Random 5 for August 10, 2025 – Energy, hot cars, blogging, readers, end of summer

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This is my goal!

Something new to try – I’ve been complaining about lack of energy for ten years. I tire easily and sometimes require a daytime nap. My PC doc has tested my thyroid, vitamin D levels and the standard blood tests. Everything comes back within normal parameters. I still complain every time I go to a doc, any doc. I was at one of my specialists this week. She asked how I was, and I whined about energy levels. She looked at my blood work and said my iron was low. Looking at the test results, my iron level is the lowest number to be considered acceptable. She has put me on an iron supplement to see if that helps with the possibility of a infusion if it doesn’t. At least it’s something new to try. Fingers crossed. Suggestions welcome.

A new observation – In my area, snappy hot convertibles are driven by men who average 75 years old. I remember when convertibles were associated with young handsome people. Maybe this is their time to be wild and crazy after being practical for too long. Let’s hope they get their cataracts fixed before they hit the gas pedal.

Calling all bloggers – Lately I’ve been getting notices that someone recommended my blog. That’s new to me. I don’t recognize the person recommending. They are that weird combination of letters and numbers that password generators use. Anyone know about this? Legit?

A new reader? – Some of my blog comments have been “liked” by Elon Musk. I have no illusions that it’s the real one because he’s too busy creating havoc and having children to read an old lady post. It’s just weird.

Something that happens late summer – I don’t exactly know what triggers it. When the temperatures start cooling off at night to signal that there is a fall coming, I get reflective. It happens every year (and no it’s not in anticipation of pumpkin lattes or whatever!). I am grateful for my life and the people around me. There is no mourning of missed opportunities. I wish I could live someplace where I would experience this all year. It’s a good feeling of contentment.

So how was your week?

 

72 thoughts on “Random 5 for August 10, 2025 – Energy, hot cars, blogging, readers, end of summer”

  1. it’s cool that you’re getting recommendations. I know I’ve recommended you, but not in ways that you would be getting notifications. I tell folks about your cats adventures. I have a few friends who are cat people and maybe they’ve stumbled across your blog.

    Elon Musk is liking your blog? I would be honored. You’re probably right it’s not the real Elon Musk, but who knows maybe it is he has done weirder things.

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  4. I’ve noticed that too….if you see a snazzy convertible there’s usually a gray haired guy driving it….no one else can afford them. Elon Musk liked my blog too – he must be desperate for people to like him back? Re energy – I nap if I’m home, usually before or occasionally after supper if I’ve been out, set the kitchen timer, and then I’m good until 1 or 2am. It’s entirely my fault that my circadian rhythm is off, as I stay up too late to read instead of going to bed when normal people do. Are you a night owl or a lark? In my case, my fatigue is caused by the Beta-Blocker I am on post-op heart surgery and for the rest of my life – metoprolol, it slows everything down. Sometimes I feel like I’m walking through quicksand. It’s not drowsiness, it’s fatigue, a common side effect that never goes away for most people. I take it twice a day, and when it’s peaking, mid-pm it’s nap time. Which is a problem if I have stuff on that day and have to go out, then I just power through it and nap later. I find August depressing, and reflective too, more so than New Years. I guess that’s a hold over from when Sept. meant a new school year….

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  5. I hope your new afternoon nap therapy works out well. It sounds like a good idea right now!

    Here’s your prescription: “Take 2 cats, and call me in the morning.”

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  6. (I keep trying to comment on your blog posts and have re-subscribed several times- so I hope this works.)

    Got such a chuckle over who’s driving the convertibles. So funny and so true!

    Fall weather? Oh, only a dream here until after Halloween. But hope it arrives soon this year – and shortens hurricane season.

    On the energy thing, maybe just the heat. But I do know there are 2 thyroid tests – the surface most frequent one may not show a problem but the (more expensive one) one that looks closers can show something the other one missed. Still, fingers crossed it’s just the weather and lull before the nice blast of crisp fall ( and pumpkin spice Starbucks with cool weather maybe? HAHAHA)

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    • We’re back to steamy today but probably less steamy than you! The energy thing is all year round so not just the heat. I’ll put a note in my doc file to ask about another thyroid test. I have less energy than my contemporaries. No thanks on the pumpkin spice. Love pumpkin, love spice but don’t like the drink! 🙂

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  7. Here’s hoping the iron supplement provides a bit more energy for you. We’ll keep our paws crossed it might make a difference.

