The Numbers ... Another Show Begins ...

[mrdreamjeans]

Today was a good day for numbers ... I got the test results from last Thursday’s blood work. As I mentioned in an earlier post, I had never been screened for cholesterol, diabetes, liver or protein functions, PSA (for prostate), red blood cell counts or many of the other normal tests for someone my age. It was time ...

I’m happy to say that my numbers were in the “optimum” range for the majority of the tests. My doctor (and best friend from college) told me that my cholesterol counts, both types, couldn’t be better; in fact, they were better than his own. For diabetes, I was told my reading was 88; furthermore, the tests showed I was NOT predisposed to having diabetes. Since my father and grandmother are/were diabetics, this is wonderful news.

My dad also takes meds for his prostate, so I’ve been concerned that I might genetically follow him. A desirable number is 4 or under. My result was .2. One liver function was just a touch high, but it turns out ibuprofen will elevate the number. I had been taking it for a wrenched back.

My blood pressure reading was 117/78.

I still should lose another 20lbs; but all in all, for a man who’s about to hit his 52nd birthday next month, I’m doing well. I can use the information I’ve learned from these screenings, target areas of improvement and use them as inspiration in fine-tuning my health and fitness goals.

Another number from today ... I had my costume fitting for “Wonderful Town”. I have one costume. After 17 months of “Evita” with 16 changes of clothes per show, one costume to wear seems like a bit of heaven. I was fitted for my police uniform, hat and shoes. Just call me Officer Lonigan:)

Tomorrow I begin rehearsals for “Wonderful Town”. We’re going to sit down and read through the script. And so another show begins ... Conga anyone?

Comments

[sohipithurts.livejournal.com]

Congrats on the great numbers, Officer Lonigan! Good luck with the new show!

[mrdreamjeans.livejournal.com]

Thanks, Vinny! Sounds like you're having a great trip! I wish you great productivity and a safe journey home! Hugs!

[gotmoof.livejournal.com]

A cop costume at age 52? Why, I remember when you were a svelte 42!

damn, that just aged me, too.

[mrdreamjeans.livejournal.com]

Yes ... We were all ten years younger once:) However, at 42, you met me when I was putting on a fat suit and crawling up elephants as Hannibal ... *grin* This is my first cop since Officer Kruptke in "West Side Story".

ps ... Don't worry ... You're only getting better with age ... Hugs!

[abearius.livejournal.com]

Officer. I am happy to hear that you are in such glowing health and that you will be performing for a number of years and millions of people! :-)

[mrdreamjeans.livejournal.com]

Thanks, Jeff! I was a bit worried about the screenings because I'm having them for the first time about 10 years after you should. That the numbers are excellent is a relief. Hugs to you!

[bearfuz.livejournal.com]

I want pictures of you in uniform!

I'm just sayin'.

Congrats on the clean bill of health!

[mrdreamjeans.livejournal.com]

Thanks, Chip! I'll post my Lonigan picture when they take production photos:)

[daltxfurry.livejournal.com]

YAY for good numbers!!!!!!

I am going in to let them stick me with needles on Monday to take blood and such then go back on the 6th to go over the results!

1 costume only huh? Isn't that a treat? While it's always a thrill to run around and be busy changing costumes and such it gets tiring after a while.

You won't know what to do with all your time! :-)

Wish I could get up there to see the show! I might have to try and do some financial wrangling......

[mrdreamjeans.livejournal.com]

Today's the first read-through of the script. I think I'm going to be doing a lot of running around, blowing a whistle:) I never got tired of "Evita", just changing clothes ... so the 1 costume thing is workin' for me. *grin*

Good luck with your tests. By the way, I tried the "cough once just before the needle is inserted" and I didn't feel the needle go in. (It releases a histamine in the skin which blocks pain.) It's twice I've tried that tip and it worked both times. Let me know how it goes!

Big Hugs!

One must assume ...

[anziulewicz.livejournal.com]

... that being on your feet so much, moving around, singing, acting, and so on must spend a huge amount of energy. Travelling around doing musical theatre is about as far from "sedentary" as you can get, and in your case it seems to be working to your advantage, healthwise. Obviously there are some people in your line of work who do not cope with the stress in a healthy way, as you have pointed out previously. But I think in your case, it's possible to carry a few extra pounds and still be perfectly fit. I admire you.

