Things that will kill me...

My wife Marcy is what I would call ultra paranoid. OK - so she has seen things in my family's history that give her pause, but, COME ON! While I have my father's DNA in my system, I also have my mother's. Her Father just died 7 years ago having smoked most of his life - UN FILTERED CAMELS!

Her latest kick:

I just sit down after making myself a Chicken Nacho with all the toppings and maybe an extra dose of Sour Cream. She says in a very condescending voice, I may add, "I guess your tombstone will say 'he loved sour cream more than spending life with his family'".

I create a very good looking salad with both 1000 island and ranch dressing. 'he liked dressings more than spending life with his family'.

I make a bowl of ice cream with some syrup and nuts. 'he liked ice cream and toppings more than life with his family'

I get it. But, I am sick of it. It doesn't have the desired effect. It makes me instantly angry.

My lifestyle is nothing like my father's. I am not as overweight. I am very much more active. My blood pressure is lower - with exception of when I am being told I am going to eat myself to death. In short - even if I improve nothing about my habits, there is no guarantee I am going to die at 56 like my father. Even changing some habits can't guarantee I will make it to 44.

Do I have to make myself miserable to "prove my love" to my family and especially my wife?

I love her and my children more than life itself. But, a miserable me isn't fun to be around.

I guess that I will just start making some small changes and do what I can to try and be / eat more healthy. I don't want to leave her angry with me over some extra sour cream. I would prefer to go out of this life having lived it well. I hope Marcy will put on my tombstone.....

Here lies M. David Kestner. 'he liked having sex with his wife more than living life with her'. Now that would be the ultimate death!

Medical insurance - what a blessing!

As of May 1, 2010, the David Kestner family is covered under a full medical insurance plan due to my part time employment with Costco.

May God bless Costco!

Marcy is getting the care that she desperately needs and I had my eye exam today - compliments of Costco optical. One of the benefits of being an employee is that the exam was free, and the glasses came to less than the $150 maximum paid for by insurance - so they were also FREE!

The down side - I have become more near sighted (I think that is what is called when you can't see distances so well anymore), and ...... I am a good candidate for ..... bi-focals. (What the crap?) I am NOT doing that this time, but will have to consider it next time. What happened to just having astigmatism? Anyways - All soon will be mended due to hard work ethic (thanks dad for the example), and a great company to work for.

Maybe someday I will learn how to post photos of my new look......

Ciao!

Wanna talk Politics?

OK - I've been a pretty good boy so far - not too controversial. I was wondering if anyone had any thoughts on the debate in our nation's capital and how it effects health care? I think that "ramming something through" would be a big mistake. Also - I think a "public option" would be catastrophic to our economy and would degrade the quality of care that we already have access to. I am speaking as one who does not currently have health coverage - so I think I can say that as a tax payer, I would rather pay out of pocket as things come up then to pay out of pocket for taxes and be forced to accept lesser care. Obviously my current system will only work if life threatening disease or accident were not to occur - so I am a liability on all fronts here. (I am working on that at the moment).

One thing as I understand it however, is that this "bill" has lots of "goodies" jam packed in there to make sure every legislator gets something for their "yes" vote. (A bunch of hooey if you ask me). I believe it will be expensive. I believe that as currently written it will lessen quality of care. And frankly, I think that a government that controls yet another aspect of our lives is a very, very dangerous thing.

I DO believe that something should be done to refine the regulation on health care insurance companies. I believe there is a need there. I do believe that we need to do something to offset the cost of insurance for people who pay 100% of their own premiums. I believe that there should be a tax credit for those who do pay for their own premiums. I also believe that medical savings plans should be more prevalent. Just some ideas.

On May 1st, I will be fully covered under a medical insurance plan for my family. My concerns are reaching an end for my self and family's protection. However, what of the millions who do not have this protection? I have just brought the conversation around again. No wonder this issue is at the forefront of so much debate and can't seem to get any traction. Glad I am not in Washington D.C. with a mandate to effect these changes.

Anybody???

40 anyone?

OK. So I am approaching a milestone - (at least in my world). This Sunday I will be turning 40 years young - uh, old. For most of my life, I have looked forward to my birthday. This year is really just seeming to to be another day in my life. (Or another day closer to my death if you wish to look at it that way.) I have wondered if in ancient times people gave a rip about their age. Did they really celebrate the seasonal day of their birth? If we look at it from a different perspective, according to our calendar, it is as if our life revolves in a circle with the same day recurring every 365 (366 on leap year) days. We do know that Abraham was 99 when he begat Isaac. (That act of procreation does give me some hope for when I am that age.) We wouldn't know his age if the ancients didn't keep track - so my mystery is now solved. Apparently, they did give a rip. I digress.

So, I guess I should be caring about my age. I am sure I will hear from my mother and maybe a sibling or two on that day. I may even get a "present" from my wife and kids. That will be nice, I suppose.

But - in my lineage on my father's side - the males don't have a lot to look forward to after their forties. My father had a triple bi-pass surgery when he turned 44. (Frankly, I don't have the time for it.) I am not absolutely certain, but I believe his father had some pretty serious surgeries in his forties as well. I have been hearing and receiving crap from just about all who "care" about me for a few years about how I need to start taking care of myself so that I don't go the way of my father and his father. We even shared a Dr. a few years back who said "I have seen your life's map". At what point do I get to chose my own destiny?

I am a happily married man with 4 great independent children. I enjoy my career - fickle though it may be. I have hobbies that keep me feeling young and virile! I get to go camping with my family. I get to ride my 4 wheeler when weather allows. I get to watch my favorite TV shows at my convenience due to DVR. I have read novels for the past year or so - keeping my mind engaged. In other words - I do not share the sedentary lifestyle of my father (rest his soul). I am not my father. Now would be a good time to mention that on my mother's side of the family many of her male relatives lived to be ripe old men! I am not a product of only one genetic strain. I am myself! I am my own body and spirit.

So. Having said all of this. I look forward to marking the beginning of my 5th decade by deciding right here and now to live life to the fullest that I can. To take reasonable measures to keep my health in check. But most importantly, to Live, Love and Learn each and every day - so that when the Reaper does come, I will have NO regrets!!!

My love to one and all if this happens to be my last day on earth alive.....