NEW DIAGNOSIS

MADISON, ALABAMA

8/10/25

It was a very interesting day today.  Mentions of my mental state brought in a lot of discussion.  For the moment it is thought (no doctor yet) but medical support folks were in on the discussions. The general consensus was that the OFM is in an early stage of  Dementia. This is the first time anyone has mentioned that illness.  The OFM went right to work learning what it means etc. Turns out he could not quite get a hand on all of it but he learned a lot about it. Yep it is serious. My doctor appointment is still over a month away. Just thought I would let everyone know about this surprise and then continue my style of living until a real doc gets a hold on it. Ya'll have fun. I intend to.

ART SHOW

 MADISON, ALABAMA

8/9/2025

Howdy from HOT north Alabama.  Well we only had one event worth reporting today.  The OFM hangs latest art efforts on the hall side of his door to give everyone a good laugh as they walk by.  Today the recreation director of this place stopped and looked at the coloring hanging on the door and the rest of the efforts in a ring binder I keep in my desk.

She decided she wants to have a public showing of some of my "art" for the folks in this operation and anybody else that walks in a good laugh. So now it looks like the OFM will become infamous all over the building soon.  I am already in-famous for all the walking I get out and do every day while they all tell their doctors all sorts of excuses for sitting in their room watching TV all day and night. So lean back and relax. I think the OFM has all the bad luck tucked in his closet for now. Good night.

NEW WALKING AREA

Madison, Alabama

8/8/2025

Well we had a great day in the dining room today.  The cooks outdid themselves on all three meals. The OFM ate a full plateful at each sitting. They really have their act together on the cole slaw. It is scrumptious. Then in midafternoon they had what they called Farmers Market put on by staff and volunteers. Lots of different fruits were available. The OFM had a large cup or watermelon, grapes. and three more good fruits for the afternoon snack. OINK 0INK. 

For good measure the OFM got clearance to use the back yard for walking. It is the area about a hundred feet wide by the long length of the facility  with a mowed deep swale down the middle. It is a mown maintained area where the OFM can walk in slightly rougher terrain with sloped areas to add exercise to the walking. It worked out perfect .  That adds to the concrete walkway around the building that we use now.  Wet or dry we have a good walking surface now.

That is it for tonight. Have some fun whever you are.

WALKING AND FLYING

MADISON, ALABAMA

8/7/2025

Things are going fairly well. I have been using my walking cane outside when walking and utilizing rougher ground to give me more challenging get along.  Today I discussed moving my walking over onto the the sloped grassy area that has some very moderate unevenness to it. He looked it over and agreed I am ready for it if I keep the walking stick at the ready. I agreed with him that I still can use the stick now and then since I still flop a bit now and then. So we have another small bit of progress.

The dental check up went well yesterday. The dentist gave me an A on my tooth care but an A+ needs a few changes that I and my daughter in law are making to my teeth cleaning equipment. A report on my opinion about it all will be in about three months of now or when I think something is worth mentioning..

A neat event happened this morning. While walking, one of those four winged insects with the  long round body we called mosquito catcher back in my childhood days flew next to my side burn area for a couple of minutes. I could actually feel the breeze from its wings on my ears. That was a neat experience.

I do not know why for sure but now days I bruise very easily. Yesterday my right fore arm ended up with several long mild bruises on it. Old age maybe? The two physical therapists working with me these days are really making a big difference (improvements) in my getting around but I do my homework each day.

Internet is very iffy around this place so do not worry if I miss a day or two of blogging.  It is likely my short term memory or the internet as the trouble.

Have some fun and get outside while you still can.

The OFM.

