The "Updates and Odds 'n Ends", edition.

iPad shuffled to Tower of Power, "So Very Hard to Go". Love.the.horns!  Let's start with the updates.  Last entry I had a kerfluffle with my tech. I was late to my chair because I had "digestive" issues.  You know I mean. Dialysis patients are prone to those issues.  Some worse than others.  Anyway I took some Immodium in the morning when I realized it started. I was pretty much ok by the time I left for treatment.  Once inside the building I stopped in the restroom for a just in case.

So I really was late.  By 5 minutes. The trade off could have been getting disconnected while in the chair, going to the restroom, then getting reconnected. Gee, that would have added time.  By the way I don't like using the 1 (one) bathroom for patients in the treatment area...old men and stuff..ugh.  There's a public womens restroom just outside the clinic.  Because it's on the lower level and it's early in the morning, it's nice and clean.  I've digressed. 

The Moments, "Sexy Mama". This the incredibly long version of the song. Lots of moaning by the group. Lol. I can do without it.  So I get hooked up. And all is well.  The tech tells me..and that is key. She TELLS me that she has to cut my time by 25 minutes.  How does 5 minutes late translate into taking 25 minutes off of my machine?  My chair time is 6:15 AM.  I walk in at 6:20. I unpack my bag...iPad, blanket, candy and phone.  I go to weigh my self. I turn on the tv. Go wash my access.  Get my standing blood pressure taken.  Then my sitting blood pressure. The tech goes to get the senior tech I want to stick me (I'm quite picky now). I have to wait for the preferred tech because she has her own patients. I'm a patient patient (lol). Preferred tech sticks me. The other tech returns to hook me up to the machine. That's how 5 minutes translates to 25 minutes. 

America, "A Horse With No Name". Yeah, yeah, I know what it means. I still like it. About 30 minutes later I get told about the time reduction. I respond, " absolutely not". I went into the techs explanation on Monday. After I told her I wasn't giving up my time and that was the end of the discussion and if there was an issue, I'll talk with a supervisor.  She runs to the supervisor. Lol. Then she comes back and TELLS me she was requesting an adjustment to my time. WTF is it with her with TELLING me, instead of asking. The she launches into the damn domino effect again. I told her I was not an idiot. You will not cut my run time and you will not adjust my start time. I also told her I wasn't discussing it anymore. Lol and did the talk to the hand motion with my free hand. 

Will Downing, "Send For Me". A little while later the head floor nurse comes by and asks to talk with me after treatment.  Lol. I got told on. After treatment, in another area, the nurse asked what happened. We talked and she understood. All is well.  The tech is here this morning. I got in a little early. I actually got hooked up at 6:20.  I usually don't get hooked up until 6:30.  All is well. I have an idea about why the tech reacted in the first place. I'll go into that on another day.  Oh and a preferred tech had to come to cannulate me. Mondays actions were pure bullshit. 

The Dramatics, "Oceans of Thoughts and Dreams". Odds and ends. Real estate agent will place the "For Sale" sign out today. I've sent the bulk of my clothes to Vegas. The last of the furniture will be gone this weekend. The replacement of the front porch is completed. During the initial inspection, the City required us to add a handrail. That's completed and it passed inspection.  The City also requested us to add a CO monitor. That has nothing to do with a porch, but it's a great idea and it's been installed. :)

Finally during the great purge, Brian found something I wanted to keep. See, I worked Derrick Miller. He was actually a very good boss. One day he calls me into his office. He says, I know you're an AKA (member of Alpha Kappa Sorority) and I got something for you. The sorority had its national conference, the Boule, in  Detroit that year. He got one of those banners that was on the light poles for me!!!  Lol. I've thrown or given away a lot of stuff, but I'm keeping that banner!!!  Brian is holding the banner in the photo. I guess it's about 6 feet tall.  

Signing off with Quincy Jones, "Cool Joe, Mean Joe (Killer Joe)", with Tone Loc, Queen Latifah, and Nancy Wilson.  Nice flute. Horns!!!!! Have a great Wednesday. I'm getting excited about moving. As is Dad. Lol. I think he wants me to hurry up so I can start cooking for him.  Oh yeah, we went to Toast in Ferndale for breakfast yesterday. Breakfast goodness. I now understand the lines on the weekends. 

