Thyroids and other things that go wrong as you age

Got in to do my blood draw. Standard thyroid check and lipid panel. I'm expecting they will up my synthroid dose again. It will be nice when it finally normalizes and I can trust my lipid panel. I had massive improvements in my triglycerides and stuff when I started my latest eating/exercising changes. But my cholesterol continues to be thrown out of whack by insufficient thyroid hormones.

On the other hand. My knee has really held up well with the level of biking I was at (up to 2 hours a day) I did have a few bad days after romping around the soccer field (90 minutes) and ice skating with Audrey. Biking plans have dialed back to being regular 40 minutes a day. Was simply too tired this morning. I was up mucking about with our media center too late to be anything but groggy.

The other plus of being down 25 pounds is far less back strain. It's been quite noticeable. I also enjoy being able to actually tie my shoes without having to hold my breath or position myself so my stomach isn't mashed on my upper legs.

Idol '08 - and other TV stuff.

With the dearth of anything close to decent TV (mostly due to the strike), Chelle snookered me into watching Idol again this season. My top 4 pick at this point are probably: Mike Johns, David Cook, David Archuleta and Carly Smithson. I personally think Mike Johns should win at this point.

I've also been hoping for Kristy Lee Cook (aka Horse-girl) to stay in. Mostly cause I bug Chelle with how HAWT! she is. But I have no illusions that she will finish better than 7th of the people still on the show. Her pick of Lee Greenwood's God Bless the USA this week was a master stroke. Patriotic and sung really pretty well, it secured her at least two more weeks on the show. I picked correctly that Chikezie was going. Ramiele and Syesha are soon to follow.

We have been losing shows left and right. I'm down to: Lost, Heroes, Sarah Connor, Battlestar Galactica, 24, Atlantis and from the BBC Dr. Who and Torchwood. I've also getting the Sopranos on DVD from Netflix and watching then while riding the stationary bike.

I love the internet - shopping

So I popped home to start a pork roast (for future lunches) and have lunch. I also scrounged up two pedometers. One had a dead battery. The other I promptly broke the belt hook. Quickly searched up the battery type in google. $3 for 10 + 1.69 shipping first class mail. Jumped over to RadioShack.com ... $4.69 a battery. Quickly made up my mind to order the 10 and then get the single from the Radio Shack on the way to work.

Steep price for the convenience. Tack on 20c for the driving detour as well. Not sure how most things are still sold retail anymore.

McCain star rising

I've been a huge Romney backer since well before the race started in earnest. Being a 13 year AZ resident, I've been pretty skeptical about a McCain run for President. But he has really been hitting all the right buttons lately.

http://race42008.com/2008/03/26/mccains-foreign-policy-speech/ - in a recent policy speech he is mirroring my feelings about a democratic states organization.

http://race42008.com/2008/03/25/mccain-speech-on-the-housing-crisis/ - in a recent speech on the housing crisis, he also mirrors my attitude about a minimalist government involvement and a "let the gamblers wallow in their losses" position.

Compared to the other two options at this point, its a no brainer.

Weight status

Just signed up with the health and wellness tracker at work. For submitting steps taken and time biked, I can have a chance to win an nice Ipod!.

I've been more or less on the wagon with dropping weight. I was 280ish at the beginning of 2008 and am currently hovering at 255-258.

After having bronchitis and a couple stomach bugs, I can get back on track with biking in the mornings and doing some gym work in the evenings.