The Race is On ...

 The past couple days or so, it seems RM and I have been waking earlier than our alarms. I'm talking like two hours ahead for me, and at least an hour for RM. Either way, it has seemed like a race to see who is able to get their post for the day up, for the other to read. I might win today. Not that there is any prize, just some 'friendly competition'. After all, you cannot write good, quality, poignant posts if you are just typing away.

Either way, it is Sunday morning, and I woke about 5am. Laid there for about 20 minutes before ceding the wake-up. Will see later how the Wife is doing, if she is going to go to church this morning or not. IF she is, I would like to go, but I am in enough discomfort with the abdomen distended right now, I kind of do not want to go. Thank goodness I set my paracentesis appointments out like three weeks. Who knows how hard it would have been to get one this week. I have a psychologist meeting for Mayo on Wednesday. Next Wednesday is some bloodwork, nurse visit and then appointment with one of the doctors on my team. That should be it then, I hope. Well, at least enough for them to put me on the waiting list. I noticed the other day my MELD is still at 16.

I didn't do much yesterday. The Wife had a dental cleaning around 11am. I think I had mentioned a couple weeks ago, that I had tried to reach out to the dentist's office, but no one answered, and it was locked down when I stopped by there. Well, found out more specific details as to what happened. The office shares a parking lot with a cat hospital. the hospital had been broken into, trashed, etc. Also fairly recently, the dentist office had had someone(s) steal the4 copper wiring/piping from the A/C unit. Insurance covered and repaired that, then it happened again. I guess the insurance isn't going to cover it again, especially so soon after the first time. So the Dentist is working out of another dental office, just a couple miles further from our house, a couple days of the week, to keep what clientele they can as they decide what to do. This other dental office is owned by the Dentist's brother, also a dentist. The Wife said she got the impression from the Dentist that he is going to close the office, and just practice with his brother at this other location. I am not sure I even like this guy. I may shop around for a dentist I won't freak out about (I truly dislike dentists in general - I think it the whole 'poking a needle in me where I cannot see it'). Luckily <knocking on wood> the toothache I have had has not flared up in the past couple weeks, so I might have a little time before I need to get it done.

And the Wife brought lunch home when she finished her appointment. Some Chino Bandito!! Man, I think my 'usual' has gotten spicier! Or maybe it had been awhile since we have had Chino's. I could only eat half. Did the other half for dinner. Still have some hamburgers and hot dogs from the other night. Yeah, the Wife and may not have to cook at all today as well! I do need to get the Agenda done for the Riders meeting tomorrow night, but there isn't much to really put on there so shouldn't take too long.

I think I will kill some time this morning playing a video game. Oh, and here is some music, because of the post title ...

Man, I watched that video (music starts about the 1:40 mark) and the 80's hair styles....

PeacE

Crickets and Flies ...

 Yesterday started off fairly nice. There was a cloud cover that looked like it wanted to try to rain, but this being the Valley, of course it didn't. I planned my morning out the day before - pick-up from Fry's the remainder of items I needed for the Riders Dinner, then head to RM's to visit while PT was out for his Men's group and friend visitation. It was a good visit (as most are) as we sat in her 'office' (spare room) and chatted while she was was watching/checking her work computer for anything that might come along that needs her attention. In the three hours or so we had together, I think we covered several topics. I even learned a little more about RM, believe it or not. PT looked (to me) like he was butt-hurt that I had been there visiting there without him being home. Oh well. Sorry, Charlie! (Remember that commercial?)

So. around one I left there and headed to the Post. Unloaded my food stuff and had an iced tea, then played on my tablet until about four. There was only 4 of us to work the whole dinner last night, but it went on okay. Our numbers of attendees went way down from other dinners, and not sure why. I know the VFW had the Western Convention in Tucson this weekend down in Tucson, but Leadership rarely participates in the dinners we put on (even the Cmdr. who is the Treasurer of our chapter). One lady did buy 6 meals, so that helped put us in a small profit zone. It was crickets chirping from about 5:15 until we wrapped up about 6:30. I ended up taking home the cooked meats at the end. About a dozen burgers, both with and without cheese, and a handful of beef hot dogs. Took home a package of buns for both, 1 (of 2) buckets of potato salad w/mustard, and another I picked up for personal - it's the same thing, but "Southern Style" so I want to see/taste the difference. A paragraph for another day.

The Wife and I had a discussion last night. At the end, I admitted I wanted to think on it for a day at least before offering my thoughts. Unfortunately for you , the reader, I cannot share this here, regardless of anonymity. RM and I touched this topic yesterday in our visit, and we are on the same page, but there have been some developments. RM has powerful prayers, and I know my Son needs it right now. No, no one there is hurt, just other things going on. So, RM, we may have to do a lunch again pretty soon.

