The "I'm At The Mercy Of The Treatment Staff", edition.

iPad shuffled to Troop, "Spread My Wings".   I had a pretty good weekend. Coming off a week at dialysis where it was underscored that I am at the mercy of the clinic staff.  

Usher, "Yeah".  Wakes you up and makes you dance. Nothing Lil Jon hollering "YEAH".  Lol.  Ok. Being at the mercy of staff. I had never looked at being at dialysis in that light.  I'm not saying I was oblivious, but I was in the chair being treated.  I go in, set up my area. Get the earbuds for the TV and plug them in.   Get the earbuds for the iPad (I'll explain 2 earbuds later). Get my candy, blanket and phone out.  Fiddle around with the TV and cable to get the station I want.  Wash my hands and access  , then get into the chair.   

The Moments, "Look At Me (I'm in Love)".  Lots of strings.  Now it's time for the staff to do their job.  The blood pressure cuff is put on. Take standing and sitting pressure.   They wipe the access area with the alcohol swabs.  Remove the scabs on the buttonholes ... No it doesn't hurt me.  Although I guess it's painful to others.  After the scabs are removed, the needles are inserted, then I'm hooked up to the machine.  Now I'm held prisoner for at least 3.5 hours because even after time is up, I have to wait for someone to run me off the machine and take my blood pressure. After that happens, I get control back, because I can remove my needles. I had one tech attempt to teach me how to run myself off the machine but she never came back to my module.  I think I'll ask her one day.  That being said, there  are some techs who work with us when we want more control over our treatment. :-) 

The System, "Don't Disturb This Groove". Lots of synthetic sounds.  Stark contrast between the Moments, but it still sounds good.  :-)   So after all of that care what pissed me off about being at the mercy of the staff?  Not that it's been obvious as I observed the care and treatment of other  patients.  When the patients in the chair to the left of me change the channels on their tv, my channels are changed also. I'm in the middle of a news story, and the next moment I have an infomercial.   The patient is aware of it.  Once they're finished, the transfer of the remote needs to be done by the staff because, you know, we have needles in our arm hooked up to a machine...

Last week my partner and I asked a staff member to execute the transfer of the remote. She says to wait a minute while she tries to sign on to the computer. Ok. I can wait. Another staff member walks by and they strike up a conversation.  Then another staff member. When they finish, she runs off.  Comes back, calls a fixit guy to help her sign on. After 15 minutes (!). I ask a staff member passing by to transfer the remote.  The assigned staff member then says she was going to get it after she logged in.  I told her for all the time she spent not able to log in and having conversations, she could have walked 12 feet, got the remote and continued on her business.  We actually argued about this.  What?    Of course I don't like being at the mercy of the staff and then pissing them off.  I've seen where that goes. :-(

I'm not saying staff gets vindictive, but some patients are more difficult than others and the whining, fussing, yelling, cursing, refusing to follow the rules, demanding, etc. gets tiresome.  Yes I've witnessed the patients doing this. The staff on the whole responds professionally.  Some are able to address it better than others. ;-)    I'm not here by choice.  Compassion and understanding by those caring for us goes a long way.  If you work with us, the drama levels will decrease.  I know "we" get tiresome, but damn, we're on dialysis.  Maybe you should sit in our chair and see how'd you feel. 

I had a pretty nice weekend.  I'll get to that later.  For the hint, I went to a surprise birthday party!  Signing off with Run DMC, "Walk This Way".  Classic!   Well, at least most of the snow is gone. :-)

The "Don't End Up Like Me. Take Care of Your Kidneys", edition.

iPad shuffled to Jamiroquai, "Virtual Insanity". I like the song and the video. Yesterday was World Kidney Day (WKD). "WKD is a global health awareness campaign focusing on the importance of the kidneys and reducing the frequency and impact of kidney disease and it's associated health problems worldwide."  Objectives include highlighting risks, screening and transplant education and donation.

How do kidneys keep you healthy? Activate vitamin D for healthy bones. Filters waste from blood. Directs production of red blood cells.  Regulate blood pressure.  Keep blood minerals in balance. Regulate fluid levels. Hey, they do a lot to be such little organs. Well let's see how things are being substituted for me.  Vitamin D. I take a daily vitamin.  I take a super vitamin D supplement every 6 months. That one tickles me.  I also get a shot every 2 weeks at dialysis. For the record, most injections are given through the tubing, not directly in my arm. The exceptions were the flu shot and the  TB vaccination. 