REALITY REPORT

MADISON, ALABAMA

8/4/2025

OK folks I will continue in a sort of way as well as my mind allows. Here is my status. It took three sordid months of misadventures to get to this status.  The short story of this situation started in mid May while on my way to my usual summer time visit.  I got parked at the usual state park in the usual camp sight with no trouble.  I went for the usual walk after set up.  Then the troubles hit. I got slapped with total dis- orientation of where or why I was at wherever I was. I attempted to  flag down a vehicle to get the rangers to find me and help. And then I passed out in the road.  About a week or so later I awoke in a jail place in east Texas.  Angels from Alabama came all the way from Huntsville Alabama to get me and the rig.  It was my sons fantastic wife's parents. The short story is I had no idea what was going on but I knew they were good folks helping me. A few days later were here in the Madison area and the OFM was still totally out of it about what is happening. The wonderful angels here took great care of me while I was pretty much out of it for a few weeks. The Castle and the truck were sold and the OFM well taken care of in spite of his out of it state of being. To the current status now.

I am in an assisted living location in mid Madison and slowly regaining some of my senses. The situation is safe and comfortable. I am slowly regaining some of my memory loss but it is slow going. The food is decent and living is comfortable and safe. At times there is no coherent thoughts in my head and in the good times I can tell that I will never get all my senses back completely. But I will be trying to let every one experience this life situation through me as suggested by one of my longer term readers.

The situation is decent and comfortable but the OFM's brain does not work right all the time.  But enough folks have suggested I tell the world about it that maybe it would have some value to those who are getting old.  I will be 79 in about a week. Thanks for reading. We will see what works out to be.

NOW IS TIME

MADISON, ALABAMA

8/3/2025

The OFM and KIDDO (the OFM's son) worked for a few hours today trying to teach the OFM how to publish a blog and pictures again. Alas, the OFM no longer has enough personal memory to be doing that any more. His old age limits at 79 have caught up with him. The OFM even could not take pictures and edit them to fit into the blog again So we regretfully have to let it go and say good bye to OLD FAT MAN ADVENTURES . We have had a great time for over 20 years  traveling and reporting the great things to see and do in our country and visiting with folks. This heartfelt good bye is published thanks to the help of KIDDO.  Please keep your blogs going as long as you can so the OFM can get a chance to read how things on the road or wherever you are doing. I hope to be able to comment on others blogs for awhile yet.

GOOD BYE AND SAFE TRAVELS

Life Update

 Madison, Alabama

7/29/25

Not much going on folks. Just waiting on a doctor appointment in a couple of weeks. Then another in a couple of weeks after that. Maybe some more info after they get through with exams. Got through some birthdays recently so my son and both grands are now one year older. The great news is both grands did so well with their performances in the stage performances they are being considered for an acting school to increase their already great abilities.

And that is all for late excitement. Have fun.

NEW LIFE PLANS

 MADISON, ALABAMA

7,26,25

The OFM did some careful looking at his future lifestyle with things going as they are. It is bright but definitely not like we had planned for the next decade. Our life expectancy is about ten more years. We will be 79 in a couple of weeks.  But the health situation is expected to keep me in some sort of assisted living until I KICK THE BUCKET during my late eighties. So what does that mean?  Time is short and I better hurry up with living.  We can expect to be in assisted living for the full time of this 9-10 years due to not being allowed to have a drivers license again. OK now We know the game ahead of us now. At this time I am in the process of being tested by two different doctors to see what a decent guess about my life forward will likely be like. The good news is I likely will be in good enough health to still do traveling if I do not have to drive.

It is nice to get some decently accurate information so I can get a good idea of what to expect and act on the information. Is it what I hope for Absolutely Not. But it is workable and look out America is soon going to have a other old fart running the roads even if he is required to be a passenger only. More on this story as it develops. 

NEW STAGE PLAY TODAY

MADISON, ALABAMA

7/25/25

  Today we attended a stage play involving both the OFM's grand kids. The pay was BOB SQUARE PANTS or something like that. My hearing did not let me catch the full name.  It was a nice play about equivalent political stupidities we have seen in the real world. The kids did an excellent job of the acting and performing. The singing and dancing was very good.  Over all it was a great joy to see.

Afterward the OFM went to a lupper (lunch supper) with a nice couple for some Mexican food that was also very good. After a long lunch they dropped me back at the assisted living where I live for a nice easy going afternoon and evening.

