Running Late ...

 ... this morning since I guess my body decided it needed just one more hour of sleep. I did sleep well last night, so that "extra" hour - I dunno, but it just set back my routing for the morning. My IOP starts here shortly.

I texted RM yesterday to "remind" her it's about time for our lunch date again. I say remind in that way, as I know she doesn't forget it, she looks forward to our one-on-one time, as do I. Since my weekends are fairly clear for the foreseeable future, I let her pick the date. I'm supposed to find a place. I wanted to find a place I, at least, have not been to before, but it's kind of hard to find one. I should clarify, hard to find a place where RM doesn't have to drive terribly far from home. I'm not saying she has issues driving (like PT) but I do it to try to make it easier. Best would be for me to pick-up/drop-off at her house, but sometimes that is a bit further. Maybe I'll start giving her the option to meet, or for me to pick her up ... let it be her decision. But still haven't found a place yet. Almost everywhere has a House Salad and Italian dressing so I'm good with whatever we decide.

I had my weekly personal session with my Group Leader yesterday. I yakked for a good 40 minutes. After the beginning "small talk" of how are you feeling and are you still working your goals, it merged into my medical and she was asking quite a few questions about the transplant process, estimated times, etc. Then we brought up my end date. June 9th is my last IOP class. Which, once I send a copy (JPG/GIF/PDF) of my completion certificate, that is the last thing on my deferment list, from what I received back in late March/early April. If Mayo has completed the things on their end, my case will go to the Transplant Council within a week for consideration again. That's when I make the List, or learn of other deferments that may have arisen since the last meeting. Getting closer to the goal!

Overall health today is good. Still kind of waking up. Bio figures are fine. I feel pretty good and ready for my IOP (in 20 minutes). I guess I should get off here and take care of the bathroom issues before the meeting....

PeacE

Morning Libations

 I slept good last night. After the previous two nights, I guess the body decided to correct itself, and I drifted off to sleep within moments of laying down. Only recall waking twice (bathroom calls) yet still woke 30 minutes before my alarm. Sigh. What can one do?

It dawned on me just a few minutes ago, I'm turning into (I don't know how else to say it, so no offense) an "old" person. I get up early (for me), I do my morning routine - you know, bathroom, get dressed, check blood pressure (been running a little low lately - today is 104/60) then check glucose (97 today). 'Turn on' the computer, check my calendar for what today holds. And the routine drops into place. I almost feel like going outside and yelling at someone walking by to "Get off my lawn" except it is way to hot out, and not many walk by the house.

How am I doing medically? I'm holding on - no. That sounds like I'm near death (which I am not). Medications are the paracentesis every now and then are holding my symptoms at bay. I have about 3 weeks to go in my IOP, at which point I believe I have completed everything on the list regarding the deferment. Which means soon my case will go up to the transplant council to determine making the Waiting List. Am I getting 'antsy' about it? Nah. Nothing I can do at this time except finish the IOP and maintain my meetings. Side note: Last night with my transplant support/AA meeting, we had a great topic about "Giving Without Strings" based off the AA Daily Affirmation of the day. Not in the biblical, sermon-type way. Moreso about helping other alcoholics recover, and support.

This weekend is Memorial Day weekend, and though the Post has a few events going on, I am not sure how many I will help with. Saturday they do the 'flag drop' at the cemetery near the Post (placing flags at each Veteran's stone) followed by a breakfast at the Post. Monday they are doing three flag raisings that morning, the final one being at the Post around 10:30am, I probably will make that one. Tuesday is their FOD walk, where the flags are picked back up, bundled, and returned to the Post for next year. This is usually done by the high school ROTC groups (about 4-5 of them this year) but open to any that want to help. Maybe I will check with the Youngest and see if he would like to do the flag drop again. He did go with me a couple years ago, and said he actually enjoyed it. Amazing what giving some time for a good thing is ale to make a person feel! I figure he won't do it this year, but I'll ask.