"Funkin' For Jamaica", Tom Browne. The funk. I immediately start playing my air bass guitar.  :)  Blood waste filtration is done through dialysis. You know. A needle moving blood in and a needle moving blood in and going through the dialysis machine.  For the red blood cells I get an injection of Epogen during treatment.  Red blood cells produce oxygen. Blood pressure?  I take lisinopril, 60 MG a day. But during treatment, my blood pressure can fluctuate wildly.  Too low I pass out, to high threat of a stroke.  Blood minerals in balance!  Controlled by my diet....sodium, potassium, phosphourus.  Fluid balance?  Also controlled by me. 40 ounces of fluid. a day (just one Old English 800 malt liquor for me!  Lol). Includes things I drink and eat.  Like being mindful of fluids in fruits and vegetables and Popsicles!  

What problems can be caused by kidney disease?  Weak bones, cardiac arrest, stroke, nerve damage, cardiovascular disease, high blood pressure, anemia, kidney failure. What the risk factors?  High blood pressure, diabetes, family history, age 60+.  What are some of the symptoms?  Swelling, including hands and feet.  Puffy eyes. Increased thirst. 

I urge you to make sure you get tested the next time you visit your physician. You want to see your creatinine number.  It shouldn't be greater than 1.0  Remember, mine was 13.0. Yikes!! You also want to see your Glomerular Filtration Rate. This will tell you the efficiency of your kidneys. 

Chaka Khan, "And The Melody Still Lingers On (A Night in Tunisia)".  I hope you take me seriously and get your kidneys checked.  As much as I'd enjoy your company in the dialysis chair next to me, I wouldn't wish it on you.  I'm doing 10.5 hours of dialysis a week. So because I'm not getting 24/7 work from kidneys, in addition to dialysis, I taking a cartload of drugs.  Drugs at treatment and drugs at home. $$$$  Remember we lost Barry White and Luther Vandross from kidney failure.  Click on the link below. 

So that was rather serious and maudlin. But take the tests.  I'm good. Wednesday I got pissed at treatment with reality of being at the mercy of other people,  but that's a story for another day.  

Brian and  I took a painting class yesterday. We are now artistes!!  I'll put up the pictures next week.  And yes, we're going back.  :)  Signing off with The Jackson 5, "Maybe Tomorrow".  "You are the four seasons of my life".    Looks like we are getting one spring day this weekend!!!!   

 Know Your Kidneys

The "Realities of Dialysis", edition.

iPad shuffled to Parliament, " Give Up the Funk (Tear the Roof of the Sucker).  Intro to Funk 101. Yeah. I've written about my adventures in dialysis.  It's an adventure alright.  Not for the faint of heart. I had yet another tech stick me this morning. I have my preferences, but I'm open to allowing techs I trust try.  The guy this morning, I trust him. So of course he nails it.  I don't understand why some techs/nurses get it and others have such a hard time.  I have to have some level of trust because I travel.  I really need to get the courage to stick (cannulate) myself.

I've meant to mention that there was another death in my module.  The guy was on the 2nd shift.  Let me explain.  There are 3 shifts of 6 patients per module. I am on 1st shift, module 6.   1st shift starts at 5:30 AM.  I am the last person to get hooked up on my shift.  My time is 6:30 AM.  We run anywhere from 3 to 5 hours. I run 3.5 hours.  Being last in, I am one of the last off.  Big guy across from me is 4-4.5 hours.  He's on when I arrive and still on or just getting off when I get off. (Lol. That didn't sound right).  Anyway, 2nd shift patients are arriving and being hooked up while I'm still dialyzing or coming off.  This has allowed me to get to know the 2nd shift patients as well as my first shift comrades. 

The Dramatics, "Be My Girl".  2nd shift is the drama shift, if you know what I mean.  Lol. Anyway, there are 2 older gentlemen with similar names. Both have had strokes and are pretty low key.  One had been gone for a while late last year, but he was back after the first of the this year.  Then he was gone again.  I asked how he was doing? I was told he died the previous Friday. :-(  I told Brian that neither older gentleman, nor sweet old lady, who died earlier this year,  looked any different the last time I saw them.  One day they were here. The next they were gone.  Their chairs were reassigned and we go on.  