The play was excellent all around and the OFM enjoyed the heck out of it.  Afterward the OFM has been just being a first class bum laying around th room.zzzzzzz

Mental Events AND HAPPINESS

MADISON, ALABAMA

7/24/25

Yesterday was interesting to say the least. Getting mail set up to come to this Assisted Living Facility was finally totally accomplished.  It is not difficult if all all of your brain works, but when your brain is visiting Alice over in wonderland it can be a challenge of the highest order. So I advise you folks beginning this old folks journey to relax and enjoy the ride. Keep your humor at the ready cause you are definitely in for a "what the hell " ride. Just relax and have fun instead of getting all upset and mad.

The great news is the physical health care here is wonderful. My body is hurrying toward the best the OFM has ever been in overall physically. Not big strong like when I was weightlifting back in college days but rather the right  amount of good muscle tone for daily life. The brain weaknesses are being defined with ways to live comfortably with those weaknesses  and still enjoy being alive to have lots of fun. When a brain fart happens, and they will happen, just relax and enjoy the comedy act you put on. If I knew being half nuts was so much fun I might have started earlier.

Please do not try to deny you are having mental decline when it happens but rather learn how to enjoy the ride and adventures safely and try to have TOOOOOOO MUCH FUN.  Bye Bye I have to get busy safely playing IN MY CURRENT WORLD.

Dementia

 MADISON, ALABAMA

7/22/25

Let us talk about dementia a bit. The OFM (soon to be 79 yo) is in the beginnings of Dementia which is not a disease to my surprise. Here is my understanding  of what is happening.  My brain gets to the point it cannot remember all the different things a person usually does recall to live a normal life. It is the term to describe the way my brain forgets lots of things it used to know and use.

It is the collection of things that no longer work right as we age. My immediate main trouble is my short term memory is practically  non existent. I am an accomplished specialist at totally forgetting what I "learned " in the last few minutes but can recall in great detail what I learned hours ago sort of.  This creates me making LOTS of notes when I am awake to attempt to remember what I "learned" yesterday. It is not a nice way to live.

To those who have been on this wild learning journey with me, my sympathy goes with you. But the better news is I am learning ways to live with this aging mess. If you are not in this mess, have heart it is still a life worth living, settle down and learn the "tricks" of the time of your life and keep on living. You cannot defeat it but it is possible to accommodate it and still live a great senior life.

As an example of accommodations I am making I now do colorings and hang them on my assisted living living quarters door to the hallway where others get to see them and have fun making jokes about them. 

The OFM thinks that his blog may get to be better soon but in a different style than in the past. A new to me life style is seemingly developing. The OFM gets nearly daily psycho help in living his new style of life and even if it is different it is still great fun. So tighten your seat belts it is looking like a new style of wild riding is coming on. YAHOOOOOOOOOOO. 

TANGLED UP ME

MADISON ALABAMA

7/21/25

HELLO  folks. It is the OFM finally. Things have been less than the best in my world lately and getting to the computer key board has not had first priority lately.  But it looks like I will be back in action in the near future. I apologize for the delay but cannot promise it will not happen again in spite of my preferences. Thank you for your patience with the Old Fat Man. The four medical folks I am working with tell me I will get better and we are doing sessions five days a week to achieve it.  See you soon I hope.

Things Are Calm

 Madison, Alabama

07/16/25

Not a lot to talk about. The facility here has about six new folks moving in in the next few days. My BP has gone back up a bit and part of my additional pill change has been held back for a couple of days. The BP is back up to a bit high but still much better than a week ago. We are thinking it is a post office screw up.

Meanwhile the facility had a free taco feed at supper time tonight.  The OfM went with the kitchen meals since I wanted them more than the taco meal. they were really excellent.

We have been doing a lot of coloring lately but we still cannot get the pics onto the internet to publish them.

It looks like some fun times in the near future with all the new folks moving into the facility. Talk to ya'll again soon.

BLOOD PRESSURE SURPRISE

MADISON, ALABAMA

07/15/2025

Howdy folks we had a nice surprise during breakfast this morning.  Maybe some of the extra pills I am taking are starting to work.  My blood pressure at the breakfast table this morning was 103/66 with pulse of 70. That is a nice change for this OFM. Is it possible we are actually making progress. We will see what tomorrow brings.

