The "The Chair is MINE!!", edition.

Good morning. Did you know Las Vegas has a windy season?  I didn't. But I know now!  Yesterday, Dad and I were talking and a plastic bag raced by about 3 stories up.  Lol. Later on, Brian and I went out. The car is parked in a garage. The condo is built over the garage. It's not inderground and as a matter of fact, the condo sometimes designates the garage as the first floor. Anyway. We got to the garage and it was windy but not overly so. As we drove to the store we noticed the trees bending. But the best was yet to come.  

We got to the grocery store and we took our time shopping. There are no windows in the grocery stores, maybe taking their cues from the casinos. Heh. Oh yeah, there are mini casinos in the grocery stores.  Anyway, we paid for the groceries and headed outside. Oh my. While we were in the store, a sand/dust storm had started!  Usually we can see the mountains from any direction in Las Vegas. But not yesterday. Heck, we couldn't even see The Stratosphere....the major landmark in and highest structure in the city. Lol. We live fairly close to the strip. Couldn't see that. The haze and dust was just that impressive. As soon as I stepped into the dust storm, I swore dust swirled into my eyes. I felt like my breathing was starting to be difficult , but it may have just been the idea of walking into the swirling dust.  Ugh. The temperature also dropped.  But then I still didn't understand people walking in full on winter gear.  Lol. The temp started in the mid 80s. I digress. 

The wind continued the rest of the evening. Apparently the wind affected the planes landing at the airport. The news showed a plane doing a kinda sideway landing. My friend who had been in town last week left yesterday morning. That was a good thing.  If she'd tried to last later in the day her flight may have been postponed or even canceled. Oh yeah. All,of the city's attraction closed because of the wind storm. Today is better, but it's chilly this morning. Photo of the storm. 

So. The chair is mine. What am I talking about?  About the dialysis chair!!!  Someone in the dialysis group posted about claiming his dialysis chair and an entire discussion started.  I've mentioned my chair before while I was incenter. Now the claiming of a chair is not a common occurrence.  When I first started incenter dialysis, my chair time was 2:15 PM. I pretty much got whichever chair was available on my module. More than likely it was the same chair, but it was dependent on the person before me. Once I went to first shift, my chair was static. Same chair everytime. I was on first shift in Detroit and Las Vegas. And I had my chair.  MY chair. Lol. 

In Detroit, during a blizzard, the entire process was changed to deal with the shortage of staff and patient transport issues. A first come first serve process was in effect.  I, alone, was the only first shift person during that emergency who actually ended up in their own chair.  Score!!   Lol. I know. It was the luck of the draw and I'm sure I'd been fine in any chair as long as I had treatment, but I got my chair. MINE!!!  In Las Vegas, I had a chair on first shift, them I got changed to even an earlier time on first shift. That changed my chair, but I was good with that. My chair. Imagine my dismay, when I arrived one day and the machine didn't work and I had to change to another chair.  Disaster!!!! .  Lol. Anyway. It's just shows how we become used to and dependent on our routines. And maybe for dialysis patients that's not a bad thing. Kidney failure and dialysis are stressful enough without all of the other variables that go along with treatment. Also, when I left the discussion, the group started talking about having the same techs and getting antsy when the center plays pick a random tech. I've even written about that.  You know. Me not letting some people near me. 

Now I'm doing home hemo. My chair is my chair. Although Brian sits in it in when I'm not doing treatment. Like now. Even Dad sneaks a sit in it. I can share. *cough, cough*.  It is a comfy recliner. And Brian is my tech. And I'm also my tech. I am quite happy with the arrangement. Do I miss incenter?  Sort of. I was there several hours a week. I was with people who knew exactly what I was going through.  We could help each other. I was there with techs, nurses, social workers and doctors who could answer questions and work with me. It was a social atmosphere, even if we looked like we all lost a fight by the tiem we left.  But that being said, I like...I love the flexibility of being home. My friend visited on Monday evening. I missed treatment, but we just made if up Tuesday morning. Hah!  In a perfect world, my kidneys would be fine, but it's not perfect and my kidneys don't work. This will do. I'm ok with it. I have no choice. It's all good. I'm still smiling. :) 

More photos of playing tourist in Las Vegas. 

A leaning hotel. I forgot the name. 

The Cleveland clinic. It's insettling to look at, isn't it?  Lol.