Soul Survivors, "Expressway to Your Heart". "At 5 o'clock it's much too crowded." I just found out they were white guys!  Lol. Well, it 1967 and I was listening to the radio and has just started buying 45s.  A couple of others in 2nd shift have medical issues in addition to ESRD or caused ESRD.  Diabetes and lupus are not uncommon with the patients. In addition there are heart problems, amputees and a higher prevalence of cancer than I would have imagined.  And there probably more medical conditions than I don't know. This affects attitudes and I understand why some patients are...testy. Here I have to be careful about the info.  Patients have shared this info with me, but I don't and won't identify them. HIPAA.  I'm not clear that as a patient if I am bound by HIPPA, but I'd like to respect the confidentiality of my fellow patients.  Everyone is not an open book like me. 

Today I am having a review which includes my team: my nephrologist, my social worker, my dietician, and the head nurse.  I had to take a "test" which measures my acceptance of ESRD. I took it last year and thought I was dealing with it pretty well.  Lol. I apparently wasn't dealing with it as well as I thought.  A Pat bubble, I guess. Lol. We'll see the results of this years test soon. I think I'm more realistic this year.  I think I didn't have to process it as I was dealing with the death of my mom.  Now that it's a year later, I'm dealing more with mom, dad is settling in, Shawn is off to school Brian and I can exhale. I'm also more realistic about ESRD.  My kidneys are done. They will not recover.  I probably will not get a live kidney donor. I will have to wait for some time to get a cadaver kidney.  I will have addition medical problems, associated with ESRD and dialysis.   I can accept that.  I also know what to do to minimize a lot of risks and I learn more everyday.  

Kool Moe Dee, "Wild Wild West". ;-)  20 year old rap. Lol. No shame.  Yes sometimes I get depressed, but I get pulled up by my friends and family and then I'm looking for a new adventure.  Like we're going to give ballroom dancing a try.  Or finding my next trip.  Or moving to Vegas. Or building a team to walk with me for the Nation Kidney Foundation. Or helping plan our high school reunion. Or finding new recipes.  Or going to Denver for a wedding.  I'm really looking forward to that. Never been there!!!  Yes, there are some sobering realities, but I'm not rolling over.  Apparently I have to much too do, despite ESRD. :)

Signing off with Whitney Houston, "I'm Your Baby Tonight".  4-7 inches of snow today.  Really?  It was 50 degrees yesterday. ;-(  lol. People haven't been able to get their Christmas decorations down.  Lol.  Have a great day. Tell your local robins it'll be be ok soon. :)  

World Kidney Day 2014

The "Peer Mentoring and Empathetic Listening", edition.

iPad shuffled to Sam and Dave, "I Thank You".  Stax music.  Thumbs up. The module has had the remote control for a while.  I guess they caught the theif who liked Comcast remote controls. (What?).   Greenfield Health Systems had the quarterly meeting for the peer mentors. Four of us who were trained last year were there in addition to others who have been identified for training.  We represent the different dialysis centers in the metro detroit area. Getting a room full of dialysis patients is interesting...and predictable.  Everyone wants to tell their story.  Lol. The introduction script calls for name, dialysis center, and why you want to be a mentor.  It goes off the rails at the last item. I guess I lose my empathy when 10 people go on and on. I need to fix that. But they go into such detail :(   I told Brian they need to write a blog.  I was being bad.  I'm so sorry.

Gold Digger, Kanye West featuring Jamie Foxx. Liked it first time heard it.  I also get distracted when the mentors start testifying and witnessing.  We're here for peer mentoring topics, issues and training.  They are also not aware or don't care that everyone is not Christian or their brand of Christian.  Some people like to keep their religion, faith or spiritually private. This attitude can cause issues when you mentor. If the patient is Muslim, Hindu, agnostic or an atheist or anything else and the first thing that comes from the mentor is a Christian platitude, you've lost the patient.  Your mentoring is useless.  Right off the bat, you haven't even listened.  You've assumed.  If the patient brings up religion, that's fine.  But the mentor cannot.  Mentoring is all about the patient. 