Nothing else is happening of real importance in our world. My rework of my head to cure my brain failure troubles is on schedule to start happening soon. We passed the first of the new brain repair trainings with flying colors this morning. Now the real training begins. Hopefully with good results. Good Night Everyone.

CALM DAY WITH LITTLE HAPPENING

MADISON, ALABAMA

7/13/2025

Dear friends it has been a nice day in general. I still cannot get a photo taken with my canon camera to post any more.  A nice color pencil art effort of a desert valley was completed today. But I cannot get it to post on the Internet for publishing. Such is the life of this retired bum. Otherwise things are going well but the living without a vehicle is a real pain.  Other folks without vehicles at the Assisted Living place I am at are all not contented with that arrangement either. However I still agree that at this time I would not be a great choice to be out on the public roads. My reflexes are just not good enough. Hopefulluy that will soon start to heal enough.

 In the meantime I hope to soon get to publishing pictures again real soon.  Good night.

GOOD NEWS FINALLY

MADISON ALABAMA

7/11/2025

We finally got some decent news around here for a change. The new medical professional ordered two new items to be taking after she reviewed the OFM lab reports. Tomorrow he will start getting two new vitamins with his blood pressure control pills. The measured blood pressure surprised us with his first reading below 150 in the last several years at 138.  Hopefully this is the beginning of a long run of good luck for the OFM.

We hope everyone is having some fun these days.

Good Night. 

GETTING BETTER I THINK

MADISON, ALABAMA

7/10/2025

Back on the air again. Several things have been hitting on me lately but are getting worked out. There just has not been anything special for a few days and the OFM has been kinda beat down.  But today things seem to be on the up swing.

Yesterday was a turning point on some things. The teams now have a nice lady who is helping the OFM Teams to address address some health items in his some medical issues and a couple of other legal issues. We are hoping to speed up some of the processes we are going through.

Over all we are OK. We just do not have a lot of day to day activity yet.  Hang in there folks we sure hope to increase the excitement level soon.  BYE.

NICE VISIT

 It was a nice day and a long visit from my son was a welcome change. Several events in the last few days were discussed and some small plans were made for the future. My limitations are getting a bit stronger so we have to be careful of getting to ambitious about things physically demanding. This getting old stuff takes some being careful with planning outdoor events. Thank you to the readers still reading and commenting. I think my blogging days are about over.  I will soon be 79 years old and aging is fast becoming a difficulty to be carefully handled. I know others still well active in their 80s but my body and brain is not looking like it will be one of those types. So I will do what I can with what I have and be very glad I had 21 years of the free life like I did.  Keep smiling folks because life is worth living if you stay busy and live it for all you can.

DENTIST SEARCH

 MADISON ALABAMA

7/5/25

We we need a dentist now and not being allowed to drive is really inconvenient. Online we found a highly recommended dentist a long but very walkable  distance away. 1.5 miles.  So now I need to recruit a car and driver for a dentist visit or two. We will see how this works out.

Old Style posts for awhile

 MADISON, ALABAMA

7/4/25

Looks like we will be blogging the old style for a while. No pics until the OFM figures out what is going on.

Any way it was a busy day of several nuisance things happening but supper was a YAHOEE LOUIE for sure. A nice big cheese burger with lots of fresh veges on it and excellent burger. A big wad of french fries done just right. Another wad of onion rings cooked to perfection and delicious.  Very good sweet tea and a thick slice of watermelon for desert.  There sure were a lot of big fat bellies at the dinner tables tonight.

I got in lots of nice walking today even though it got pretty hot in the afternoon. So I grabbed a mandala page from an available book in the general library and had a nice peaceful six hour coloring session. It turned out pretty nice I feel. Search mandala on the internet if you need to, I did.   

I am in a frontish row seat in my bedroom from which I get to see the local fireworks area where the locals bring their fireworks to keep us all awake and snacking too much. The OFM has gained three pounds since he moved into this place.  OINK OINK.

Good Night.