and seed oils as much as
possible. My mom, at 73, did that and started eating more
meats, veggies, and healthy stuff and lost 60 pounds in
four months. If she can do it, I can too.

Elimination of processed foods, and reduced portion sizes (aka
calories) is the key. I've gained a few pounds over winter
(going back for too many 2nds), but I am not interested in
getting heavier. This isn't my first weight loss rodeo either.
Had excellent results the first time years ago when I
gravitated towards a primarily plant-based eating plan and just
occassional chicken.

Side note: I didn't think you were much older than me.
I'm 52. I think that mostof us in Micronet are in the
same general age group (give or take 5-10 years). I know
that's a broad assumption but I've known most of you for
several decades now.

I'm a tad outside that age range. Sad to hear younger people
here have many more health issues than I do.

--
../|ug

--- OpenXP 5.0.64
* Origin: (} Pointy McPointface (618:250/1.9)

Sean Dennis wrote to Kurt Weiske <=-

I took a GLP-1 suppressant and it permanently damaged my stomach
(partial paralysis). Be careful.

Yeah, they frighten me.

Just get rid of processed foods and seed oils as much as possible. My mom, at 73, did that and started eating more meats, veggies, and
healthy stuff and lost 60 pounds in four months. If she can do it, I
can too.

I can do it, my problem is discipline. I'm a stress/comfort eater. I've
shown good results in the past, it's just sticking with them.

Side note: I didn't think you were much older than me. I'm 52. I
think that mostof us in Micronet are in the same general age group
(give or take 5-10 years). I know that's a broad assumption but I've known most of you for several decades now.

59 here, my wife and I turn 60 this fall.

-- Sean

... "In suggesting gifts: money is appropriate and one size fits all."
- Hearst
--- GoldED+/LNX 1.1.5-b20240209
* Origin: Outpost BBS * Johnson City, TN (618:618/1)

--- MultiMail/Win v0.52
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Hello Kurt Weiske!

** On Monday 31.03.25 - 06:47, Kurt Weiske wrote to Sean Dennis:

I can do it, my problem is discipline. I'm a stress/comfort eater. I've
shown good results in the past, it's just sticking with them.

Try drinking more water *first* when the desire to eat arises.
Then deliberately pause for a while. You may even find the
compulsion to eat go away.

--
../|ug

--- OpenXP 5.0.64
* Origin: (} Pointy McPointface (618:250/1.9)

Kurt Weiske wrote to Sean Dennis <=-

Yeah, they frighten me.

Yet Big Pharma continues to pimpthose drugs as if there's nothing wrong.

Just get rid of processed foods and seed oils as much as possible. My mom, at 73, did that and started eating more meats, veggies, and
healthy stuff and lost 60 pounds in four months. If she can do it, I
can too.

I can do it, my problem is discipline. I'm a stress/comfort eater.
I've shown good results in the past, it's just sticking with them.

Same here. My issues are I eat when I'm depressed, I have little
physical activity, and I am still struggling with my dentures. I
gained 40 pounds last year and it's to the point now that the SI
joints in my lower back are severely inflamed. I eat off-schedule
and that throws my diabetes into a tizzy.

59 here, my wife and I turn 60 this fall.

My mom told me at 21 that time would start going faster and she
wasn't kidding. I still "see" myself as 18 but my body keeps
reminding me of my reality. XD

-- Sean

... If you try to fail and succeeded, what have you done?
--- MultiMail/Win
* Origin: Outpost BBS * Johnson City, TN (618:618/1)

August Abolins wrote to Kurt Weiske <=-

Try drinking more water *first* when the desire to eat arises.
Then deliberately pause for a while. You may even find the
compulsion to eat go away.

I am trying intermittent fasting. It seems to help. The main problem is that I have
no schedule so I am trying to force myself to get up at 8 AM and get to bed before
midnight.

