Monday, December 15, 2025 – Day 489

Monday, December 15, 2025

Good morning, everyone.

Happy 67th Birthday, Ric! 🥳🎈👯🍾

This morning got off to a rough start. Had Cindy not gently nudged me awake, I might have slept right through my self-imposed publishing deadline. Yikes.

Yesterday, I finished Cry Havoc. It’s a thriller set in Vietnam around the Tet Offensive—when the course of the war shifted decisively in favor of the North Vietnamese (not that the U.S. ever truly stood a chance of winning). The book is written by Jack Carr, a former Navy SEAL, and it’s very well done. The story revolves around spy networks, betrayal, and a main character trying to complete his mission and bring his teammates home and catch said spy’s. There are multiple subplots that eventually weave together, making for a strong, engaging read. I’ve oversimplified it here, but if you like war-era thrillers, I think you’d enjoy it.

Yesterday was also the day I officially brought The Beast—my power wheelchair—into the house. Once it was parked among the furniture, its size became impossible to ignore. It looks out of place and, honestly, a little intimidating. But the bigger disappointment came when I realized it isn’t comfortable to just sit and relax in. Sitting too upright puts real strain on my neck, which makes it hard to stay in the chair for any length of time.

I’ve had this chair since June and have used it mostly outdoors—walking Bear or tooling around the yard—and it’s worked great for that. What I never really did was sit in it indoors for long stretches. When I’m reading, watching TV, or just hanging out, it’s hard to get comfortable. It’s not like sinking into a recliner, and it’s tough to explain why—but it matters. Bottom line: I’ve got work to do before this chair can become my permanent comfort spot. That realization was disappointing, to say the least.

Then last night, as I was getting ready for bed, I had another bout of breathing trouble. This kind of respiratory distress is happening too often now, and it’s forcing me onto the respirator more frequently just to get relief. It’s become a real stressor on my body—and, frankly, on my mind. Even as I write this, I can feel a bit short of breath, which is unsettling.

Journal interruption: I had to wake Cindy to help get the breathing machine set up next to my chair. I don’t know if writing about it made it worse, but it was real enough that I wanted the support. My diaphragm needs the assist to pull in enough air.

And to round out the list, the overnight feeding never got off the ground. The male connector on the formula bag wouldn’t stay seated in the feeding tube. Not wanting a repeat of last week’s mess, we called it off. I’ll need to connect with my GI doctor to figure out a fix.

On a brighter note, the Bears won easily yesterday—and the Packers lost—putting the Bears back in first place. Next up: the Packers at home. That should be fun. Have a great start to your week. I’m going to grab a little more air before breakfast. Love you guys! ❤️

Photo: Maria and Pete in Florida sporting their Andy’s Army shirts. They’re driving north today and stopping here overnight tomorrow.

And me getting an assist from my NIV machine.