"Over, Under, Sideways, and Down"

So if I ended yesterday in Avon, Colorado, that meant that I drove through the rest of Colorado today, three years ago. July 25, 2006. What a drive!!!! As the song title says, "Over, Under, Sideways, and Down". Geez!! I'd give anything for that adventure again, BUT at the time, I thought I was gonna die! Thank goodness, I made it through, ending the day in Nebraska, I believe. Yes. Nebraska. I drove through Colorado, just missing Denver, as I was on I-76--just west of Denver. This is a beautiful country. I can't believe I actually drove through so much of it!
And, by the way, my transmission problem is NOT caused by that gear selector switch. So, we're back to Square 1. We figured we'd analyze that part of the situation ourselves...my sweetheart and myself. Thank goodness I do have someone here who cares about me, and who also happens to know how to work on cars more so than I do. Too bad neither of us are equipped to handle this particular transmission. There WILL be a solution to this; I just have no idea what at this moment.
No wonder I'm so tired. It's after midnight, and I didn't get a nap in today.
So....
Good night, sweetheart, good night!!! Love ya!!
Best wishes, ta-taa, etc.
(poofski)

More "PD" info~~

To refresh your memory, "PD"=Peritoneal Dialysis.
I'm sooooo tired of being on ANY dialysis...BUT, that's not really....I mean....never mind.
Friday--as in yesterday, I went over to the same "PD" clinic where I used to go when I first started "PD" here in San Diego the first time, two years ago. My nurse remembered me immediately, and of course I remember her. I missed it there, so it's good to be back. The only reason I'm back there, is because I told Fresenius that I didn't want to go to the Fresenius "PD" clinic.
I had my dressing changed, and my nurse flushed the "PD" catheter. There was sure a lot of blood in that catheter, which is rare, but does happen sometimes, in some people. Geez, no wonder I feel anemic again, after losing that much blood!!!
Monday, I have to go back and have the catheter flushed again, and next week probably, I can start training. Every time you go back on "PD", you have to be re-trained, just to be sure you know what you're doing, so you don't make a mistake and get peritonitis. Trust me; I had peritonitis twice and almost died from it both times. You do NOT want to get peritionitis, so re-learning what you're doing when you are your own nurse, is important.
My nurse also remembered my cats...although I am pretty sure she only saw Jerry when she was here two years ago. My little Jerry.
Oh...to change the subject for a minute, little Cousin seems to be fussy these days. Wonder what's gotten into him.
Anyway, so that's what's up with the whole "PD" thing. So, hopefully I'll be off hemo. pretty soon, as early as next week, or whenever I've been re-trained and whenever Baxter can come over and deliver me a month's supply of stuff. Geez, I wonder where we're gonna put it all...... Damn it, no matter where I live, there's just no room for my "PD" supplies!!! DAMN!!!! Yet, with hemo., I'd be a "one-arm wonder", not able to do half the things that I still can. I really DO need a transplant, don't I....Absolutely, right??? Yup!!!
OK, here's the thing. I have other things to take care of here before bed, so....
Good night, my sweetheart~~~ta-taaaaaaaa for now!!
(poofski)

I stand corrected~~

So here's the thing.
My trip started on a Sunday, three years ago. BUT--
It was the 23rd--NOT the 22nd!!
So, everything I've said so far since the 22nd, has to be pushed forward a day.
I really must move this calendar in the computer room here from March to July. Wonder why I didn't think of that before.
TODAY, three years ago, was when I drove through Green River, Utah, and ended my day in Avon, Colorado.
(*sigh*) I'm having a headache at the moment, so I'll be back later. Just let me take a Percocet...or a Vicodin...(for the time being, I have a choice. What AM I going to do with myself...)
Today was a busy day, and I do have much new news for you, but I'll have to come back later with that.
Gotta RUN for now.
Love ya!! Ta-taaaaaaa...till laytah, my gaytah...
(poofski)

"Green River"...and "Over, Under, Sideways, and Down"

