Turning 50 @turning50-blog - Tumblr Blog

To Statin or not to Statin?

My cholesterol has always been on the high side even though I eat healthy and exercise regularly. My most recent cholesterol count was 236 (total) with 65 HDL (good cholesterol) and 150 LDL (bad). I've resisted any discussion of cholesterol-lowering drugs (such as Simvastatin) with my doctor mainly because I'm not generally a believer of pharmaceutical solutions to health "problems".

Recently though, my doc suggested I begin taking Simvastatin to lower my bad cholesterol. She said that even though I'm very fit and eat well, the fact that I have family history of heart disease (my father died of a heart attack at age 47) suggests to her that I should take measures to lower my cholesterol.

So, I had her call in the prescription, I made my way to CVS to pick it up, and just before bed last night I opened the bottle, rolled out my first dose then stopped and thought... "what do I know about why I need this medication, its effectiveness, and the possible side-effects beyond my doctor's recommendation?" I returned the pill to the bottle and decided to do a little research the next morning.

#statins #cholesterol #turning50 #heart disease #drugs

Checking the Pipes

Apparently when you reach 50 docs - and the American Cancer Society -recommend a colonoscopy for early detection of colon cancer. So that's my day today - getting the pipes checked out. The prep is brutal with 24 plus hours of fasting and drinking a quart of "pipe cleaner" that flushes the pipes to make way for pretty pictures. I'm planning my yummy post-op meal now. Off I go...

#turning50 #colonoscopy #prevention

One of the many joys of turning 50...

Nothing says "top of the morning to ya" like a prostate exam first thing in the morning. My reaction was somewhat more subdued that THIS, but hey doc, we just met. How about dinner and a bottle of wine first?

#turning 50 #50 #healthcare #prostate

#turning50 #50 #1970's

Standing on the beach, in the morning, windy, waves. Always a spiritual experience for me.

#south beach #sunrise #turning50

#37-50: Its all good

So I didn't quite make my 50 posts in 50 days that I had planned for this milestone - it seemed like a good idea at the time, but harder to make happen in practice. Tonight I enjoyed the last few hours of my birthday with some relatively new but solid friends, sipped on some lovely Talisker, made the short drive home and thought - its all good. That's the basic Joe Walsh reflection to sum up my take on my 50 years: life's been good to me so far.

I had a safe and happy childhood; I had some rich experiences and opportunities in my youth; my 20's were filled with music, travel, romance, pain, wild abandon and intrigue; I got lucky and married the right girl; I wobbled into a second career that is meaningful and pays the bills; I have some amazing children who have me wrapped around their little fingers; and I'm healthy. No complaints - other than I wish more people could be as lucky and fortunate as I have been.

Here's to turning 50. Here's to wondering what's next.

#50 #turning50

#36 The Gifts that Keep on Giving - Keller

Then this little guy joined the party.

[This is #36 in a series of reflections on turning 50]

#turning50 #50 #keller

#35 The Gifts that Keep on Giving - Hannah

My life changed forever when this little girl came into my life.

[This is #35 in a series of reflections on turning 50]

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#34: What are you dreaming of?

Live from 12th & Porter 1994

#50 #turning50 #the floating men

#33: The Floating Men at 12th & Porter 1994-96

Memorable moment(s): I've played many shows over the years but nothing compares to our three-night stands at 12th & Porter, Nashville in the mid 90's. Such a rush to arrive at the club early and already have people lined up to get in. I loved everything about those shows - the energetic crowd; the dark, candle-lit room; the angels above the stage; the spontaneous moments on stage; the music; the rumble of the bass locked tight with the kick drum; and the hang with band-mates in the dressing room between sets, and much more.

[This is #33 in a series of reflections on turning 50]

#turning50 #50 #the floating men

#32: and bring more scotch!

Memorable moment: The Grandfather Mountain Highland Games scottish festival in NC. Scotch, bagpipes, drums, campfire smoke, scotch, men & women in kilts, and laughter at the McRowdy camp. This was probably 1994 - our second or third time at the games. Pictured here with Lisa and me are John & Leigh Gilcrhist. I remember the first year we went with my good friend Cindy Lou-Hoo we ran out of scotch on the first day and had to call Paul Madigan - who was coming up the second day - for reinforcements.

[This is #32 in a series of reflections on turning 50]

#scotch #50 #turning50 #grandfather mountain

#31: Where the boys went

Random memory: playing foosball at the arcade on the Ft. Lauderdale strip, circa summer 1976. I'm sure I was wearing a puka shell necklace. We'd ride our bikes the 10+ miles from our homes on the north end on Lauderdale to the strip and hang out as long as the quarters (or dimes?) held out. The Strip looks a lot different today than it did in those days.