The "I'm Ok. How Are You?", edition.

iPad shuffled to Isaac Hayes, "Joy, Part 1". Had to crank up the volume to fully appreciate the timbre of his voice. :)  We're not supposed to eat or drink during treatment, but that seems to differ between treatment clinics.  Most clinics let you bring candy and they supply crushed ice. When I started at my clinic, the rule were pretty specific about not bringing food or drink into the treatment area.  The rules are posted in the waiting area, and at the entrance to the treatment area.  I asked if I could bring my Jolly Ranchers.  That was fine. During dialysis fluid is sucked out of me and I get a little dry.  Ice is not supplied here ... Apparently patients at my beloved ghetto clinic were stealing ice (wtf?  Lol).  But we can bring candy.

Usher, "There Goes My Baby".  Most patients comply...at least I thought they did. On first shift people bring candy...jolly ranchers, lemon heads, licorice...and I've switched to smarties.  Second shift it all changes.  People bring snacks.  Or they have snacks delivered them. I noticed some of drivers bringing snacks to patients and taking orders.  They'd come back with pop, Cheetos, Doritos, chips, Subway, etc.  Now look at that list. Sodium and phosphourus. At least the sodas weren't colas.  Now the rules are being enforced. I haven't seen any push back.  

Jimmy Ruffin, "What Becomes of the Brokenhearted".  So right about now I'm pissed.  I was late to my chair this morning by 5 minutes. A very, very rare occasion. I get called out. WTF??  I'm 5 minutes late because of "digestive" issues. Of course I could have come to the chair on time and relieve my self in the chair....seriously.  When I'm on time, I'm never hooked up to the machine at 6:15. NEVER.  Oh geez...as I write this I'm getting more and more pissed off. I need to calm down. I'm itching for a fight. <breathe>.  The tech tells me I need to cut my treatment by 25 minutes. Um, no. Repeat after me. Your kidneys work 24/7. I'm hooked up to an artificial kidney for 10.5 hours a week.  I want all of my time.  Especially on days when I've waited up to an hour?  Bullshit.  

I tell her if it's a problem I can talk to a supervisor.  She explains that the later patients have to wait and dominoes for the rest of the day. No shit Sherlock. I've experienced 3rd shift....remember when I went off on the tech because I waited so long?  You know, shit happens on the floor. Bleed outs, crashing because of low blood pressure, clots, etc.  Anyway the tech wants to keep talking about it. >:-(

She wants to keep explaining. I told her I wasn't an idiot. And I was through discussing it with her.  Lol now I'm stuck with her for 2.5 more hours. I could train her in more effective customer service.  My partner reminded me I'll be gone in less than 2 weeks. I guess I'll go out with flair. 

Signing off Young MC, "Bust a Move".  Oh yeah, we went to see "Tammy" yesterday. We'd seen so many 3D movies that I was expecting the glasses for "Tammy". Lol.  We also previews for more movies that weren't 3D.  The movie was funny and enjoyable. The surprise was Kathy Bates and Dan Akroyd.  Yeah, writing about the movie made me smile and calmed me down. My blood pressure spiked for a while.  Enjoy your day. I know I will. :-)

The "Thinking About Golfing Again", edition.

iPad shuffled to The Dramatics, "Door to Your Heart".  The Dramatics kill it on this song. The vocals are fantastic. The arrangement is great. The instrument is kicking. The harmonies are tight, as usual.  I used to golf. I was the quintessential mediocre golfer.  Lol. I had fun, though. How did I start?  Of course  there is a story behind that.

This happened before Shawn was born. Brian joined a league.  Back in the day, the City had a men's golf league. The flyers said come join. Even if you don't know how to play. We'll teach you. Brian said cool. It worked for him.  The next year, one of my coworkers was dating a guy that golfed...a lot. She noticed a flyer for a City womens golf league. She convinced me that we needed to learn how to golf so we can spend quality time with our men. (Snicker).  And yes lessons were offered for the newbies.  And yes the lessons were free.  Unfortunately the first day of league play was before the first class. 

Tee time was after work at Chandler Park. Yes, we had to get from CAYMC (City County Building) to Connor and I-94 in rush hour traffic.  Add to that I was a straight up west sider. Lol. I learned many east side routes. We get to the course. At least we had golf clubs.  I think I used my dad's old clubs. I had some old knowledge from my dad showing me how to hold a club when I was a teenager. Let's just say that my friend and I were delighted if it took us only 10 strokes to get to the hole. Lol. We were just that bad. Lol. We didn't even have the decency to be embarrassed. At least we were n different foursomes.  Lol. Oh yeah. In my foursome was a manager from my department. A woman who invoke fear and terror when she walked down the hall. She eventually would become my manager. She was patient as hell as she helped me that first day. And she was a kickass golfer. Lol. 