Three years ago today saw me driving through Green River, Utah (and wondering if the song "Green River" had been inspired by that town, or another Green River, or what; I still haven't researched that)...I drove through a few other places as well...ultimately ending the day in Avon, Colorado, I believe. Yes. Avon, Colorado. Land of the "roundabouts." I'll never forget that. That means I'd already driven through Arizona...Grand Canyon and all...and was soon to drive through or near the Rockies. THE ROCKIES!!!?????!!! Yes, the Rockies. So, essentially, three years ago today, my trip was already beginning to resemble the song title: "Over, Under, Sideways, and Down." Well...an SUV, with inexpensive shocks...through canyons and mountains like I've never been through before...no wonder! What an adventure!! I wish really that I could do that again!!!
So you may be wondering, was my trip worth it??? If you don't think so, you don't know Dick Biondi too well, if at all. Sure, my trip was worth it. Just too bad I didn't have my transmission serviced first, because a year later, it went bonkers on me, and I still haven't been able to do anything about that.
The other thing is, of course, that I'm rather adventurous. Was I a happy camper sitting in Cleveland for a year and a half, with no sweetheart, no adventure, no nothing but boredom??? NO!!!!!
I gotta make this brief, forgive me. I have a few other things to do before bed.
Goodnight, my sweetheart, goodnight. Ta-taaaaaa, for now!
(poofski) :-)

It's Been Twee Long Years (Part Deux)

So, three years ago today...er, ah...three years ago yesterday (July 23...a Sunday that year), was when I began my long, long trip.
Here is the sweet little, undermaintained Isuzu that I made my trip in.

As I was getting ready to leave, I told my three cats that I was going to see Dick Biondi, who was newly out of work, and that I'd be back soon...in a few days, most likely. To which my cat Jerry replied, "Meow-WOW-i." (He was trying to say "Biondi"; to this day, I'm convinced of that.)
And, this time of day--12:04AM on the 24th--I had either just crossed the California/Nevada state line, or hadn't quite yet crossed it. I really don't remember.
And thus began my long, long, long trip halfway across the country. Everywhere I went, was this horrible heatwave! I would have roasted to death had my air conditioner not been working. BUT--too damn bad we forgot to maintain the transmission before I left. In the driveway as I type, sits this Isuzu...because the transmission only lasted about a year after I returned from my trip--from San Diego, CA, to East Dundee, IL. Going there, I actually did stop to spend the night at various places along the way. I remember seeing a town called What Cheer, Iowa. What an odd name for a place, I thought. Coming back here, I pulled over to those rest stops and slept in the truck. Damn, I must be adventurous!!!
So, now that I'm on dialysis, I really can't afford to be that adventurous...and I miss it. So, that brings me back to the fact that I really need a transplant, sooner than later. All my nurses agree. Everyone I know agrees. It just comes back around to that, though.
Well...it's way past my bedtime.
Good night, sweetheart...ta-ta, for now!!
(poofski) :-)

By the way~~~ I got 100%!!! YES!!! YES!!!

It's been a very good week, except the stress.
Wednesday, I went over to the DMV, first thing. In fact, I didn't know they open at 9am on Wednesdays, so I was over there waiting in a line that went from National City to Lemon Grove (stick with me here, and you'll find out how I sometimes exaggerate; forgive me), because it was still 15 minutes till opening.
Once the place opened, the line moved fast, and I was in there taking my driving test before I knew it.
And....
I DID IT!! I GOT 100% ON MY DRIVING TEST!!! I DID IT!!! AFTER 23 YEARS, I FINALLY GOT 100% ON THE WRITTEN DRIVING TEST!!!!!
No, there was no behind-the-wheel test for me, as I only moved back from out of state. But, I presume I'd have gotten 100% on that too, if I had to.
I must say, the Online Sample Tests really helped. For me, I think that's what made all the difference. I studied hard and long, and long and hard. I lost much sleep trying to get all that information down, and my hard work was worth it.
Last year, in March 2008, I only got 75% on my Ohio driving test. That was barely passing. But, they don't have Online Sample Tests to help people pass...and they have more questions.
Never, in all my 23 years of being a licensed driver, did I ever get 100% on a written driving test. Just this time!!!
I love it when that happens!!!
So, now I'm officially a California driver--again, and this time it'd better be for good!!!!! Damn, it'd better be for good!!!! I'm not going to play "musical states" again, not after all the hard work I've gone through to come back here!!
I'll definitely visit my furbabies in Ohio, but to live in, I prefer California, for obvious reasons.
I wasn't going to come back to my blog this weekend, but I wanted to share that wonderful info with you, about my perfect driving test.
Have a lovely, lovely weekend, one and all!!! I'll probably be doing some de-rusting, some painting, some car improvements, etc... And Sunday evening, I can wash the car, again, to get it ready for its trip to the shop.
Love ya!!
Ta-taaaaaaaaaa, for now!
(poof)

