Happy Thanksgiving!!!!!!!!

Just wanted to take a minute, and a break from my new story here, to wish you a very, very, very Happy Thanksgiving!!!!!
Tomorrow is the Dick Biondi Toy Drive, on WLS-FM (and on the Internet at said radio channel).
Two years ago, I made a small but significant donation. Dick thanked me for that, which was wise on his part, because I didn't have to do that. I was out of work (for the umpteenth time in a four-year time span), had no income (my Social Security Disability benefits didn't start until after I moved to Cleveland), and had just had a major surgery (the nephrectomy, for which my co-pay was $1,000!!) So, to say thank you to me for whatever the donation was that I made, was a good thing. Dick and I were therefore appreciative of each other that year.
Last year, I donated $350...and just reminded myself of that a week or so ago when I decided to get my 5th/3rd checkbook updated, balanced, and detailed. I wrote, and relived, the transactions of the past year, which were many...because when I was in Cleveland, I was lonely, and bored as hell...which caused me to go through a six-month spending spree, including the $350 donation to the Toy Drive. While that was a much larger donation than I had made the year before, Dick never said thank you for that one.
So, this year, I am going to skip the donation. With all due respect to UCAN, and to Dick, I don't need to make a donation and have it get overlooked as though it hadn't happened. I have the records to prove that it did happen.
There was one more thing that I have not forgotten about, nor will I ever probably. Two years ago, during the Toy Drive, someone brought Dick some bottles of specially-marked Steak Sauce, like the one pictured here. Two years ago, Dick promised he'd save me a bottle. I told him I was going to be moving to Cleveland shortly after New Year's...and I did so. But, he never let me visit even then. Even when I was only 350 miles or so away. Not only that, but I never received said bottle in the mail either. So, after two years, I have never actually seen this special collectible bottle that was promised to me. That's not very nice at all, y'know?
Looking at this, I am guessing that someone, particularly another Biondi fan, may be offended by hearing my version of what transpired over the last two Toy Drives. I don't care. This is my blog. I'll offend anyone that I want to on my blog. If I leave a comment on a public discussion forum, then I'll be more tactful...but not on my blog. If I refrained from offending anyone on my own blog, I might as well not write in the first place.
Anyway...feel free to give the Toy Drive a listen tomorrow...and, if you can and want to, go ahead and donate. Dick might even give you an on-air thank you. Me?? I'm saving up for my next car...besides, I already donate to PAWS of Coronado, the Humane Society of the United States, the ASPCA, and even the PKD Foundation. UCAN can do without me this year....since they got $350 from me last Toy Drive, and no one gave a rat's a$$.
Have a lovely weekend!!!!
(poofski)

The first five years

Forgive my lack of memory, but I really don't remember that much about my pre-Kindergarten years.
Thanks to the memories my mom has shared with me over the years, and what little that I can remember, I can probably give you a little background on those five years.
At first, we lived in a two-bedroom, first-floor apartment in Warrensville Heights, Ohio, a southeast suburb of Cleveland.
One thing that I know was true back then, just as it was all my life, was that Mom, Dad, and I got less-appealing presents at Christmas, because Dad is Jewish (which makes me half-Jewish), whereas my aunt and her husband and daughter got the most appealing gifts, as they were Catholic. This was the extent of any mention of religion in my family, or at least in our household, until I was in high school.
While at the apartment, things changed much. Construction on what is now either I-271 or I-480 (no, I'm not sure which...sorry) went underway not too far from where we lived, and when we went on our walks through the neighborhood, I used to tell my mom, "Go see trucks." I am not sure why, but I loved watching the trucks. I must have had tomboy tendencies, although I was clearly a girl...except that my hair was slow to grow out, so was always short and scarce. My first haircut was probably not until after I turned 3.
By early 1973, the neighborhood started changing. The apartments were partially broken in to more than once. Not completely broken in to, and not entered...just the bottom locks were undone, and the doors left ajar, but the security chains were left intact. Because of the changes that were undoubtedly taking place, many families left the area, and we were no exception.
Shortly after my 3rd birthday, we moved to a 2-bedroom bungalow house in South Euclid. My parents still live there, and I have also, on and off in my adult years.
After the move, I wanted to "see Old Numbers House." I guess the numbers on both places got my attention, because the apartment then became "Old Numbers House," and the house was, I think, "New Numbers House."
One thing about me back then: I was a smart cookie. I started reading store signs backwards even...which is something I can, and still, do frequently. I could read and write, period, before I started kindergarten...not everyone can say that.
In South Euclid, I had three or four playmates, all of whom lived on our block, and all of whom were already in elementary school, as at 3 and 4 years old, I was the youngest. We were pretty darn close in those days, and remained close until shortly after I started first grade. I guess, when the going really gets tough, you find out who your real friends are...and they weren't really friends when the going got tough for me. But, I'll get more in to that in a future post.
I have a vague memory of one of our first winters at the house. I think I was 4 1/2, but I may have only been 3 1/2. Whichever...it was clearly snowing, much. And Mom wanted me to play in the front yard by myself for a little while. After all, I was supposed to be a big girl now. No sooner did she go back in the house, than I started crying, as though I thought someone was going to come and kill me or something. I don't remember how we resolved that little problem. So, I didn't like to be alone without Mom. But other than that, I was just as sweet and normal as could be.
By the time I started kindergarten, I was just a sweet little angel...with sometimes a silly sense of humor. But, I was...just a sweet little angel. Not all that talkative, but not painfully shy either. The painful shyness--my protective shell--was to come shortly thereafter, and has not left me completely.

