It’s been proven that I have a big heart and a brain, but there’s little evidence of what caused last week’s dizzy spell. I was checked-out by the doctor yesterday afternoon and given the thumbs up to “carry on.” As a result, I left the safety of the treadmill and took to the streets again this morning to get my day started. There was a little bit of relief as my run took me past the spot where I staggered out into the road, unable to control the dizziness. That day, everything was spinning around me in the morning darkness. Today, I easily completed my 3.1 mile route. I did, however, take my phone along in case anything out of the ordinary happened. It didn’t!

As I followed the Yellow Brick Road through our neighborhood, I couldn’t help but think of The Wizard of Oz. It took a little bit of courage to take those first few strides on my own, so the Cowardly Lion would have been proud of me. Last week’s CAT Scan revealed that unlike the Scarecrow, I actually have a brain. One of the technicians joked that he would tell my wife. “Don’t forget to tell her I have a heart, too” I quipped. As it turned out, it’s actually a big heart because the tests showed my aorta to be enlarged. Take that Tin Man! It’s certainly something I’ll want to keep an “eye” on, but it’s also something I can’t “see.”

“There’s no place like home,” also came to mind, as I’ve settled into the retirement routine for the next month. Some warm weather in Phoenix and Thailand will be more than welcome once I begin to grow restless. I watched another episode of “The Curse of Oak Island,” as I did laundry this morning. Much like myself, they didn’t seem to accomplish much today. More digging without striking gold, as they continue to prolong their agonizing search for treasure. I’m admittedly hooked!

Indiana lost their 5th straight BIG Ten basketball game last night, surpassing last year’s 4-game skid and matching the frustration of the 2016-17 conference season. They lost 9 straight in the painful 2010-11 season. It has not been easy to be a fan in recent years, after experiencing so much success during the Bobby Knight era. However, even Bob has turned ugly. I’m a Hooooosier Loooooser (with 5 zeros). At least the Cheer-leading Squad won another National Championship!

It’s a good thing that I have a big heart, because I could say a lot worse things about I.U. basketball. I’m not sure that I have the “courage” to watch the next game and wish I had been born with the “brains” to have gotten a second degree for another college team to support. I definitely would have been better off in Kansas, along with Dorothy and Toto. We need the “Wizard of Westwood” because it’s certainly not “Miller Time.” (See Post #35). “Wherefore art thou, Romeo?” (Post #513).