Good Morning, Gents!

47 feels pretty good. Much better than 43 did. Even 40. 4 years ago this week, I was waking up in the hospital after an overnight stay. I'd never done that before. Following surgery, which I had never done before. Having a stent in me, which I never had before. And stitches, which I had never had before. Lots of firsts. None of them good.

But now, I haven't had a fruit or vegetable in 18 months. A grain or cereal or or milk in 2 years. Ice cream, a candy bar, popcorn, pastry, or junk food in 2 1/2 years. Soda, fast food, or restaurant food in almost 3 years.

And my blood pressure is perfectly normal & has been for the last 2-3 years. I've lost 70 lbs, which I think I'm at about 60 or so now, only 20 away from where I'd like to be (as opposed to what the healthcare community wants me, which weighing over 5 lbs, none of us are nor will ever be where they want us to be, lol). My A1C is back to normal. My uric acid levels were within a point of normal last year & I'll let you know in a few weeks where they are now, but I'm expecting them to be normal, even low normal.

So take care of your health, gents. This is men's health month! (Among other things. I recently found out that it's also adopt a cat month or adopt a rescue cat month. I mean, anything to divert attention away from men, right?)

In a related topic, we're 6 months into 2026. Can you believe it? Did you make any goals for yourself this year? New Year's resolutions or just goals in general?

I expanded my product line in a couple of locations, expanded into 2 new locations, finished my 2027 calendar, & created about half a dozen new pieces (which supports my ongoing goal of being prolific). I have accomplished everything I set out to do in 2026, so I have a choice. I can take the rest of the year off or come up with some new goals for the 2nd half of the year.

I'm setting the goal of expanding into 3 new locations by 2027. This goal will most likely not be achieved, because it's getting unbelievably harder to find places that will carry my artwork. I also want to create 5 more pieces this year, so I can give one of my locations a face lift. They have somewhat stringent criteria & I haven't changed my artwork out there in probably 18 months, so it's about time I do that. That goal should be achieved by the end of the year, but I need to get on it. Time's awastin'.

How are you doing with your goals? Are you halfway there? Part way there? Done & taking the rest of the year off? Like me & making new goals for the second half?