This weekend the only thing I have on my "to-do" list is the Agenda for the Riders meeting on Monday evening. Today, the Wife has a dental appointment near noon. Since I have nothing on my calendar, I will probably do my Twice Gifted meeting at 9am, and then my home AA Group at 11am. I'll wrap it up about when the Wife will be headed back home. She might even pick up lunch... what do I want....? I'm thinking Subway. I got burgers at home, so no burger place. Wife had Arby's for lunch yesterday, so that is out. She won't be near Chino Bandito, so that's out. That pretty much leaves subs, and there are more Subways than Jersey Mikes or Jimmy Johns here. I will have to ask her before she leaves.

So, you know the crickets. What about the flies? Well, I want to be a fly on the wall for a particular conversation that is to take place soon. No details! Just wanna be a fly for a bit ....

... and with that, I am out of here. I am feeling a bit of discomfort with the abdomen area today. The belly is distended pretty good, and I don't have the Paracentesis until Wednesday. Might be 10L then - that's the max they can drain per doctors orders. I can do this. Only a handful of days. At least it isn't brutal pain ... that is to come...

PeacE

I'm Free!

 Today I make myself sound busy. Last night I set up a Frys order to be picked up at 8am (stuff for Riders Dinner) and then I am headed out west to ol' Sin City ... I mean, Sun City ... to visit with RM this morning while PT Is not home. From there I'll probably grab lunch somewhere, then head to the Post early.

Riders Dinners. Riders Meetings. I'm starting to get frustrated with the Riders (our chapter). I know we barely started a year ago, but only 7-8 people show to the meetings, even fewer sign-up to help with the dinners - be it picking up or making food, or just to help set-up and clean-up. I think at our next meeting (Monday) I am going to bring up that I am no longer going to "lead" the dinner stuff. I would like to delegate to someone to do that, but no one shows up to meetings. The whole catch-22 ...

It'll be a nice visit this morning with RM. I am not headed there for any reason other than to visit - no exciting news (I wish it were) or anything ... just a visit.

Okay, enough from Negative Nellie. I need to work on being more positive about my outlook in general.

PeacE

Another Free Day ...

 ... sorta. I have nothing on my calendar today. I still need to get buns for tomorrow's dinner. My Brother will be grilling for us (pre-warning RM) but at least his Wife is out of town and not going to be there. I shouldn't speak badly about her, (as RM says, erase, erase, erase).

I did not hear from Mayo yesterday. I got to thinking about this week. Tuesday late afternoon, Mayo did call twice moving up a couple appointments. Are those requirements on their side of getting me on the list? If so, the second one isn't until the 24th, so it may be 2-3 weeks before it goes to the Council. I am in limbo, aside from making the appointments they schedule for me. It's in God's hands though, so whatever will be, will be. I have committed to the transplant fully, and will see it through, if the doctors still say I need it. I'm not anxious or scared, just need these 'stages' (like waiting to get on the list) to be marked so mentally I may prepare for the next hurdle. That make sense?

I think I will wait until tomorrow to get the buns. I want to be sure I will be able to take the call if it comes at whatever point today. If I do it right, I may visit with RM (minus PT) and then go to the store. Will have to check in with her to get times.

... and because I did nothing pretty much yesterday (played video games, watched Season 3 of 'Jack Ryan') I will do it again today as I didn't finish doing nothing yesterday.

PeacE

A Day of Nothing

 As part of my morning routine, I check my calendar for any appointments, events, etc. Today is the first weekday in quite awhile that it is blank. No IOP. No personal session. No appointment at Mayo. It feels a bit weird not having anything I HAVE to do.

Yesterday, at the completion of the IOP session, I received my certificate of completion, which I promptly forwarded to Mayo. This was the last deferment item that I was in control of completing, in order to get on the waiting list. The Transplant Council meets today, and I am hoping my case is up for review. I did receive two separate phone calls from Mayo yesterday afternoon. One was to schedule Bloodwork/Nurse/doctor visit (24th) and a Zoom meeting with the head psychologist (17th), so they did move those appointments up sooner. I am hoping they are able to put me on the list, and just have these two items to be completed then. I just don't know, so I am a bit ... anxious? apprehensive? nervous? ... as I wait to hear what is going on. It could be that it doesn't go to Council today, and instead have to wait until after these appointments. I just don't know. I am going off of what my Team Psyche doctor told me last week about it going to council today. Either way, fingers crossed.

I am a bit groggy this morning. I took one of my sleeping pills last night, and slept through until the alarm went off (7am) and then I rolled over and slept until about 8am. I think it is a side effect of the pill, but it is clearing up pretty fast.

VFW Riders dinner this Friday. I ended up asking my brother to come and help by doing the grilling. I never learned the "art" of it, and don't trust myself. I never made it out to the bread store, so figure I will just pick up the cheap brand at the store. It will cost versus being donated, but at this point I just don't care. The whole Riders chapter is on my crap list right now.