Well, this morning's drink of choice is Canada Dry ginger ale. No, not feeling nausea, just out of other soda and I wanted some carbonation. It'll be tea afterwards I am sure. Side thought: too much tea causing the sleeplessness? Too much caffeine? Nah.

One thing on the calendar for today, and it isn't until 2pm, so I got time to pick up a prescription this morning after 9am. I should work on the minutes from the Riders meeting, but I am pushing that off today. 

Okay, I'm outta here....

PeacE

Another Birthday ...

 ... is here, and this one is for the Oldest Son, Ralphd00d IV. Today he turns 28, and has turned into a wonderful young man. From holding you in my arms, to you joining me on the Annual Santa Runs, we have been blessed to have such good times. 

Slow day today. I have a personal session for the IOP (that usually lasts about 10 minutes) and a Riders meeting tonight. That's my whole day basically.

Nothing to ramble on about this morning. Rough time falling asleep last night, and wasn't able to drift off until near 4am. Up at 7am, a bit tired, but otherwise awake and moving. Now typing, not so much. I was texting with RM, and the errors have begun. What a Monday.

As I gaze into the misty future, I see a possible nap today.

PeacE

If I Think Real Hard ...

 ... it will come. Maybe. Sometimes coming up with a post title is hard.

It is Sunday, and I am up at the usual time. For a short bit, while getting dressed, I was going through things I need to get done today. After a few minutes of this, I realized it was Sunday and not Monday, so it kind of messed with my 'just made' plans. But wait! Sunday is more open to get things done. Only, the things I was going over was my appointments and the VFW Riders meeting in the evening. Oh crud! I forgot to do the Agenda - I better do it right away before the meeting. Wait! It's Sunday, I have time to complete it. Sigh.

Guess what I get to do today? Yeah, the Agenda for the Riders meeting. Shouldn't take too long - I don't think we have much going on.

'The wheels on the bus go 'round and 'round' but the ones on my office chair, not so much these days. The chair I currently have is a nice one from Staples a few years ago. But in this older house, the concrete-painted floor of the office has "roughened" up the surface from use, so the plastic wheels just pretty much got destroyed over time. Considering how heavy I was, it is not surprising. Unfortunately, I think it is past the warranty date (which I find isn't where it is supposed to be) but I don't think they would cover use/abuse. Maybe I'll take the Wife and hit a couple Goodwills nearby and see if they have a roller office chair that is good. I could look for shorts too, of the style I like, preferably in my "new" waist size.

The Wife and I went to dinner last night at Garcia's - one of our favorite Mexican restaurants. I had the El Magnifico Sampler platter (Chimi, burrito, chile rellano, taco refried beans, and rice. Don't forget the chips and salsa! I ate way more than I should have, but I'm just calling it a "cheat day". I still have the beans, rice, chimi and burrito to eat for today.

Tomorrow is the birthday of my Oldest Son, and he turns 28. I have asked if he wanted anything for his birthday, but have never gotten a response, so I have no clue. I don't know if the Wife has gotten anything for him. I'll text him tomorrow, as we rarely see him. He works night as a Night-Time Operation Mgr. at Home Depot.

Well, I guess I should wrap this up and get stuff done.

PeacE

Saturday ...

 ... and it feels like a regular weekday to me. The only exception is the Wife is at home. Nothing on my calendar for this weekend, so no idea what will be going on.

I went up to Safelite yesterday, and within 30 minutes, the car was fixed. The Manager was the only one that dealt with me. The whole ordeal would have ended just fine, if he had just apologized, fixed it, and sent me on my way. But no, he opened his mouth. Before he looked at it, the cause was a "false positive" as they take of a picture of the calibration results for the file, and mine should all was working fine. I shrugged, I mean I know stuff happens. After he brought the car back out, the excuse was a "broken cord" that after the picture, and they were replacing the mirror panel, etc., that he has a bunch of new trainees, and he must have been busy with one of the others when this tech did my car. I still didn't care, even though I know stuff happens sometimes. He made a comment along the lines of 'I wish you would have contacted me first instead of writing a bad review'. I looked him straight in the eye, 'I didn't write a review for you yet. I filled out a survey about my visit. The 2-star review you are getting now is a bonus as it was going to be 1-star, but you fixed it. 