By the way~~~~

By the way...
I have gone on to write, in general.
Initially, my blog here was supposed to be to kind of let someone know exactly how hard it has been waiting, and waiting, and waiting...for a kidney transplant. I kind of hoped that somehow, word would get out that I was getting tired of waiting, and maybe someone would come forward and try to at least...get tested to possibly be my donor...or at the VERY least, be approved to be someone else's donor so I can get moved up on the waiting list???
Or, if not that, at least do a little networking for me please...tell everyone you know, as am I, etc...to get the word out.
After almost a year of writing, almost nothing has happened.
I cherish, with all my heart, every comment that I have received, and I thank you much. Alas, even comments have been few and far between.
So I moved on from that topic, and shared some, about my cats...cars...moving across the country (again)...And whatever else.
I am considering getting into sharing some about where I've been, what I've gone through...because my life has been essentially boring-as-hell, but with a few really exciting moments. (I said, EXCITING...I didn't say, necessarily, exciting in a good way!!! But to know what I mean, you would have to know my story...which you will, if only you'll stick with me here.)
I may not be the best writer out there, but...if I quit, no one will know I ever was doing anything and everything to reach out and be as real and as tangible as possible so that maybe someone would want to help me network.
Like my first transplant doctor told me...my job...is to tell everyone I know to tell everyone they know, etc., etc., etc. And if someone along the way wants to be my advocate, and help with my networking, please, be my guest!
Maybe, if we all network, maybe word will get out to one of those living-donor chains that I have read about. I know they're out there...but I have had no luck at all in connecting with one.
Let me wish anyone who comes along here, this week:
HAPPY THANKSGIVING TO ALL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
With love and best wishes for a lovely holiday...
~~The San Diego Turkey. ;-)

Stwange Coincidence

Life takes amazing twists and turns sometimes.
Personally, for me, two traumatic experiences in my life, both of which are unforgettable, both involved a Jerry.
Now...what were the odds...
One, yes, was my Jerry...my darling cat. The other...well, it would take a ton of encouragement for me to come out with it and reveal who the other Jerry was/is. No, I would never give out his last name...I'd just tell what happened.
Gotta run for now. I'm not feeling well at all here.
xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo
(Poofenpfeffer)

Almost two years since the big surgery~~

Yup...it's now been two years, minus nine days, since I had that big nephrectomy.
That's two years minus seven days more than I thought I'd live with no kidneys.
I thought I was supposed to have gotten a transplant by now...then again, maybe somebody knows that I'm a lost cause.
I've come close to dying more than once since then...and I wonder why I didn't let myself go the rest of the way (toward dying, that is). Maybe, because, someone wants me here...but, who, and why??????
When you need a machine every night to keep you alive and relatively healthy, you start questioning...excuse me for going through that, and thank you for understanding.
Ta-ta now!
I'd hate to say the wrong thing on my own blog, so I'll shuffle on outta here before I stick my hoof in my mouth.
(poofenpfeffah)

Decisions...Details...Oh dear, oh dear.......

It's the holidays already...
For me, that means contemplating visiting my parents and my wonderful furbabies in Cleveland.
But....let's see.....
Well, first, I've gotta make my reservations.
Then, I'd have to give Baxter at least a two-week notice, so that means I couldn't leave before early December no matter how much I might want to.
Then, there's the Moonster. I Googled the subject. Many, many "PD" patients take their HomeChoice cycler with them when they travel, and many, many "PD" patients maintain jobs where they have to travel by plane regularly. How the airlines handles the machines is nothing. They're educated on that...they know, if you tell them it's your dialysis machine...your lifeline...they'll let you take it on the plane. I should likely travel lightly, luggage-wise, so that I can manage the Moonster as well.
Soooooo damn much to do just to take a little holiday vacation!!!!!
If it weren't for my furbabies, I'd be wondering, if it's all worth it.
Now.....Probably Dec. 20 would be a good day to leave here.
If I plan this perfectly, I'll be able to stay in Cleveland a few weeks, and be there when it's time to take my furbabies to the "v-e-t." Then, I could probably come back here, mid-to-late January. There's Baxter again to consider, though. I think they come at the end of the month now. They just did a route change on me...yes, I get an end-of-the-month delivery now. OK then...perfect.
Forgive me. I'm just using this blog to lay out all the details and have them here to look at...that might help me get things underway, because otherwise, I won't want to.
Thanks for letting me think "out loud," in writing.
xoxoxoxoxoxo
(poofenpfeffer)

A New Home For Ferals : The Humane Society of the United States

A New Home For Ferals : The Humane Society of the United States



Someone is doing a lot of good for a lot of cats and kittens in need... My hat is off to them!! Bless their hearts!!!!!!!!

Uh...Not anemic now, but....I give it another week or so...

Good news: my hemoglobin shot up to 13.5, after three weeks of getting two Epogen shots a week.
Lovely, but...with no kidneys whatsoever, I only give it a week or two, before it'll go back down again.
Besides, I'm still hooked on ice cubes. That proves that 13.5 may not be anemic for a dialysis patient, but it's anemic for me personally...No, I don't mean to confuse you...that's just how it is.
So much for the update.
Gotta run.
Love ya!!
xoxo
(poof-in-a-New-York-minute)

Time Check ;-)

I'm in a touchy mood, so...it is with extreme caution that I reach out tonight.
As I type this, it's roughly 6:57pm in California. Other time zones, please add or subtract an hour as needed. If you're in California, and your clocks still say 7:57...you forgot to "fall back" last night!
Just a gentle reminder.
Must run for now.
Love ya!!
xoxo
♥ ♥ ♥ ♥
(poofski)