Re: One must assume ...

[mrdreamjeans.livejournal.com]

I agree with you that the travel and show movement are doing good things for my health. I do a lot of walking and some dancing. However, I do have a lot of stress which exhibits itself in my skin. I'm always battling exzema.

I do think cutting out sweets five months ago has paid off big time. We'll see how much longer I can go without:)

Meanwhile, I think I'll work on getting rid of that final and stubborn 20lbs. More exercise and not eating at night ought to do the trick!

Thanks for the kind words .... HUGS!

[tbone1961.livejournal.com]

awesome news on the test Neil!!! one/two/three less things to worry about!!!

HUGZ

[mrdreamjeans.livejournal.com]

Thanks, Jim! How are you?

[tbone1961.livejournal.com]

doing good sir.

hockey season almost over.

working around this 12hr time difference while Randy is in Thailand. but still manage one/two phone calls a day. he'll be back next week.

[mrdreamjeans.livejournal.com]

One or two calls a day ... That's got to be expensive! When I was working in Germany, Austria and Switzerland in 1991-2 and then again in 2002, I always had to plan ahead. Thank goodness for cheap international calling cards:) Tell Randy hello for me and that I wish him a safe journey home to you! HUGS!

[tbone1961.livejournal.com]

actually not bad at all. he found some calling plan that gave us 400 minutes for $20. looks like we'll do fine. as of this morning, we were at 136 minutes left, and he flies back Wed am. but he'll be sight-seeing and elephant riding this weekend. So I doubt we'll get the chance to chat this weekend. I'm running with hockey anyway.

[mrdreamjeans.livejournal.com]

I hope he gets a picture of himself riding an elephant wearing a "gimme cap". They make great conversation generators:) One of my favorite photos of myself was taken in Egypt at the Pyramids. I'm riding a camel and wearing a Lonestar Feed cap ...*grin* ... You'll have to twist Randy's arm and post a photo of the elephant ride:)

[carharttmo.livejournal.com]

Damn 16 changes in one show - did you have a helper? (fluffer?? LOL)

Glad to hear the numbers are so good. I am doing a study here at work and got my blood work back and it too was all in the "normal" range - well blood pressure isn't but if I would loose some weight that too would be normal. It's nice when the numbers come back good!

Can't wait to hear about "Wonderful Town"! Good to hear you are settling in too.

[mrdreamjeans.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the encouragement! I know that weight doesn't necessarily determine cholesterol numbers or diabetes readings for that matter ... but when I weigh less, I feel better; consequently, I'm more active. So, I'll keep the weight loss as one of my goals.

I had a dresser for "Evita", but alas ... the only fluffers have been for private use:)

HUGS!

[deebee.livejournal.com]

congrats on great #'s ... and the excitement of only havin to wear 1 costume!

current music: wrong note rag

:-)

[mrdreamjeans.livejournal.com]

I should listen to the CD. If I'm going to be doing this show, I ought to know the music:)

[deebee.livejournal.com]

yuppers (grin)

[mrdreamjeans.livejournal.com]

We read through the script and the leading ladies , who have been rehearsing music two days longer that the rest of the cast, sang their numbers. It's going to be a great show! Today we learn the music to "My Darlin" Eileen" at 1pm and stage it at 3pm:) That's the number where my vocals are featured. Any pictures of you from "Women Behind Bars" available?

HUGS!

[deebee.livejournal.com]

i'll check...

[lovesongman.livejournal.com]

Officer Lonigan... is that a billy club in your pocket...or are you just happy to see me?

And a deep sigh comes out.... what relief and happiness over the good medical news!!

[mrdreamjeans.livejournal.com]

I am relieved by the good test results. I'll have more when I return to Texas, but for now, I can feel good about the numbers. I'm sitting here waiting for UPS and Comcast. What an exciting Wednesday:)!

[ciddyguy.livejournal.com]

Yay for the #'s. Mine have not been too good for blood pressure and it does run in the family though.

