The "Starting The New Year With Post #300!", edition.

Ipod shuffled to Kool and the Gang, "Open Sesame".  Hope you had a nice New Yeat's Eve and a relaxing New Year's Day. This is post number 300. That's a whole lot of writing. I guess by now you know me pretty well. Or do you?  ;-)  Anyway. Tuesday right after I left dialysis, and I mean we were barely out of the parking lot, my phone rang. It was the home hemodialysis coordinator. Whoo hoo!!!  Yeah I know it wasn't the transplant call, but it's still a life changing call. The home assessment appointment is  next Friday. And then training will start. I'm guessing it will be 4-6 weeks from the assessment until I actually start. Sounds like I'm starting the new year out great. But. There's a ... BUT.

Chrisette Michelle, "Epiphany".  I get to treatment this morning. My tech greats me with, "I hear you're going to home hemo."  I say, "Yeah.  The assesment is next week.  I'm still here for a while". She says, "Oh. We've got you starting home hemo this coming Monday. The manager has filled your chair". *Sigh*. WTH?  I'll refrain from what I think about the manager. But. Really? REALLY?  I'll stop here. I'll think positive thoughts. I WILL show up on Monday morning for my regularly scheduled treatment. The (incompetent)  mix up is not my fault. Kinda blew the excitement about home hemo training. But as always, my glass is half full.  Because when it's half full, you can throw the remaining water into someone's face......  Moving on. 

The O'Jays, "Darlin' Darlin' Baby". When I last wrote, Shawn and her friend were staying overnight at Treasure Island. They had several 2 for 1 deals....and they missed all of them. Lol. Well, Mystere was sold out. They got tickets for the next night, Tuesday night. They still have the 2 for 1 buffett and the decided to pass on the 2 for 1 beer at the specified club. They were put off that the servers wore bikinis. I chuckled that I'd seen an ad for a New Years Eve party at that club called "Hoedown". With the photos on the ad, my mind sure did go there. Lol. They also purchased tickets for Blue Man Group at Mandalay Bay for Wednesday evening. New Years Eve. At 7:00 PM. The strip closed at 6:00 PM to vehicle traffic. 

Friends of Distinction, "Going in Circles".  We had to figure out how they were going to get to the Mandalay Bay. The solution came pretty easy. The condo complex is within walking distance of the South Tower of the convention center. And a monorail station is there. However, there really isn't a drop off spot and I didn't want to hold up traffic to let them out ofthe car. Vegas drivers are pretty brutal and impatient. But all we had to do is to move one stop down to the Westgate Hotel (formerly the Las Vegas Hikton). They were able to take the monorail to The MGM.  Mandalay Bay is kinda across the street from MGM.  They'd call us when the arrive back at The Westgate when they returned. Problem solved!!  Shawn, who basically grew up in Las Vegas commented that it was weird walking down the strip instead of driving". :)

Beyonce, "Love on Top". We live close enough to the strip to see the midnight fireworks, but it would require us to go to the condo courtyard. We don't face the strip. We were going to do it, but it got too cold.  Roflmao. 3 Detroiters and 1 New Yorker and we punked out because of the cold.  The fireworks looked just as cool on TV. The fireworks were lit from 7 casinos. They lasted 7 minutes and 11 seconds. ;-)   However, as cool as it was, we are used to 35 minutes of fireworks.  Lol. Let's see what they have the the 4th of July. 

Cameo, "I Just Want to Be".  On the dialysis front I've gone over the start of the home hemo journey. More to come. And. I made vegan red beans and rice for New Year's Day.  How?  Chop Red, green, yellow and orange peppers, onion and celery. Add vegan meat crumbles.  Sauté in olive oil.  Add vegetable broth. Add red beans. I seasoned it with garlic powder, cumin, paprika, red pepper flakes, bay leaf,  and salt to taste. I brought to a boil , then simmered for an hour.  Served over rice. I tasted as it went along. I thought it tasted good. And it was confirmed when every one had seconds!  Except I didn't eat any. :-(  I was afraid of the phosphourus. On the other hand I was impressed with my willpower. But. Why do I have willpower on some things and absolutely no control over others???  

Signing off Frankie Beverly and Maze, "Never Let You Down".  The young ladies want to go to the High Roller or the Stratosphere today. The went downtown and enjoyed The Fremont Street Experience. But it's still cold here. 29 degrees.  It will go up to the high 40s. And the sun will help. :-)  And no, no snow in the valley. The media was so disappointed. Lol. Have a great weekend. I'm back on my regular schedule starting Monday.