As I began to write this blog post, I was listening to The Voice by The Moody Blues. I thought it would be a great title for a university newspaper or a philosophy journal. With that in mind, I decided it would also work well as a blog post title. So — take this as me giving voice to my recent thoughts.
Summer Travels
It saddens me to say that summer travels for Denise and me were few and far between this year. I’m not sure why this year differed so much from the last few years, but I suppose it was partly because travelling costs so much these days. A shortened season, due to a lousy June, didn’t help much either. That said, Denise and I did manage a short trip to Rosetown, SK, one day and to Biggar, SK, on another. I stopped to take pictures of the town water towers, but the pictures were not worth sharing here. I’m not sure if Rosetown has any claim to fame, but Biggar does. First, there is a well-known highway sign that says, “New York is big, but this is Biggar.” Second, Biggar hosts a large barley malting facility, and every time Denise and I drive by, I always say, “Those guys are always looking to hire a one-legged man to make hops.” LOL! I guess you had to be there!
Denise and I also took a couple of highway trips with no destination in mind — just something to do and a chance to enjoy a quiet spell together. We just love being together! 💖
Deep Sea Adventure – Created by Don Cheke
I created the Deep Sea Adventure cartoon above to show how desperate one can get to have an adventure. Here we see Loaf and Little Loaf geared up for snorkeling. Even Cat is ready to get in on the action. Do you remember that joke about fish in a tank — they have such small, forgetful brains that every time they encounter the submerged castle, they think it is something new? Oh look, a castle! Just now, I thought about how this is like taking my mom for a drive. She says the same things every time we approach something familiar or near her home — “Sally lives there,” or “There’s never any parking around here.” That and a few other things that you know will be coming. Oh look, no parking!
A Man and His Car
Don in His Kia Sorento – Car Photo by Don Cheke, Background by Copilot
Speaking of spending time in the car, I was struck recently by the thought of how men have a special bond with their cars. It’s almost as if a car is an extension of oneself — very personal. Even when out in the world, it is a protective shell that uplifts the spirit. I have always felt this bond — right from the moment I got my first car. A 1968 Buick LeSabre, in case you were curious. I remember adding my own personal touches to make it mine, spending endless hours tinkering with it, and putting on endless miles. Even today, just sitting quietly in the car, enjoying an Egg McMuffin and watching the world go by, brings that sense of peace I enjoy so much. Having one’s gal, one’s babe, one’s chick by one’s side adds to the whole mix, as I imagine many other men can attest.
I feel that this might be common among men — I wonder if women feel the same kind of bond with their cars.
Ozempic / Antidepressants
Soma Prescription – Modeled & Rendered by Don Cheke
I am now into my fifth week of using Ozempic for my diabetes and antidepressants for my winter blues. The Ozempic continues to be a miracle drug for me — food noise is virtually non-existent, and I often think that this must be what it feels like to be a normal eater, like my dear DeeDee. After years of crazy eating, it is just so welcome not to feel addicted to food — not addicted to anything. Because I don’t use a scale, I don’t know if I have lost much weight, but I feel like I have. I feel it in my face and in the overall good feeling I carry in my body. For the first four weeks of my new medical regimen, I used the prescribed injection amount of 0.25 mg per week. By the end of those four weeks, I could feel the effects of the medicine lessening, but I still felt the positive results. In week five, I was prescribed a dose of 0.50 mg, which I will take once a week for four weeks. I have not felt an increase in the positive effects with the increased dose, but I imagine that my body is adapting to the medicine. After four weeks of the increased dose, I will be prescribed 1 mg each week, with 2 mg if warranted down the road.
I am most definitely eating much less food — maybe even half as much. I feel full most of the time and only eat when I feel a hint of real hunger. I typically eat brunch and supper, and snack very little between meals. If I need a snack, I find something minimal or eat fruit. Fruit — what a concept — also something new for me! Although I have told myself that I can eat as much fruit as I want, I find that it doesn’t take much to top off the tank, if you get my meaning. It’s kind of funny — I have had a large bag of chips sitting by my desk for well over a week, and it is still more than half full. Pre-Ozempic, I would eat the whole bag in two evenings. This reminds me of Denise, who can buy a chocolate bar, have one bite, and put the rest away in the fridge for six weeks. It’s a whole new world, Golde!
I was telling Denise the other day how I would hate to be a chef taking Ozempic, because I have noticed much less desire to cook. I still cook suppers for us, but it is much harder to feel motivated when I feel mostly full throughout the day.