Isaac Hayes, "Never Can Say Goodbye".  That voice. :)   Back to dialysis patients sharing stories. I get it. And who else is going to understand ( and empathize ) more than fellow patients.  We get it.  But listening to bunch of them, lasting for 10 minutes, is tedious.  I give credit to the social workers, though. They let them (us) go on.  My facilitation and manager skills kick in...let's move this along.  Perhaps we need to schedule a separate session just to talk and vent and share.  This meeting is not the platform for this.  So hard to hold my tongue.  Lol. It is not my meeting.  Stay on the agenda!!!!  I'll fix my attitude and will attempt to try not get so annoyed next time!

The Sugerhill Gang, "Rapper's Delight". Long version. I remember when and where I first heard this.  Lol.   World Kidney Day is this Thursday.  The idea is encourage kidney health awareness and organ transplant awareness. I'll continue to post the kidney health quiz through Thursday.  Also the National Kidney Foundation - Michigan walk is Sunday, May 18, 2014, 8:30 at the Detroit Zoo.  

Last year my team, Pat's Adventures raised over $400.00. Four of us walked, including my family and my friend Mike. I'd like to have more people join me walking this year.  Please consider joining me.  They feed you and have a lot of "swag".  (An attempt at bribery.). Check out the link for more information or contact me.  The admission to the zoo is free and you are free to enjoy the zoo for the rest of the day after the walk.  :)  Last year I used a cane. This year I'm cane free!   Hope you can join us. 

I'm getting great joy watching the snow melt. It's been here since at least January 6 (the 10 inch blizzard ). Signing off with Ramsay Lewis with Earth Wind and Fire, "Sun Goddess".  Still good listening. :)

Michigan National Kidney Foundation Walk

The, "I Don't Have an Infection. Whew", edition.

iPad shuffled to Steve Miller Band, "Abracadabra", "I wanna reach out and grab ya'". Lol. That's what I say when Brian walks by. Lollololololol.  Ok I don't have an infection. It's "just" contact dermatitis. I have a gnarly photo of it. I'm gonna show you. So I have to detail my starting routine to show how I ended up with this.  Of course there will be extraneous details, but it's all about my adventures in dialysis. ;-)

"Get on Up", The Esquires. "How can you rest, when you know I'm trying my best, to dance with you, girl". The clinic is in the lower level of a medical building. (I call it the dungeon. No windows)   I enter around 6:10 AM. There may be other patients being dropped off.. In cars, taxis, transportation services or even ambulance transport services.  I walk in the building, greet the security guard, take the elevator to the lower level.  I stop at the water fountain, get a sip of water...along with every other dialysis patient. That fountain is like a pool of water in the desert. Lol.  Go into the reception area.  No staff is in the front  because it's early.  

The door to the treatment area is locked. Or some days it's left open. But it's "supposed" to be locked and we're not to enter until someone gets us...but no one is there to let the techs know we're there. Sometimes a nurse is there doing paperwork and will buzz us in. Sometimes we'll bang on the door.  They eventually put a phone in for us to call the module....but sometimes no one answers because early first shift staff are busy...but that's a story for another day.  

Anyway, I get in the treatment area, go to my chair and put down my stuff. Go weigh myself.  Come back and take out my blanket, iPad, phone and bag o' candy/headphones/tourniquet. Plug up one set of headphones to TV cable.  And make sure my chair is plugged in...so I can Then I find who has the remote and get the TV set.  Then I go wash my hands and my access area.  The tech takes my standing blood pressure.  I sit and the fun begins!  I make sure the correct needles are there. The tech swabs my arm with a pad that is 70% Isopropyl Alcohol and 3.5% Cholhexidine Gluconate (one of the culprits). On Wednesday, when that was applied, it felt like I stuck my arm in a bonfire. :-(   The tech then uses a sterilized implement to remove the scabs from my button holes.  Inserts the needles and secures them with paper tape ( the other culprit ).  

Now the reaction of my skin is new.  The combo of the swabs and paper tape was fine until the last week or so.  My skin just  said F-U.  The burning, itching, oozing and scabs made a dramatic appearance.   I now have a super special sticky cloth tape ( because I'm that speshul snowflake ).  And prep with straight up alcohol.  Doc had me use a combo of neosporin and cortisone to clear up the rash. It's working pretty quickly.  The tech still had problem finding my button holes with all that redness and crustiness, but she got it. :-)  "Love or Let Me Be Lonely", The Friends of Distinction. "I could live without love if I wanted to in this lonely room".  Hopefully it'll be gone next week.  Never a dull moment here.  Lol. 