    Have not heard anything about the blog recommendation thingy you described from the WordPress poo-bahs. I’m just cynical enough to think it might be some sort of scam-ey thing. You could contact the Happiness Engineers and they can look into it. Good luck.

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  8. Hmm, low B-12 makes me tired. Hope the iron works. The blog stuff sounds odd. I just can’t wait for fall, although I do have regrets!! Lots of them. But less and less with each passing year. Bring on the pumpkins!

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  10. One day I got into WordPress and had a slew of “likes” by “Elon Musk” and the profile pic had him as well as his “verifiable blue check mark” used on Twitter/X, but not on my posts (I don’t think), but comments made on Anne Mehrling’s various posts.

    As for the iron, years ago I decided to get a multivitamin with iron. No reason at all, but I turned 40 and thought I should do this, even though I ate properly, etc. I now eat hot oatmeal 365 days a year and had eaten oatmeal for breakfast for years, but in the Summer I often just had a bowl of Wheaties with a slice of wheat toast and OJ for breakfast. In case you’re wondering, my “breakfast menu” is important to this tale – more on it in a bit.

    A few weeks after I began taking the Centrum multivitamin, I was in the car at the bank’s drive-thru. It was a Friday and a long line and I suddenly felt like I would pass out. I got out of the line and drove home, a mile away, quickly. Pulled into the driveway and didn’t trust myself to pull into the garage as it’s a narrow garage, only two feet or so on each side of the car. I went into the house and laid on the floor immediately, so I would not fall down – I know I scared my mom to death.

    The next day I went to her GP who had Saturday hours. I felt fine, BUT I woke up with red spots all over the trunk of my body. The doctor took some bloodwork and asked if I’d done anything different to my diet – I mentioned the Centrum. He said “you don’t need iron – you’re young and healthy.” He sent my blood to the lab but said “I think you have chromatosis from the vitamin – too much iron in your blood, but I’m sending you to an oncologist to be sure and will have the lab send the results to him.” I was scared!

    Went to the oncologist, who confirmed that’s what I had – chromatosis is having too much iron in your blood and it can damage your organs and make you very sick. He said a little longer and they would have had to do a “reversal” to get the iron out of my blood. Yikes! The doctor asked me what I took the pill with. I said “Wheaties, wheat toast and a glass of OJ” and he said each of those items boosted the iron in the vitamin. Had I taken it with other food, it might not have happened. But no, I boosted the iron as all those things were iron-rich. I was relieved and came home and threw the vitamins out. My mom said “you read too many &^%$ magazines – you believe everything you read!” She was relieved too. My big concern about the spots on my body was because there was much concern at the time about Toxic Shock Syndrome from tampon use. So, thankfully I came out of this with no serious health issues. I now take the One-a-Day Multivitamin for Woman 50+ with no iron in the vitamin.

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    • I am aware of the effects of too much iron so I was surprised when she suggested it but my blood test showed the lowest level acceptable. I’m on an every other day pill with a follow up blood test in 4 months. For a while I was taking a multivitamin pill with iron but it gave me a stomachache every single day so I stopped. My GI doc isn’t a fan of supplements in general until it’s determined that you need them. I used to take fish oil and found out that isn’t good for my IBS. We’ll see how this goes. There are so many interactions that it’s hard to track them all.

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      • I wanted to ensure you knew that about the iron as it really scared me how quickly this happened and how lucky I was. I have taken cod liver oil capsules for many years and now have to order them from Amazon since they no longer sell them in the store. I take a brand made from Norwegian cod, but as a kid, I had the cod liver oil malt which had the consistency of molasses, but an awful taste. I don’t take anything else, except an OTC antihistamine, only in allergy season, despite getting allergy shots for decades … that iron pill scare was enough. I gave blood for many years and my hemocrit level was a little below donation requirement, but they took it and encouraged me to take an iron pill. I said “no way” and ate a lot of spinach for the two weeks before going to give blood instead.

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        • I will be monitored with follow up blood tests. I took a blood test today that establishes my level for this year (she was looking at my 2024 blood work when she said I was low). Then another test in 4 months. She also said if there was no movement, I could consider an infusion once a year. We’ll where we land.

          Liked by 1 person

          • Wow – well I’ve heard of having an infusion but never knew anyone who had it. Can you also bulk up on iron-rich foods like liver, spinach and lentils to avoid that procedure. My mom used to make liver, but I was not a fan, so after she was gone, I just had spinach salad (I loved the Dole kit they had with the cherry vinaigrette dressing) and canned lentil soup.

