The Outdoor Phoenix

17/11/2023

Good Friday morning, everyone! It's Friday and time to finish up strong!

16/11/2023

Gooooooood Thursday morning! It's another dialysis day but that's okay! It'll be a good day anyway!

15/11/2023

Good Humpday to all! Rutcation seems to be in full swing! Get out there let one fly!

13/11/2023

Not a candidate for pancreas transplant but the renal transplant will proceed. The reasons for the pancreas no-go are;

1.) Too much immuno sensitivity ( buildup of antibodies) as to make an ideal match nearly impossible and create an unreasonable delay for the renal transplant

2.) Too many anatomical issues created by the surgeries prior to and from the GI fiasco, including scarring.

It stinks but was planning on doing the CGM/insulin pump thing prior to any transplant anyways. Time to accept it and keep in rolling!

13/11/2023

Gooooooood Monday morning, folks! Today I get evaluated by the surgeon for the pancreas portion of transplant! This is good progress toward active listing! I'm excited to get one step closer to the renal-pancreas transplant!

10/11/2023

Well, dialysis was over as soon as it started. The fistula developed an infiltration right off the bat before I was hooked up to the machine. The poor tech made a couple of really good sticks with the needles, too; I feel terrible for her. So, we try again tomorrow! Such is life (thought I'd rather be in the woods tomorrow).

Things don't always go to plan. You just have to roll with them!

09/11/2023

Goooooooooood Thursday morrrrrning! It's another dialysis day but I'm expecting smooth sailing today!

Hoping for more good whitetail weather coming up! May even wet a line in a few choice places and see it some trout want to play on the ultralight rod and reel! Always think positive!

08/11/2023

Chilly afternoon sit today. Saw a good number of deer just have to refine the exact spot for that kind of wind! Very peaceful and glad I dressed heavy!

06/11/2023

Welcome to Monday! Had funky low blood sugar issues overnight and into this morning. Making a change to insulin today to hopefully fix it but no hunting today. Wednesday it is!

Things will happen. They're just bumps in the road! Handle the business at hand then move forward!

04/11/2023

A cool but pleasant .morning greets us this first Saturday of November. The long range forecast suggest fairly warm temps this week, but maybe the rut will force the deer's hands... err, hooves. Today's a dialysis day so I'll be working on gear for a hopeful first sit of the season on Monday!

25/10/2023

Good Wednesday morning! I hope Hump Day bri gs you much satisfaction! Enjoy!

24/10/2023

Taking stock of current challenges, I'd say I'm holding my own. Atrophy from this summer's blood infection is one nagging problem but I can only push so hard with strength and cardio.

Where the infection took hold (old button hole access of my fistula) developed something called a pseudo aneurism. The big bump is a ballooned out weakened area of the vessel. I don't need that weakening any more.

Still, with exercise bands I'm finding my draw strength isn't far off where it was in the summer. That's a BIG win.

My hands are currently a "tie." The dupetryn's contracture is gradually getting worse but the carpel tunnel syndrome seems to have improved. As long as I can consistently hold my bow and my release, I'll be good when I start my season. Heat packs in my gloves might help here.

Before I can worry about that I still have several procedures lined up, and a possible surgery. Hopefully I'll learn more about that today. Hey at least my gear is good to go!

I've had to learn patience all over again. That's probably a good thing. Things will work out, and "my" feer and I will still have our meeting (fingers crossed).

23/10/2023

Here comes the new week and new challenges. Push through your fear and grab that adversity by the horns. You can do this!

19/10/2023

Good Thursday morning! You're almost there! Eide the wave of momentum you've built into a relaxing (or exciting!) weekend! You've got this!

18/10/2023

Good morning a d Happy Hump Day!

17/10/2023

Good Tuesday morning! I've had a lot of time (too much time) to mill over issues lately. That's the issue with insomnia. Bill's, dialysis, complications, it all funnels it's way through the few working brain cells I still posess.

I keep falling back on what helped me through my "GI Apocalypse" of the past few years: I've got something to look forward to. I reaffirm my ultimate goal of a Rocky Mountain elk hunt. I think of this late staring whitetail season of mine as a welcome step in that direction, though mercifully less strenuous. Let's be honest. The pack out/drag out will be a hell of a lot easier than with an elk.

Remind yourself that you're making progress. You're surpassing those mini goals you forgot about as you continue toward that one main goal. It doesn't matter if it's financial, relationship, or career oriented. The same concept applies. You WILL get there. So will I.

16/10/2023

Good morning and happy Monday! Don't fear today, embrace it! This new week can open any number of new doors!

Don't forget to wet a line or chase some white tails this week!

15/10/2023

No Sunday hunting in MA but best of luck to those in states where it's legal!

14/10/2023

Goooooooooood Saturday morning! Good luck to all the whitetail hunters out there today! I'll be in dialysis and testing out the re-retuned fistula BUT I'll be doing a bit more e scouting for my mobile setups! Of course, ya have to get ground confirmation. However, I'm looking for the areas that will be spillover from existing pressure and aim to go in and out ( when I do hunt) with minimal disturbance to "my" spots or anyone else's mearby!