This week, I purchased a toaster oven that doubles as an air fryer to help make nice, warm meals for brunch. Just today, as I wrote this blog post, I made a small pizza using naan bread, pizza sauce, ham, pepperoni, and mozzarella cheese. I baked it for about five minutes and then broiled it for another five. It was a great treat that I will repeat often. I had never heard of naan bread until my daughter, Emma, mentioned it the other day. It is perfect for this dish!
I should mention that my blood sugar levels have dropped somewhat since starting Ozempic. That said, its effectiveness in that regard is said to come further along, once I am taking the full doses. It is certainly nice to see the levels get lower, even if at a slower rate.
As for the antidepressants, I used citalopram for the first four weeks but changed to sertraline after that. The change came because I had been having issues with insomnia and daytime sleepiness throughout the weeks I was taking citalopram. Those were listed as possible side effects, so I assumed it was the cause. With that in mind, I asked my doctor for an alternative, and she prescribed sertraline. It is too early to tell if that will make a difference, but I hope it does. If it is the Ozempic that is causing the disturbed nights, I will just learn to live with it, because there is no way in the world I will stop using it, based on the benefits I already see and enjoy. I guess that is the downside of starting two new medicines on the same day — one just doesn’t know which one is causing the issues. At this point, I am not sure if the antidepressant is helping, as I don’t feel much different in that regard. But with such a small dose and so little time on it, it might be too early to notice any positive effects.
Matt Miller in the Colonies
Loaf Dubronovich in the Colonies – Created by Don Cheke
Recently, I finished reading the first four books in Mark J. Rose’s sci-fi series, Matt Miller in the Colonies. Although considered sci-fi, there really isn’t too much of that. For the most part, the books are about a fellow who is transported back in time to the mid-1760s. A wormhole is accidentally created during an experiment, and Matt Miller, along with three others, is swept up in it simply by being in the wrong place at the right time. Although all four play a role, the story focuses mostly on Matt Miller. The series provides a very interesting historical perspective on life in colonial times. Life on the farm, slavery, and the politics and culture of the time feature prominently throughout the series. We meet a number of now-famous figures as the story unfolds, including Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Jefferson, and the like. Woven into the story are thoughts about what ideas and inventions one might bring back to the past and how that might affect the future. Do you stay in the past and create a new life, or do you go back to the present if at all possible? The series is well written and easy to read, and it provides a lot of food for thought. I highly recommend it!
Below is a brief overview of the series by Google AI.
Series Overview in Reading Order
- Journeyman (Book 1) – Matt Miller is transported from the Appalachian Trail in the 21st century to colonial America in the 18th century.
- Prophet (Book 2) – Matt moves to Philadelphia, builds a life, and encounters a dangerous rival.
- Virginian (Book 3) – Matt becomes a wealthy politician and businessman, travelling to London by way of Benjamin Franklin.
- Architect (Book 4) – Matt deals with a crumbling life, family threats, and the rising tide of the American Revolution in Virginia.
- Prototokos (Book 5) – The concluding installment of the series. [1, 2, 3] (Not yet available as of this writing.)
Feature Image
Spools – Created by Don Cheke
If you are like me, you take note of art in movies and TV shows. I’m not talking about movies and TV shows about art, but the art used as props — those things that help make up the scene and are not intentionally part of the drama, per se. Take, for example, the Vermeer painting that Data has on his cabin wall in Star Trek: The Next Generation. The painting is not discussed, but it is there to show his interests and add some mystery to the man (the android who wanted to be human). When I first saw the painting, I had to know what it portrayed. I recognized it as a Vermeer, but only later, during an internet search, did I find out it was his A Woman Holding a Balance. A wonderful piece, to be sure. I think it spoke volumes about the humanistic vision of the show, and perhaps a bit about Data.
Recently, I saw a painting on the wall in a show that looked very much like my Spools piece seen above. I just loved the look and decided to mimic it with a 3D model and render. The result draws me in, especially when seen full screen. In part, it reminds me of Denise’s spools of thread. In part, it reminds me of a machine with many rollers. Can you imagine feeding a tape through them all, the way one would thread 8 or 16 mm film through an old projector or tape through a reel-to-reel music player? Imagine the colorful sound it would produce.
Do you take note of artistic props in movies and TV shows? Let me know in the comments what has caught your eye.
Thanks for taking the time to experience the undiscovered country with me today!
Donald B. Cheke – Saskatoon, SK
Nice blog! I like naan bread when I cook Indian food, but I really like the idea of a pizza with it. I will have to try it.
Thanks Mike, for taking time to read the blog post and for your comment.