Yesterday I had lunch with Carmen, my partner in crime from college.  Got lots of (tellable) stories. But for now I am so glad we got back in touch.  As she said, we never missed a beat. :)  We'd been trying to get together since October 2012.  I kinda caused a delay.  The beauty of Facebook is once you find someone, you stay in touch.  Or not. Lol. You know what I mean. ;-D.  

Signing out with "Door to Your Heart", The Dramatics.  Hey. They've been hiding recently. Come on out guys!!  What's this about music meaning nothing to people?  That's just a sad face. Anyway enjoy your weekend.  40 degrees today!!!!   Oh yeah, I have a mentoring update this weekend.  

The "Uh Oh. I Have an Infection", edition.

iPad shuffled to "The Jam", Larry Graham and Graham Central Station. Starring Larry Graham's bass. Funk. Oh man. I have an infection around my access.  It itches.  And I can't do squat about it. I have needles there, and it's covered with tape...which hold the needles in place.  Itchy. Itchy. Itchy. :-(   As of today we've had to change the antiseptic swab used before the stick.  And change the tape. I'm gonna have to suffer through 3 more hours of itchy.  Good thing the doc comes today.  "My name is Larry Graham and they call me...".   The charge nurse gave me some ointment to use at home.  Itchy. We'll see what doc says when he gets here.  That's still about 1.5 hours from now.  He gets here sometimes as early as 8:30 AM.

Thursday, March 13, 2014 is World Kidney Day.  Get a blood test to determine the health of your kidneys. Make sure you know the signs and symptoms of kidney disease. Make sure you know the risk factors of kidney disease. Sign up for organ donation. Eat foods that are kidney friendly. Drink water.  Make sure you know the function of kidneys.  "What's My Name", Snoop Dogg". Heavy on the bass..funk. Itchy.  Lol. My head started boppin'. 

I've discussed some of our meals. Foods I can have and those I shouldn't. I've found I can have most in moderation. The high phosphorus foods are the ones I miss the most.  Except beans.  Beans make my phosphourus go up and stay up.  No beans for me.  I can still have other foods in moderation and IF I take additional phosphourus binders. Those big mega pills. I normally take 3 with snacks and 4 with meals. If I have a little chocolate or cheese or nuts I'll take more. Look, I take 10-12 of them per day.  When I refill the prescription, I get 2 bottles of over 1000 pills every month. Every time I eat, I have to take my binders.  My kidneys can't process phosphorus. I carry a pill case full in my purse.  Too much phosphourus causes brittle bones and heart issues. And itching. Ugh. Itchy. Lol. 

Vanessa Williams, "Dreaming'". Isn't her voice nice?  Isn't she still gorgeous?  No hatin' from me. :)  So back to our meals. First of all table salt has been eliminated. And it's mostly been limited from cooking. I never thought that would happen.  Had some Triscuits. OMG, so salty. Same with Pringles. The itching is subsiding.  But then my head got cold.  Don't ever think sitting in dialysis is a relaxing thing. If you say that to me I'll growl at you.  Back to meals. I made a sausage and chicken jambalaya this week. No salt added. We figured there was enough in the tomatoes and the smoked turkey sausage.  Even when we cooked the chicken thighs, they were just seasoned with paprika. Teena Marie, "Ooh Wee". That's a voice that is incomparable. Love love it.  The jambalaya was delicious. Yum.  With no added salt.  Itchy. 

Brian want me to fix the seafood chowder again.  I've eliminated the bacon. I can make shrimp stock, I cut out the potatoes. I do use the cream, but a serving of chowder does not use a serving of cream.  However, I will still add 1 additional binder.  And I need to be mindful of the fluid intake.  Oh yeah, I put in shrimp, clams and crab. Yum.   We also have a recipe for baked breaded buffalo wings. Tasty!  We serve it with carrots and celery rather than fries. And yes, I take those binders every time.  Not as itchy, but still itchy. 

Do you have any recipes or meals that can fit the parameters of a dialysis diet?  Low sodium, low potassium, low phosphorus, high protein, no whole grains ( yes whole grains are bad ). Remember I said "low", not "no". Lol. 

Signing out now, thinking about breakfast. I like my eggs over medium!  Seal, "Kiss From a Rose".  So pretty. 30 degrees soon?  It'll feel balmy. Lol. 