I suppose I should go finish my morning routine and see if RM has something up.

PeacE

It Is Finished ...

 No, not the bible quote, but my IOP I had to attend. After 2 months, 11 hours per week, this step in my journey is over. In some ways I compare it to a video game where I have just finished my 'Apprenticeship' and now may roam the world better equipped in mind and body. I've mentioned before that I really did enjoy this course and I did. I learned more about my triggers, ways to cope with things and over all how to be more self-aware. But that ends today. My Group Lead should have my completion paperwork ready for when session is over today, which I will promptly forward over to Mayo. More on that in a minute.

Last Wednesday during my 'personal' session with the Group Lead, we did the ending self-exam. That gal said she was going to miss me and that I was one of the most fun people they have had in sessions in awhile. They had even allotted me like a couple minutes after each session to share a joke - I need to find a good one for today.

So once I get the completion paperwork, and promptly get it over to Mayo, it concludes my part of the deferments that I am in control of. The psychologist I meet once a month, and last week, said it should go to the Transplant Council this week (they meet on Wednesdays) and I could have an answer this week about making the Waiting List, or if other issues came up that need to be addressed beforehand.

Yesterday I went and did lab work (1 vial of blood) and then headed to Walgreens. I did not "lose it". I did not yell and scream. I explained what happened, and the lady went to check my records on the computer. She says,"Well, the prescription is available for the full amount as of 6/4. I looked at her, and said, "Today's the 8th. Fill it, now. I never got the refill notice from Walgreens, otherwise this would not be happening." I didn't want to wait around there for 30-45 minutes (they are only like 5 minutes from home) so I went home. Come afternoon after I got the text it was ready, I thought I should go up and get it, plus the one for my Wife, but I couldn't. My mind was ... messed up. I didn't feel right driving (that's HUGE coming from me). I thought the Youngest would be out of bed soon, and he could drive us up, hit the drive-thru, and back home in 10 minutes. Only he didn't get up. The Wife texted, asking if I got hers, and briefly in text said no, don't feel good. They are open until 9pm. Get mine too. And she did.

So I took some last night, and am able to already tell a difference from not taking this for a week. I was up three additional times last night to drain the bladder. I'm still waking up, so will as the day goes how my head feels. I do have an Auxiliary meeting tonight.

Alright. So there may be some really good news within the next couple days. I'm off to find a good joke.

PeacE

Some Days ...

 ... it is hard to be positive about things. Now, I have been pretty much a pessimist for years. Always seeing the bad side of things. Well, I have been trying to turn that around these past few weeks, and have mad moderate success. It's a job to change a habit. This week is feeling like a bad one, even with all the good stuff happening.

I didn't make it to Walgreens yesterday. The Wife needed to run into work and finish some reports that are due on Mondays. Seems the other PT was out last week on vacation, and the Wife didn't want to leave a pile of stuff for her to wade through and do. So, I stayed home. I only left to get a pick-up from Fry's for a couple items I needed for my chili. First time I have used the pick-up option, and it was so easy, and convenient, I would pay the nominal fee that they charge for it. I was earlier than the time allotted, and it still took less than 5 minutes. Speaking of, I thought the chili turned out really well. The Wife said it had some spiciness to it (she can't handle that) and I admitted that one of the cans of beans said it had jalapenos in it ... but I didn't notice that until it was open and I was dumping it in. The other can was regular. I blame someone in the store for putting that jalapeno one with the regular... The Youngest even had two bowls! To me that is a good sign. I even have leftovers for today ... or tomorrow.

Have a blood draw for lab work scheduled today at 9am. Afterwards, I am head to Sun City to a day-old bread store that have donated for the Riders before. I am hoping they will donate some hamburger and hot dog buns, that I can pick up Thursday for Friday's dinner. I'm still trying to find someone to grill the meat, and may end up using my brother. He said he would know Tuesday, as he has to work around a sitter (
one of his kids) for his granddaughter. 

Since I am less than a mile away from RM's at that point, I said I may stop by and visit a short while. I do have a 1pm Zoom meeting that I would prefer to do at home, versus from my phone, so probably won't stay overly long. Reminds me I need to get the jar from her salsa and the bag she sent them in back to her. Let's see if I forget or not.

Having gone a whole week without that one prescription has made a difference. I am distended a bit, nay a lot, more than usual. It is a diuretic, and without it, I'm not getting enough fluid out of my system. I have been good about keeping an appointment for paracentesis each week, and calling to cancel if I don't need it, but this week got lost in the shuffle I guess, as I don't have one scheduled for this week. Going to try to make it to next Wednesday. I think it is harder since it has started to warm up so much here, and even though I am on a fluid restriction, I think I tend to drink a bit more water due to the heat. Shrug. If I have time, I'll stop at Walgreens on the way home.

And now it is just after 4:30am. I am awake and bored.

PeacE