I still have not been in for a fasting test for those but once insurance is reactivated etc, then I will resume physical and get it all done after all I'm not getting any younger...

Glad you have one costume change, Officer Lanigan. :-)

[mrdreamjeans.livejournal.com]

Keep up with your health, my friend, and many more things are possible. Good luck!

[jodfoster.livejournal.com]

Congrats on the numbers! I always have pretty low ones as well, so much so that I don't even get cholesterol checked every year anymore. Now I just need to be good about getting to the gym!

What is Wonderful Town about?

[mrdreamjeans.livejournal.com]

I need to be more proactive about screenings. It could save me a lot of money down the road. Glad to hear your numbers are excellent too!

"Wonderful Town" is about two sistes from Ohio who come to New York in 1935 to find their fame and fortune. Eileen is sweet and beautiful, uses her feminine wiles to make her way in life; Ruth is smart and talented and is trying to make it as a writer. They encounter a lot of setbacks, but ultimately they are successful in life and love. That's it in a nutshell ... It's a big dance show. Though I'll mostly be chasing people and blowing my whistle ... eventually, I'm even charmed by Eileen ... even sing the lead in a ballad for an Irish tenor. The song's called "Eileen".

[jodfoster.livejournal.com]

So that's all it will take huh? Feminine wiles? I'm sooo going to convert you 'cause I can wile it up with the best of 'em! Is the cast listed anywhere?

[mrdreamjeans.livejournal.com]

I think the cast is listed on the 5th Avenue's website. It's all people from the Seattle area. I may be prejudiced, but since I've worked with many of the actors before, I think the show will rock. Great talent ...nice people ... usually adds up to a wonderful show:)

[pbehr.livejournal.com]

If you feel like crossing the Strait of Juan de Fuca to celebrate your numbers at some point, we can be very good hosts. :-)

In the meantime, may I friend you?

[mrdreamjeans.livejournal.com]

Absolutely!!! I will do the same to you if that's ok!

[pbehr.livejournal.com]

Of course. :-)

Chatty-cha-cha-putana-eva! :0)

[tkn1114.livejournal.com]

SOOOO, this is such a peppy post that I'm going to ask the kind of questions that get me banned from other posts but hopefully amnestied here...

The prostate # = 2: does this mean still... tight? :0)
And so, the follow-up question is: Was there any stamina test? Seems the most important one to me, esp. for les hommes de certain age, as RO aka Elsie-la-Mainoise would put it?... But, of course, which group you are still so far away from becoming part of - SAVED!

You know, I'm taking advantage of my asian heritage to re-discover ginseng roots, bird's nest, bear bile, shark's fin and any such exotique-erotique delicacies to, you know, stock up or boost up whichever is the case on a given day, cuz I sure as hell am not going to paint cranky Cubism all day along like Picasso, God forbid, should the time ever come!

Congrats, once again, on a great start in the new show! I second the motion on Chip's request for pix! My shop talk begs you to describe the costume. I expect no jodpurs? (It's the 30's, after all?) I bet you look swell in it!

What's up with the rose on your info page? I see it around in other blogs in various colors. Just curious.

HUUUUGS!

Re: Chatty-cha-cha-putana-eva! :0)

[mrdreamjeans.livejournal.com]

LOL! Thanh, Thanh, Thanh ....

I am getting better at handling the questions ... That is .2 ... I can assure you my prostate is in pristine condition:) I didn't have a stress test. The numbers are received a couple of days ago were from screenings of bloodwork. I will have more tests in May such as a colonoscopy ... (I love it when you throw in a bit of French ... It does SAVE you:)

The policeman's uniform is fairly generic. It's navy colored wool with brass buttons. However, since I'm Officier Lonigan, my jacket is double-breasted vs the chorus boys playing police officers. I'll post a picture when I get one. I won't be in costume for a couple of weeks. I've just had the fitting.

The rose is a virtual gift of flowers. Friends can purchase them from LJ and they remain on your user page for a period of time. My rose is from elfkat and I appreciate her thoughtfulness.

Hope all is going well with your writing and life in general! HUGS!