Doing that and eating better helps. I love my Instant Pot forcooking chicken.
Turns
it into a soft but not mushy food. Easier to eat. My dentures are proving to be very
difficult for me to deal with.

-- Sean

... "Does anyone REALLY read these stupid quotes?" - the SysOp
--- MultiMail/Win
* Origin: Outpost BBS * Johnson City, TN (618:618/1)

Time to get healthier. My wife went on Ozempic and lost 30 pounds, wants

>to lose another 30 by the time she turns 60 this year. I'd better get on
>it or we'll be like those TV sitcoms with the overweight funny dad and
>the hot wife... :)

I'm a big fan of keeping yourself in shape without being a fanatic
about it. I grew up eating healthy foods but not avoiding much.
Be sensible rather than restrictive. Eat less of things that you
know are not as healthy for you. Moderation in all things.

I also have a more physical lifestyle than 99% of the people so
exercize is always a good thing too.

Don't use a scale to measure your body fat.. use a mirror..
Muscle weighs more than fat.

Both my parents lived into their 90's but had brothers and sisters
who died 30 or 40 years younger due to 'lifestyle', so I do think
it makes a big difference.

My doctor tells me that I would be considered to be in excellent
health - for someone 20 years younger than I am. (70)
---
* SLMR Rob * Live fast, die young and leave a good looking corpse
* Origin: capitolcityonline.net * Telnet/SSH:2022/HTTP (618:250/1)

Elimination of processed foods, and reduced portion sizes (aka

>calories) is the key. I've gained a few pounds over winter
>(going back for too many 2nds), but I am not interested in
>getting heavier. This isn't my first weight loss rodeo either.
>Had excellent results the first time years ago when I
>gravitated towards a primarily plant-based eating plan and just
>occassional chicken.

I think the biggest problem a lot of people have is not serving
an exact amount of food for a meal.. no seconds allowed!

When I was spending winters with my mother, she tended to feed
me more than I serve myself at home so I'd gain as much as about
10 pounds over the winter, but then I'd lose it again once I was
back at my place, more active in summer and controling my own food.

BTW.. that extra 10 lbs still put me way down near the lower limit
of the recomended BMI numbers for my age and height. Most of the
time I am probably slightly below the minimum but those numbers
are just a guide anyways. As I mentioned, the best way to tell if
you need to lose weight or not is a mirror, not a scale. If you
have very much loose fat then you maybe should lose a little of it.
---
* SLMR Rob * ############# <------ Scratch off to reveal your prize
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Rob Mccart wrote to KURT WEISKE <=-

My doctor tells me that I would be considered to be in excellent
health - for someone 20 years younger than I am. (70)

Way to go!

I'm going to be retiring in the somewhat near future, want to be able to
enjoy my retirement without self-inflicted health issues hampering that
time.



... AVOID GIMBLE LOCK.
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Rob Mccart wrote to KURT WEISKE <=-

I'm a big fan of keeping yourself in shape without being a fanatic
about it. I grew up eating healthy foods but not avoiding much.
Be sensible rather than restrictive. Eat less of things that you
know are not as healthy for you. Moderation in all things.

I couldn't agree more.

Don't use a scale to measure your body fat.. use a mirror..
Muscle weighs more than fat.

Yep! Learned that in the Army, believe it or not.

It's been said that the BMI scale is inaccurate: https://www.bodyvolume.com/post/why-bmi-is-outdated-and-inaccurate

My doctor tells me that I would be considered to be in excellent
health - for someone 20 years younger than I am. (70)

I'm trying to turn my health around so I can get to 70...

-- Sean


... Gravity doesn't exist...the earth sucks.
--- MultiMail/Win
* Origin: Outpost BBS * Johnson City, TN (618:618/1)

Way to go!

I'm going to be retiring in the somewhat near future, want to be able to enjoy my retirement without self-inflicted health issues hampering that
time.

That is what I did a couple of years ago. I am still working part-time
and, overall, I am happy with the decision.