[This is #31 in a series of reflections on turning 50]

#50 #turning50 #foosball #Ft. Lauderdale #The Strip

#30: I don't need no stinkin' car seat!

Check out the beautiful lady taking her newborn home from the hospital in 1961. Did you hear me yell "shotgun" just as we approached the car? Check out the young dad with big hopes and a wee bit of fear in his eyes. Thanks mom for carrying me that day and many years after. Miss you pops.

[This is #30 in a series of reflections on turning 50]

#turning50 #50 #1961

#29: That's how the french do it?

Yup, first french kiss...7th grade (or 8th, not sure) on a charter bus on the way back from some sort of school trip. Ah Denise. Tongue came out of nowhere and smacked my tonsils hello. I would never be the same.

[note to self: no school trips for my daughter until she's 28]

Here’s to Denise, here’s to getting schooled, here’s to turning 50.

[I turn 50 tomorrow…. This is #29 in a series of reflections on turning 50]

#turning50 #denise #french kiss #50

#28: Midland TX, CSN&Y, & the 100 Meter Backstroke

Its interesting to me how some things stay with you years later. When thinking back about some memorable moments in my life so are, some experiences just leave a mark. One such event for me was at 14 years old. My memory is a bit fuzzy, but I think I was in Midland, TX for some sort of championship swimming meet. One formative experience for me at this meet was winning the 100 meter backstroke from lane 6. I placed fourth in the morning trials and not expected to win in the finals, but I did. Surprised myself, and taught myself something about my own abilities and the payoff that comes from hard work.

The other formative experience on this trip was getting a master class on Crosby, Stills, Nash, & Young's "So Far". I was staying with a local family there in Midland, and I cant quite recall who it was in that family that played the record for me - I'm romantically picturing that person now as an older daughter, 16 or 17, beautiful of course and totally into me - but I do remember being mesmerized with the sounds of "Helplessly Hoping", "Find the Cost of Freedom", and the haunting "Ohio". Now, whenever I hear any of these songs, I think about that time, that place, and some of the magic that happens when you're 14.

Here's to life at 14, here's to CSN&Y, here's to turning 50.

[I turn 50 tomorrow.... This is #28 in a series of reflections on turning 50]

#turning50 #50 #memorable moments #14 #CSN&Y #backstroke

#27: Holy shit I'm turning 50 tomorrow!

49 days ago I started a series of posts reflecting on my turning 50 November 8th. I planned on doing one a day leading up to the big day, but found posting daily to be harder than I thought it would be. Life gets in the way you know? But I still figure I can do 22 more posts before the end of the day tomorrow. First I'll post a quick burst of "memorable moments" followed by a bucket list of sorts for the next 50 (I should be so lucky). Call it Scot's turning 50 dump if you must.

#turning50 #50

#27: I don't eat no meat

I'm not bragging or anything, but often when I tell people how old I am I get a "wow, you don't look that old" type of response. Of course that's usually right before they ask me for a favor or cash, but I want that to be true, and even if it is not, I like that people say that. My usual flippant response is that it is a result of years of clean livin'. Those who know me well know that's ... a stretch. But these comments do make me reflect on what it is that contributes to me looking at least somewhat younger than my years. Here's what I've come up with:

I don't eat no meat. My dad had a heart attack and died at age 47. That stirred up my world in many ways, one of which was it made me pay more attention to my diet as I got older. I've always been active and healthy, but I made the decision back in 1986 to give up meat. Except for a piece of bacon from time to time or a sprinkling of yummy pancetta on some pasta or pizza, I've been meat free. Now to be clear, I'm officially a "pescetarian" but when I tell people that they usually say "Gesundheit!". My meat-free lifestyle was a decision I made for health reasons, but I've come to believe there are a lot of other good reasons to give up meat - mainly the huge environmental impact of the meat industry.

Rock-n-Roll. This has always seemed counterintuitive to me, but I think that my many years of rockin' has kept me young. I say counterintuitive because, well, you know, there is THIS.

Exercise. This is a no-brainer, but two decades on a swim team has imprinted a certain expectation of rigorous physical activity as just a part of life. Harder now of course than it used to be, but I'm still at it.

Genes. I have to assume that I got lucky on the genes - thanks to my mom. She's always looked much younger than her years, so tip of the hat to that section of my family tree.

I got Hair. Again, thanks to #4 - this time on my dad's side of the gene pool - I've got a head of hair. Nuff said.

[I turn 50 in 5 days (have you done your shopping yet?). This is #27 in a series of reflections on turning 50]

#turning50 #50 #hair #meat #pescetarianism

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