Too many surgeries here~~

So yesterday, my surgeon checked to see if he could put a new "PD" catheter in. The game plan was that, if he could, he would, and I'd look forward to resuming "PD" (peritoneal dialysis) as soon as the catheter is ready to use, probably in about a month. And if not, he'd have put in another blasted graft, this time in my left arm, and I'd again have had to be a "one-arm wonder". I am VERY pleased to report that he was able to put a new "PD" catheter in. I will soon be able to say "Hasta la vista" to the hemo. routine...going in to Fresenius for three and a half hours a day, three days a week...not able to do anything but read, listen to CD's (Naturally, Bobby Jameson gets more play than any other CD I drag along with me), do needle point, etc... That's a huge chunk out of my car repair and improvement (de-rusting; painting; etc.). So, now I'll have that time of my day back. YES!!! YES!!!
I will have to stay on the "PD" machine for 9 hours a night, but that's a small chunk of my time compared to what hemo. has been. And, I can do it at home, so I'll be my own nurse. Any mistakes made, I can give myself forty lashes with a wet tail (let me try to put a picture of that up; last time I tried to put a picture on here, it didn't work; hang on.)

OK...THAT tail. (TOLD ya I look hot in that tiger suit)
Anyway...so, that's where I was most of yesterday: having a medical procedure, and being kind of "loopsy" on anesthesia and painkillers. I'm still a little "loopsy" on painkillers, but I think the anesthesia finally wore off.
I could've strangled my dialysis technician today. I had to race over to Costco Pharmacy to get my meds after treatment. Naturally, that didn't dawn on her, as she disconnected me 10 minutes later than I had expected, and then took another 10 minutes to change my dressing. So then, I had to race over to Costco, getting there with two minutes to spare. Thankfully, the two pharmacy clerks were still there. They'd closed off the pick-up window, but when I ran up to them as fast as I could, short of breath, and begged them to please let me get my meds, they did. Bless their hearts. They were very good to me.
Either way you slice it, dialysis is full of sacrifices and a lower quality of life. That must be why I'm praying with all my heart that I'll live to get a transplant, before I go completely nuts.
Oh, wait....I might already be completely nuts. Any woman who runs around the house in a tiger suit, just to blend in with the cats.... Awwwwwwwwww, let me have that one little bit of understandable insanity, please, thanks.
I warned you. A little while ago, I said I was "loopsy". Forgive my rambling.
And, that's the latest around here.
I'm kind of stressed out, too.
I WANT very much to be given THIS car...beautiful paint, very little rust.

BUT, I'm afraid I might be given THIS car back...damn flimsy paint, more rust than on most 14-year-old SUV's... Although I've put a lot into it already ($700 tires; $300 shocks; had most of the front end re-done, even did some of the work myself), I think I can part with it, considering I'd be spending another five years just taking all the rust off and painting it...


So, I'm kind of stressed. My "sweetheart" is kind of stressed. When it's all said and done, it's nice to be able to come here and vent my spleen a little, so forgive me.
Gotta go for now.
Have a LOVELY weekend!!!
Good night, sweetheart, good night, and ta-ta, for now!!