We now interrupt your regularly scheduled doom scrolling and impending collapse of American Democracy
for this update on my life, health, heart, critters, and more.
A lot has happened to me recently.
On December 22, I had my latest surgery, a cardiac ablation 💚.
Simply put, it was a procedure where a bit of the inside of my heart was burned away. This is supposed to fix my long time Afib, which caused my heart to beat out of rhythm, as it has for many years.
The short of it is that the procedure seems to have worked, at least for now. My heart has been beating normally for the first time in years. However my surgeon has said that it is not uncommon for an initial success to fail within the first few months after the procedure.
I have been slowly recovering. Initially I could barely walk and for several weeks, I did little walking or moving around for several weeks.
I had scheduled the surgery for winter break so I didn’t have to contend with going to work. Even when I returned, I used and continue to use a cane to get around as I was and remain weak and unstable and constantly on the edge of falling.
I am feeling better over time. Indeed, I both feel much better while remaining unstable. I have little endurance. I can start out strong, but I quickly get tired and, more importantly, unstable. I feel like I’m constantly on the edge of falling, which could be serios as I’m still taking blood thinners. A fall while I’m on blood thinners could be very serious. I could find myself with large bruises or even internal bleeding.
I attribute my feeling better to increased blood flow to my brain. 🧠 I am thinking more clearly and with less fogginess than before the surgery. I had begun to worry that I was in the beginning stages of senility and was often in a deep depression. While not faded entirely, I feel much better now.
Still, as I stated above, I’m not out of danger yet. One thing I have to be careful about is balance. I find I get walking and sometimes suddenly get unstable and have to lean on a wall or pole. I sometimes forget to bring my cane as i often don't need it at first, only to find after a short walk or going on uneven ground that i do need it after all. I do not want to fall down and go boom.
In short, reports of my full recovery are exaggerated. It is frustrating to have some people in my life dismiss my need for help by assuming that because I can stand and walk I’m fully recovered. Some people in my life have accused me of “faking it”. After the cow-valve surgery, someone told me that all I needed to do was “get out of bed”. At this moment i am 66, and while I’m steadily improving, I will probably not reach my physical status of 26, or even 56, again.
One good thing is that I have lost a huge amount of weight. I am down about 150 pounds from my lifetime maximum, and am currently at the lowest weight I’ve been at since I was about 24.
My cardiologist wants me to get to 180, a weight I have not been at since I was 15. I am doubtful I will get to that goal.
One factor is that my clothing is increasingly getting loose and baggy, especially my pants. Most of my pants I bought 100 pounds ago. Even though I’ve lost so much weight, I still cannot find pants my size in local stores, which means that to order online. Plus, as i have a permanent colostomy from colon cancer, I cannot wear tight pants and must order a couple of sizes larger than normal men. Online orders mean I cannot try it on for fit first.
I’m going to be posting my weight loss progress here and on my Patreon.
Apophis and Fenris, my sons.
The critters have been my lifeline in the past couple of years. They have been there when everything was dark and my future seemed about to end.
I currently have four dogs, siblings from the same litter, and four cats, all front porch rescues. They are my constant companions when I get home, and my living blanket when I’m in bed.
.
.
.
.
.
Osiris, one of the strays I feed
In addition, I feed a rotating cast of stray cats. I have several cameras outside and I post videos of them on my YouTube channel, CRITTERS OF CASA DE VERDE.
I have been working with a local organization to CNR (Catch, Neuter, Release) as many as possible.
They eat a lot of cat food. Without me, many of them would starve.
I am currently in need of dry cat food from my Pet Supplies Wishlist.
.
.
.
.
.
.
Recent Student drawn Mister Green Fan Art, with Purple Potato
I have been substitute teaching.
i subbed before the surgery. It was a strain as prior to the ablation I was weak. In addition, as there is a big disability bigotry among districts for disabled subs, I had to hide my infirmity as well as I could.
I was not always successful. In the past, I was often approached by staff and even some students asking if I was alright as I stumbled across campuses. I think I might have appeared on the edge of collapse and pale. It was an almost daily event.
This was especially true on some high school campuses, which can be quite large.
Sometimes as I wobble across campuses I’ve been asked if I’m alright, it’s happening less and less as I gain strength and endurance.
Some school administrators are very disability bigots and I’m constantly in fear one o them will see me in a vulnerable state and that will be it for my teaching career.
Most of my subbing has been in high and middle school. Since I’ve been subbing in all grades from preschool on, I often encounter students in high school who had me in elementary school, even kindergarten.
At my High School Alma Mater with Tommy Trojan
One high school student said “Mister Green, you were my childhood” as he had me as a sub every year of his school life.
My legend has spread among other teachers as well. Recently I was assigned to be a co-teacher in a middle school math class with another teacher. When I walked in, there were many excited exclamations of “MISTER GREEN”. The other teacher said, “you’re mister green?”
In another high school math class, the coteacher told me that the students had been talking about me being on campus and that she had heard of me. It turned out that there were many of my former elementary school students in the class.
Just a few minutes ago a student said, “you are at every school”.
As I was out going to lunch, a student shouted ”MISTER GREEN, We love you!” She was one of my Elementary school students.
Many students are subscribing to my education YouTube channel, MISTER GREEN EXPLAINS.
My current plan, if all goes well, is to work until I pay off the mortgage in about 7 years, and then retire. I can’t afford to retire now as my sub retirement is not enough, even with social security.
I hope my YouTube and other media creative endeavors will supplement my income so eventually I won’t have to work as much.
Assuming the Mango Menace does not intervene to ruin all our lives …
.
.
If you have read all that, thank you.
Now here is my current financial situation.
I did not work for several weeks in December and January.
In addition, there have been several days of no assignment. Local school districts hired a huge number of subs, so there are many of us competing for a few jobs.
I also have had several days involving medical appointments. Specialists tend to have their appointments in the middle of the day. As a sub, if I need an hour off for an appointment, I have to take a full day off and no work means no pay.
.Being this is winter, and I’ve been in delicate health, I’ve had to use the power to heat the house, which as resulted in me having power bills of about $300/month over the past three months.
The car registration is due, about $200.
I need about $2000 worth of dental work or I’ll start losing teeth. 🦷
.Contributions have faded away in recent months. If I had not been subbing, I would be in deep(er) trouble. As it is, I am one financial crisis from disaster, and that disaster could come this month without help.
I currently need about $1400 to get through this month, pay living expenses, the astronomical power bill, re-registration of my car, et cetera.
I realize that times are hard and many people are in need.
You can help by either sending finds, or by going to my Amazon Wishlists below and sending items.
I am particularly in need of dry cat food as the cats, inside and stray, eat a lot.
Please don’t contribute if you can’t afford it. I’m not a MAGA televangelist.
Why support me? 🤔
So why help me?For those of you who have followed me for years, even decades, you know why.
I am often told by many of you, and many not reading this, how much of an inspiration I am.
I have survived a lot of chaos, medical issues 💚, family issues, and more. I’ve come too far to give up now.
I have been producing content, from my writings, photography, art, videos and more that many of you have found entertaining and inspiring. Supporting me as a creator is not charity but supporting a public creator.
Many animals, both indoor and stray, have depended upon me.
I know many people and organizations are in desperate need in these days of chaos and Trump. I hope you can send me some support at the links below.
I could go on.
Thank you for your support.
#jtg
Exhaustion…
Help keep me living indoors
Patreon • KoFi • PayPal • GoFundMe •
Amazon: Pet Supplies • Needs • Food •
Thank you for your support