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              • I hope that works out for you then. I read some health stories on MSN and today I read an article about green tea. I bought green tea for years, would have a couple of bags, then the rest of the box would sit. I don’t like green tea, but finally last year I decided it WAS good to drink it, so now I even like it. But this article said if you drink five cups of tea a day it can cause folate and iron depletion. I only have one cup. I prefer coffee but just two cups a day. But I mention the tea to you just in case you do drink a lot of tea. I saved the story if you would like me to send it in a comment.

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  11. I like your reflective state, all gratitude and contentment. The connection with the seasons is interesting.

    No Elon Musk on my blog, but I get lots of friend requests from “him” on X. I go there to follow news about the Russia-Ukraine war.

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  12. I’ve never tried iron supplements, but I take B12 which also has folic acid and vitamin D each morning. I went a few days without them awhile ago because I ran out and found myself getting sluggish and tired.That’s so strange about the Elon Musk like. I find myself thinking about fall. Right now it’s very hot and I’m wishing for cooler temps.

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  13. I’ve been thinking I might try an iron supplement even though my doc has never said anything about my iron level – I just think it might be good period. Funny about the older guys in hot cars……that is the same here! Today we were coming out of the grocery store and there was a gorgeous hot car/convertible parked near our car and as we were putting the groceries in the car a very nice looking, gray haired and bearded guy came by us, smiled and said “good morning” and got in that car and drove off. Sigh.

    Hugs, Pam

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  14. Elon has turned up on my blog too. Like you, I don’t think it’s legit.
    As for a recommendation, I was by one of my readers, but I think this is a new chink in the WP happiness vibes as there is a button to ‘recommend this blog’ on the home page of everyone I read.

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  15. Kate, I always feel content and happy when fall arrives. Not in Florida… back in Missouri… Ha! Fall is not the same in Florida. You are right it is a special feeling of contentment. There is no fall in Florida. I hope the iron pills are the answer for you. I think I should pull out my latest blood work. I don’t trust those parameters. Our week was hot, humid, stormy, full of good food with friends and full of thankfuls 🙂

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  17. Reflective is a poignant state to be in especially with gratitude in place of regret.

    And your blog question…I would tread carefully. I had trouble on Instagram. We’re sitting ducks for cyber nuts. I actually had someone on WordPress try to sell me one of my own essays. When I complained to WordPress they had nothing to say, so beware Madam and here’s hoping your energy is on its way back. 🙂

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  18. I take a daily multi vitamin gummy, and it seems to cover my bases. I did have a period when I wasn’t taking it, and I’d come up on the low side of D, and my PC would prescribe a mega dose for a couple of months. Hot cars around here are definitely old white males. 🙂 Elon hasn’t visited me, but I certainly would hit ‘spam’ if I saw his name for a couple of reasons. 🙂 We are in the middle of a heat wave, but fall is coming because I have the desire to start my fall projects. 🙂

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  19. I recently read a post by another blogger who mentioned that they received a Like from Elon too… weird. Then, the next day, I got one too! I have no idea who or what is behind this but I hope it’s not a scammer trying to allure unsuspecting (and gullible) people into something harmful.

    I hope the iron supplements do it for you! Both my husband and I found out – a bit by accident – that we were low on B-12 (symptoms include feeling tired, weak, dizzy) and have benefitted from supplements.

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  21. I was anemic while pregnant, which explained some of the exhaustion. Here’s hoping your iron pills help! Also, laughed over the cataracts observation. It’s so true–one morning I saw the ancient dude with the walker climbing out of a Miata at the pool. Why would you do that to your poor knees?!

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  22. I hope the iron helps. Last time I went to give blood they said my iron was below their minimum level, and I’m often tired …maybe I should try a supplement too. I’ll be curious to see if it helps you. I’ve been loving the cooler days, though warmer ones are ahead again. But the fall season just makes me happy- feels so relaxing after summer, which I just fine stressful. Heat isn’t my favorite. As for the “recommended” thing…I have seen this on some blogs when you pull them up. There’s a new box that says “recommend?” I’m guessing that’s where it come from, but I don’t see it everywhere, so I’m not sure what makes it appear.

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    • I’ll probably post about my iron. I’m being hopeful but not expecting miracles. I was surprised she picked up on it when no one else did. I have to look for that recommend box. Don’t think I’ve seen it.

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