Mike


* SLMR 2.1a * I open a door to an empty room...then I forget...
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I'm going to be retiring in the somewhat near future, want to be able to

>enjoy my retirement without self-inflicted health issues hampering that
>time.

Yes, a lot of people wait until they are too old and in bad shape to
retire and basically end up having worked their whole life just to
leave money to their family, if they managed to accumulate some.

I haven't worked for anyone else since I was 32. I planned to retire
fairly comfortably by age 55 but things happen. I quit a job I'd had
for 6 years expecting to work for the competition after an offer of
pay 50% higher than I was currently getting.. Long story short, I
had some time off between jobs and found I could make enough money
from investing to live on, so I figured I'd wait a while to go back
to full time work.. I never did.. I did some part time self employed
work and made enough that I could let my investments grow without
touching most of it.

It was a simple (cheap?) life but I liked it for the most part..
---
* SLMR Rob * Love is grand... Divorce is twenty grand...
* Origin: capitolcityonline.net * Telnet/SSH:2022/HTTP (618:250/1)

Don't use a scale to measure your body fat.. use a mirror..
Muscle weighs more than fat.

Yep! Learned that in the Army, believe it or not.

That makes sense.. Different life there..

It's been said that the BMI scale is inaccurate:

They argue back and forth about that. I've seen the numbers be
obviously wrong for many people when you actually see them,
and it seems in recent years they have adjusted the allowed weight
higher, probably so not to insult all those overweight people..

I'm reminded of one old girlfriend who weighed about 165 lbs..
That sounds like a lot for a woman but no one would ever guess
her weight was that high and no one would ever say she looked
overweight. She was actually from the Netherlands and she used
to joke about her weight going up and down a bit and laughed
that it always drove her girlfriends nuts because the first
place she would gain weight was on her chest.. B)

My doctor tells me that I would be considered to be in excellent
health - for someone 20 years younger than I am. (70)

I'm trying to turn my health around so I can get to 70...

Good luck with that.. keep working on staying your healthiest self.
Plus, the better shape you are in, the more fun things you can do
all the time and especially as you get older..

And there are no guarantees.. Theoretically I should make it well
into my 90's but some health problems can hit healthy people and
cut their time short, so all I can do is try to stay my best self.

---
* SLMR Rob * Be more specific. How many cards AM I playing with?
* Origin: capitolcityonline.net * Telnet/SSH:2022/HTTP (618:250/1)

Hello Rob!

** On Thursday 03.04.25 - 00:28, Rob Mccart wrote to KURT WEISKE:

I'm going to be retiring in the somewhat near future, want to be able to

enjoy my retirement without self-inflicted health issues hampering that
time.

Yes, a lot of people wait until they are too old and in bad shape to retire and basically end up having worked their whole life just to
leave money to their family, if they managed to accumulate some.

I haven't worked for anyone else since I was 32. I planned to retire fairly comfortably by age 55 but things happen. I quit a job I'd had
for 6 years expecting to work for the competition after an offer of
pay 50% higher than I was currently getting.. Long story short, I
had some time off between jobs and found I could make enough money
from investing to live on, so I figured I'd wait a while to go back
to full time work.. I never did.. I did some part time self employed
work and made enough that I could let my investments grow without
touching most of it.

This guy almost sounds like he's using your approach. But he
seems to have more money to work with than several of us put
together:

https://archive.ph/5a9Kv

This is what this guy is working with:

The Person: Preston, 39.

The Problem: Is he saving too much or too little to retire at age 58?

The Plan: Keep saving. Consider paying off his mortgage before
he retires and deferring government benefits. Update his
forecast as he nears retirement age.

The Payoff: A look at the alternatives that might be available
to him when he retires two decades from now.

Monthly net income: $10,440 ($7,275 from salary plus $3,165 on
average from self-employment).

Assets: Bank account $17,800; TFSA $92,185; RRSP $282,600;
residence $586,000. Total: $978,585.