Know Your Kidneys

The, "Final Installment of the Champaign Visit", edition.

iPad shuffled to War, "All Day Music". How soothing is that?  Lol. Makes me want to close my eyes and imagine laying in the grass with the sun just beaming down on me. :)  I have more photos of our little trip to Champaign.  Mostly of the grandcat and of the train ride. It amazes me when I get off the train and realize just how massive the train is. Climbing in and out of train is a challenge.  Heh, one of those things that can still stump me. My problem is trying to hoist up myself and my bags. The conductor takes  the suitcase. A conductor was at the top of the stairs. He grabbed my arm and hoisted me up.  Lol. Yes, I thanked him.  Conductors rock!

Another train was even more of a challenge because there was salt, a lot of salt in the stairway.  I have to  use my upper body strength to hoist myself up the strairs. I saw a lady using a walker. I don't know how she was able to board the train. I'm sure the trains are accessible.  I just don't know how. I didn't identify as handicapped.  I didn't see the option when making reservations, and I'm much more mobile anyway.  When I'd get in Chicago,  off the conductor at the bottom would also help me. He also called for a redcap ( the guy driving a little passenger cart ) to take us right into the station.  

I didn't request an accessible room at the hotel for the first time in years!!!!   The primary reason I'd needed an accessible room was for the toilet. I needed the extra height and bars to pull myself up.  I distinctly remember the first time I realized I needed "toilet assistance". That moment when you go "WTF?".  We were on the way to pick up Shawn from Howard.  We stopped at a hotel in Breezewood, PA.  I went to the bathroom. I couldn't get up. To make matters even worse, the sink was far enough away from the toilet that I didn't have anything to use for leverage.  :(  "Sideshow", Blue Magic. Heh, Brian trying to help me up probably was a sideshow. Lollololololol.  That was spring 2010. Possibly the early stages of kidney failure. Who knew?  So anyway, I can make do without an accessible room now!!!  Yah!!!  Low seats, couches and chairs are still a challenge, but they are doable. I don't need help. :)

Ugh. It's cold in here. I have my blanket and heated seat.  Gonna put on my hat soon. Try putting on a skullcap with one hand. I think I've mastered it. Lol. Just one of the skills you master when you're on dialysis. ;-)  I had 1 dialysis treatment while in Champaign. The communications tickle me. I'm at dialysis in Detroit and get a call from the Champaign clinic letting me know the have a 2:30 PM chair time for me on Monday. I'm fine with that. Just as long as I have a time. As soon as I hang up,  my social worker relays the same information. Lol.  Saturday, at the layover in Chicago,  Brian gets a call from the clinic saying a 10:30AM time has opened up. Cool!!  I have no idea why he got the call. Lol. 

Rachelle Ferrell, " With Open Arms". She is the only one who can get away with vocal gymnastics. She makes it sound good. She has the range to pull it off.  I get to the dialysis clinic in Champaign. Its  a small center. 12 stations. The techs and nurses remember me and remember I'm from Detroit. I'm glad I leave such a good(?) impression. While there I meet the nephrologist. That was a first for any of my travels. We talked...I wonder if I get charged for that?  When it's Time to get off the machine,  I'm feeling weak. I weeble wobble out of there, convincing the staff I'm good.  Geez I was tired.  We left there.  I was hungry. We got Popeyes chicken. (My baby said she wanted some).  Apparently Popeyes had just opened in Champaign.

After we ate it was time to cook some meals for my child!  However, The best I could do was lay on the couch and give instructions to Brian.  He made the greek pasta salad.  He also did the mise en place for the red beans. ( Mise en place.  I watch too many cooking shows. You can look it up-lol).  I cooked the beans. Shawn could make her own rice.  Lol.  After cooking, I was ready to back to the hotel. I was sooooo tired. Tired like I'm not sure I'd ever experienced that level of tired. We got back to the hotel and I crashed. I slept for 10 hours.  Understand that since my kidney failure, I'm lucky to sleep longer than 4 hours a night. It was a good sleep. 

The train stations in Chicago and Champaign make the Dearborn and Detroit stations look pathetic. Both Illinois stations are transit centers, so it's not just Amtak. Dearborn is building a new station. We will do Amtrak again. I liked it. 

Signing off with The Tavares, "Check It Out". Photos of train ride.  Beat down of the groundhog 2 weeks from now if were still in a Polar Vortex. :-/