13/10/2023

Good Friday morning! Take inventory of all your small victories. They add up!

It's been a rough past few days with a repeat cleanout of the fistula and the following dialysis session. Pressures seem better (as well as overall bp) and hopefully clearance numbers will be much better. Progress is good!

With better clearance comes safer tolerance for activities. This bodes well for hunting activities and getting back to working out some! All good news!

11/10/2023

Take two of fistula correction today. Hopefully they'll get up in there with some spackle, welding equipment, and some duct tape and straighten this thing out. Gooooooood times! 🤣🤣🤣

10/10/2023

Gooooooooood crisp Tuesday morning! It's going to be beautiful albeit cool here today! Embrace the opportunities this change of season brings! Deer should be moving! Fish should be chasing! It's all out there for you!

10/10/2023

Good Monday morning. It's a day to start something new. It's a day to embrace new challenges!

08/10/2023

Looks like my deer season is waiting until November. Procedure and appointment schedules are filling up the non dialysis days. Granted, a couple of those are just pre transplant to-dos but things are putting a clamp on practice, scouting, and actual hunt time. The blood infection over the summer didn't help much.

It will get better. It will ultimately pass. It just makes me look forward to getting this dual transplant done even more more. Sometimes the more things go sideways, the more you start planning for the later upswing. 🤣

05/10/2023

Good Thursday morning everyone! As we walk further into fall we embrace the change of the seasons. More hunting, maybe less fishing, and hopefully a lower electric bill. While were at it, let's embrace a change in the way we address our physical or other health problems. If something's not working, why not change things up? Get a second opinion. Do some research. Try a new approach. Your quality of life matters!

04/10/2023

Good Wednesday morning and happy humpday!

When things have been off or going wrong, it can seem like everything's piling up, and feeling overwhelmed is common. Make the small adjustments. One by one, these small adjustments add up, creating bits of positive momentum. Things won't become suddenly perfect, but they do get better. Ride that small wave of momentum and notice how it grows.

Whatever it is you're facing, you've got this.

03/10/2023

Goooooooood Tuesday morning, folks! Be thankful! Be thankful for a lack of health problems. Be thankful that those you do have aren't worse! Be thankful for waking up each day! Be thankful opportunities to take care of and provide for family! And be thankful for each opportunity to get outdoors and take part in nature! God Bless and have a great day!

02/10/2023

Good morning, everyone! It's a beautiful Momday morning with an Indian Summer feel!

Things have been shaky for me as of late with continuing weight loss, gastroparesis symptoms, sleep issues, and blood pressure issues, but with deer season literally on the door step, here's my message: find a way.

Find a way to rein gage with your passions and hobbies. Find a way to keep getting out there. Maybe it's not as many trips as intended. Maybe the methods change. No matter what, what makes you, well, you, is still in there. Help it come back to the surface!

29/09/2023

Good Friday morning, everyone! Give yourself some love for making it to the weekend!

Embrace the challenges and they will become accomplishments!

Now get outside this weekend and embrace the outdoors!

28/09/2023

Good Thursday, everyone. Gove it you're all, even if you think no one is watching... you'll know!

26/09/2023

Gooooooooood Tuesday morning! You being more to this world than you could ever imagine!

25/09/2023

Goooooooood Monday morning! Still battling sleep issues but that's part of life on dialysis, I guess... it will get better! And as it does the woods and water will be there, still filled with promise!

23/09/2023

Good Saturday morning. Sorry for being MIA the past few days. I'm having tje same sleep issues I experienced with dialysis as back in 2022/2012. I don't sleep overnight unless I'm so tired I crash. Hoping to fix all this-at least I can crash a bit during treatment today! We'll get it figured out!

20/09/2023

Happy Hump Day, everyone! It's time to start keeping those promises you made to yourself. You matter. Your progress matters. Your quality of life matters!

19/09/2023

Gooooooooood Tuesday morning! One day closer to the weekend, a day off, or a vacation!

As much as we might groan about the days between here and there, there are ALWAYS reasons to be greatedul!

18/09/2023

Gooooooood Monday morning! You were blessed with the opportunities implied in waking up... you have a chance to do things those who didn't wake up will never see...

Embrace the challenges and check off each victory, no matter how small!

15/09/2023

Happy Rosh Hashana!

15/09/2023

15/09/2023

Good morning and happy Friday! Embrace the ability tou have to change someone's life for the better! The world will be a better place!

14/09/2023

Good Thursday morning! Things haven't been going great as of late. It's a part of life and certainly part of chronic medical conditions. While it may not fix things in the immediate timeframe, practicing gratitude helps to greet the mind and eases any burden. Gratitude for what you have, what's gone right or well, even the smallest blessings helps tremendously.

Have a fantastic day!