Monthly outlays: Mortgage $2,205; condo fees $400; property tax
$260; water, sewer and garbage $85; home insurance $75;
electricity $70; heating $165; transportation $240; groceries
$350; clothing $50; dining, drinks and entertainment $600;
subscriptions $30; phones, TV and internet $125; RRSP $2,400;
TFSA $585; pension plan contribution $760. Total: $8,400.
Surplus goes to discretionary spending, including travel, and
saving.

Liabilities: Mortgage of $368,600 at 5.14 per cent.
--
../|ug

--- OpenXP 5.0.64
* Origin: (} Pointy McPointface (618:250/1.9)

Hello August!

I haven't worked for anyone else since I was 32. I planned to retire
fairly comfortably by age 55 but things happen.

This guy almost sounds like he's using your approach. But he

>seems to have more money to work with than several of us put
>together:

It's funny, it didn't feel like it at the time but putting my
wages back then into today's money, I was doing fairly well.
The job I left would be about $66,000 a year now and the job
I was offered later was 50% higher, and I had already bought a
just built premium quality 3 bedroom house and was driving a new
Thunderbird and had my cottage and a fairly new motorcycle, so I
was doing okay. My mistake was taking a break from work and seeing
I could maybe get by without the hassles of working for others.

https://archive.ph/5a9Kv

This is what this guy is working with:

The Person: Preston, 39.

The Problem: Is he saving too much or too little to retire at age 58?

The Plan: Keep saving. Consider paying off his mortgage before

>he retires and deferring government benefits. Update his
>forecast as he nears retirement age.

That's tricky.. Many would suggest paying off the mortgage but I
never did that because I could usually make higher interest on my
investments than I was paying on the mortgage, and you can always
use investment money to pay the bills if you lose your job but a
house that's paid off still costs money to keep going..

The Payoff: A look at the alternatives that might be available

>to him when he retires two decades from now.

Monthly net income: $10,440 ($7,275 from salary plus $3,165 on

>average from self-employment).

Assets: Bank account $17,800; TFSA $92,185; RRSP $282,600;

>residence $586,000. Total: $978,585.

He's obviously doing fairly well and the protected money is
available in a pinch (TFSA and RRSP). Unless he just recently
started with a TFSA, I'm surprised he doesn't have more in
that. I much prefer that to RRSP since you pay tax later when
you take money from the RRSP and you are forced to take it at
a certain age whether you want to or not. The Tax Free Savings
Account, you can do whatever you want with it, and any money you
pull from it in a bad year, you can put back later. That's why
I have about double that amount in mine, although much of that
is accrued interest which is why someone new to a TFSA may not
have as much in it. I believe the total you can deposit there
at the moment is $102,000 so about half of mine is money that
just grew in there.. tax free forever..

Monthly outlays: Mortgage $2,205; condo fees $400; property tax

>$260; water, sewer and garbage $85; home insurance $75;
>electricity $70; heating $165; transportation $240; groceries
>$350; clothing $50; dining, drinks and entertainment $600;
>subscriptions $30; phones, TV and internet $125; RRSP $2,400;
>TFSA $585; pension plan contribution $760. Total: $8,400.
>Surplus goes to discretionary spending, including travel, and
>saving.

That reminds me of the old joke, Most of my money goes to booze
and hookers and, whatever is left over, I spend foolishly.. B)

Liabilities: Mortgage of $368,600 at 5.14 per cent.

He's doing well, but that outlay is quite high. Some of it is
well spent and some of it I would consider splurge. The trick to
retiring early is becomeing incredibly wealthy early or finding
ways to keep your expenses low. For years I had bankers telling
me I didn't have enough money to do what I was doing, but I have
managed it for the past 38 years. Obviously it became much easier
once I got old enough to get my full gov't pension.

That's not to say that many would have chosen/been content to
live the way I lived though.. Most friends thought I was nuts.. B)

---
* SLMR Rob * Gross Ignorance: 144 times worse than Standard Ignorance.
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