It is time to schedule my wellness visit for 2026 and I’m afraid to mention anything … although in my case it has more to do with having to make another appointment or additional billing by my PCP. If not that, I’m sure he’ll request additional labs or refer me to a specialist!$$$
Doctor: “Your LDL is still high. I’m adding a second statin.”
Patient: “I’m already on one. My legs ache.”
Doctor: “That’s a known side effect. I’ll add CoQ10.”
Patient: “And I’m tired all the time.”
Doctor: “Fatigue is common. I’ll add modafinil.”
Patient: “My memory is foggy.”
Doctor: “Cognitive effects can occur. Donepezil should help.”
Patient: “I have a cough now.”
Doctor: “That’ll be the ACE inhibitor I prescribed last visit.
We’ll swap it for an ARB.”
Patient: “I’m not sleeping.”
Doctor: “Zopiclone.”
Patient: “Heard that’s addictive.”
Doctor: “We’ll taper you with mirtazapine when the time comes.”
Patient: “My blood sugar has gone up.”
Doctor: “Statins can do that. Metformin.”
Patient: “I get diarrhoea on metformin.”
Doctor: “Loperamide.”
Patient: “I’ve gained weight.”
Doctor: “Ozempic.”
Patient: “I feel nauseous.”
Doctor: “Ondansetron.”
Patient: “I don’t want to be on twelve medications.”
Doctor: “Anxiety is common at this stage. I’ll add sertraline.”
Patient: “What if I just stopped the statin?”
Doctor: “Absolutely not.”
Our 2019 Tesla Model 3 SR+ is not really the best vehicle for road trips, but eventually we’ll learn feel comfortable stretching its limited range (realistically we’re currently only comfortable in calculating about 120 miles between stops). That said, the EV works well for our 380 mile round trip to Katelyn and Drew’s house in Whitehouse, Ohio with an 85% charge on both ends … and a 30 minute stop both ways in Lima, Ohio.
Original EPA Rating: The 2019 SR+ was rated at 240 miles of combined range.
Real-World Expectations: Due to battery degradation (typically 8–15% by 2026) and driving conditions, actual range often falls between 190 and 210 miles on a full charge.
Highway Driving: At steady speeds of 70 mph in mild weather, real-world range typically drops to 170–190 miles.
Winter Driving: In cold conditions, range can decrease by 30–40%, resulting in approximately 120–150 miles on the highway.
The financial part of owning and driving an EV is also making far more sense than originally thought, at least by me. Since we normally drive my BMW X5 35d “diesel” on most road trips, which achieves about 22-24 mpg, the $100 trip price (diesel currently at $5-6/gal) is significantly more than in years past. This means charging the Tesla while using the actual variables from our last trip to Toledo saved us about $60. The total estimated cost of electricity to charge at our home, at Katelyn and Drew’s and at a DC Fast-charger is about $40 (although electricity costs are going up, so as they say, “your mileage may vary” or the YMMV acronym for the idiom – also see my EV Cost Calculator for another one of my coding attempts). 😉
There are FOUR“happies” in front of “birthday” because Katelyn is now 40 … although it is hard to believe she is FORTY years young (Hm, I think “happies” is the plural for “happy?”)
Drew took her (and the girls) to Chicago to “Stars on Ice” for her birthday weekend. Across from their hotel happened to be the American Academy of Pediatrics — who knew! It looked like a very nice place to stay and I know the girls enjoyed the pool … and the great weather to visit the city.
The photos of the skating looked amazing as well and I detected a little “wish I were there” in our families group text thread from Megan. 😉
We always have mourning doves (basically suburban pigeons, in my opinion) nesting around our house and sitting almost every evening on our roof, but not all that many geese do the same. This year it is not only on the roof, but on the chimney cap.
An apology is required as I may have been premature and somewhat defensive in voicing my frustration last week over my unrequested commentary submission to TheHustings. The editors instead decided to request a left-counter and add their center-column two cents in order to make it a weekend subject — well done.
So if you’re into a place for “civil media” discussion, perhaps give their website a look … or better yet … submit a comment?
Gimme Shelter is the opening track from The Rolling Stones’ 1969 album Let It Bleed, written by Mick Jagger and Keith Richards. The song, known for its intense, apocalyptic tone, reflects the turbulent era of the late 1960s—marked by war, social unrest, and political violence. Its iconic guitar riff was inspired by Keith Richards seeing people scrambling for shelter during a sudden London storm. The track features powerful, haunting vocals by session singer Merry Clayton, whose performance—recorded in a single take while she was pregnant—became legendary. She famously screams, “Rape, murder! It’s just a shot away!” before the song’s chilling conclusion.
Although I’ve done some dirty jobs in my lifetime (collecting the dead carp around ponds at a commercial fishery comes to mind) … the recycling of deep cycle batteries as is demonstrated in this video in Pakistan would not be a favorite. Do you think there are there any particular health concerns???
young (Hm, I think “happies” is the plural for “happy?”)