So it seems some of the IOP sessions are paying off. I went through some things that we covered under Anger, and did not straight out attack Safelite angerly like I normally would have back in the day. 

... and that is all I have today.

PeacE

Oh Squeaky Wheel...

 ... how wonderful when you work properly! I had emailed Safelite yesterday regarding the Pre-Collision System malfunction with my car. Briefly, when I was in last week for a replacement windshield, evidently they did/didn't do something that was supposed to be done to the camera in such a way the only thing it works for is the speed limit. And it is irritating having the notice on the vid screen, with no way to remove it except to fix the darn thing. Well, they called me yesterday, I had to explain what PCS means (they use the term ADA) and he told me to schedule an appointment, and explain what is going on to the counter help, and it should be taken care of. I'm scheduled for 1pm, right after my IOP this morning.

Other than that, I have nothing on the calendar today. Oh! I do need to swing by CVS and see if they have my prescription in. They were to have it last week, but I never got the call it was in, and I kept forgetting to go by there. I'll do that on my way home...

Feeling almost back to normal after the paracentesis. A day or two afterwards I fell like the body is re-adjusting from the fluid drained, as I get some nausea, and feel somewhat fatigued without doing anything. Today I almost feel normal - well, normal to me.

I expect to be finishing yesterday's session material today. Seems yesterday, one of the new people (just joined this week) went off on a tangent, and off topic for a good 5 minutes. Then someone else replies to what she is talking about, and the back and forth of it all... Our group led should have gotten them back on topic faster, but not my job. I've learned in life that no matter where you are, it seems there are always people that set off my 'spidey-sense'. There are a couple new people in session (just starting) that I have this about. I've been good about not saying anything, no matter how much I want to. What use would it do? They are already having issues similar to what I went through already, so I can relate that way, but their attitude just floors me. I guess it comes down to how they were raised. We all have our opinion about that issue these days....Sigh.

Anyways, that's my boring life for the day basically.

PeacE

They Abused Me ....

 ... at the hospital yesterday. I went in for a paracentesis (draining of ascites from the abdomen) like I have for several months now. This is the second time (in a row even!) I have been able to go three weeks before needing to be drained. Not bad considering it used to be weekly. Either way, there was a "new girl" at the hospital that does the actual catheter insertion. This is a 2-shot process: 1). numbing shot, and 2). second shot to insert the catheter. Well, for some reason, as she was starting the second insertion, I felt a hard jab. I said something, and for some reason, the numbness hadn't set in yet. It is usually quite fast this whole start-up procedure. So she had to do another jab with some more 'numbness', then the second step wasn't bad, until they get to the abdominal wall, then a quick push and ...voila! Drained 6.7 liters yesterday (around 15 pounds).

Afterwards, like usual, I was "drained" (pun intended). I don't know what it is about getting this draining done that I always feel this way for a day or so afterwards. I think it may be the body telling me to slow down for a bit so it can readjust after the draining so the organs can 'resettle' after being under pressure. I truly don't know, but that us my guess.

IOP this morning. I had my hour session yesterday with our Group Leader, and we talked for a good hour. Not so much about problems I am having, but how am I doing with the adjustments and self-awareness of applying some of the things I have learned in class. I like this gal. We joke around and she even has me sharing a joke or two each class session at the end. I forget how that came to be... I think I wanted to share a funny one-liner, and now everyone wants a joke to end the meeting with laughter. But finding a funny, clean joke is hard, even with the internet. It is either sexual, racial, or not funny.

No plans the rest of the day. Don't really feel like going to the Post today. I did email Safelite yesterday, and voiced my problem with two possible solutions for them. Hope t hear back from them today, but I have a feeling I will have to get it in to a dealer to fix. Maybe they add it on when I go in in a couple weeks....

Welp, I think I shared enough. Go out and make your own stories!

PeacE