Robin Thicke with Pharrell and T.I., "Blurred Lines".  I pulled up the video. I now know there are 2 versions. Enough said. That weekend we had the first of several lessons.  The lessons actually lasted for the duration of the league..8 weeks I think.  We got a lot of instruction and it was worth it.  Lol i eventually to actually par on some holes.  Plus it helped that we played the same course so we got familiar with the holes.  Eventually my friend I would golf with our fellas.  Brian and I spent quality time at Chandler Park that summer.  That's where we both were learning the game.  

Sir Mix-a-Lot, "Baby Got Like". Lol. My head started bopping and the chair dancing is on. Lol. Doing everything I can to not start singing along.  Lol.  "Red beans and rice didn't miss her!".  I eventually got better clubs, golf shoes, golf glove, and better balls...pink, of course.  :)  The next year we drove to Disney World ... Yeah no Shawn, but I was pregnant.  That's another story for another day.  We took our clubs and stayed a Disney resort that had 2 courses, The Disney Inn...it's now reserved for the armed forces. Anyway, we pull up, the valet took our clubs to the pro shop. Brian scheduled a lesson with the pro.  I passed. I was pregnant and the humidity sucked the life out of me.  I was happy being Brian's golf groupie. <3.  

When he retrieved his clubs, they were cleaned and we had Disney World tags on our golf bags. We were now traveling golfers. We had proof!!!  Anyway, his lessons were taped so he could he how he did and what he needed to work on.  A few days later I did go out and played a round with him. There signs near the trees that said "Beware of Alligators".  We lost a few balls that day.  Balls that went astray in the woods or near the water...we just took the penalty. Lol. 

Barry White, "I'm Gonna Love You Just a Little More".  "I'm so in love with you there's no way out". Wooo!!!   We continued golfing for quite several years. I took private lessons.  I drugged  my best friend into golfing.  Shawn had golf lessons. I got better, but I was mediocre. I liked golfing. People ask how can someone possibly like golf.  Well for me it was the idea that this little ball was getting the best of me!!  Humph.  It was my mission to show that ball who was in charge.  Lol. I guess I need to complete the mission. 

The Whispers, " I Only Meant My Feet".  I had a vendor who also golfed.  I joined her league and ended up being a member of the Executive Women's Golf Organization.  The vendor also invited me to a womens golf weekend in Port Austin, Michigan.  This also included night golf.  Bring flashlights and beer and don't be surprised when you go to hit your ball and a cow greets you on the other side of the fence.  Lol. I went several years. I had a great time. 

The Isley Brothers, "Hello, It's Me ".  Remember the fear and terror manager I ended up working for?  She'd send me to golf tournaments to represent her. I liked the scrambles. :)  When I was a manager, my staff and I would go play after work or on the weekends.  That was clearly team building. :)   Eventually life got in the way and I stopped playing.  As I finish I'll tell you my favorite hole. It's at Rouge Park. You come to the tee.  You look for the flag. There's the Rouge River in front of you and a hill behind the river.  As you look up the hill, you notice a lot of balls imbedded in mud in the wall.  You look up and see the flag. OMG. It's par 3. Straight up.  Holy crap.  Lol.  Let's just I've never parred that hole!!!

"Butterflies", Michael Jackson.  So much golfing stuff I've left out...anyway the move to Vegas has me thinking about playing there....not when it's 110 degrees, but eventually. It's decent exercise and I'd be outside. And no I haven't mentioned this to Brian. I think he'll like the idea.   <waves to Brian>.  :-D

Signing off with George a Benson, "Turn Your Love Around".  Dialysis tie in?  I want to get more active.  At least while I can. I don't know when or if I may experience complications.  I feel like I need live my life to the fullest while I can!!!I.  I've always done some kind of sport since I can remember.   In the last throes of emptying out the house. Look for the "For Sale" next week.  :)

The "It Occurs to Me That I'm Enjoying Being Retired Despite the ESRD",edition.

iPad shuffled to Al Green, "Love and Happiness".  True R&B. Always liked the organ.  Yesterday I went to a fundraiser for MOTTEP - Minority Organ Tissue Transplant Education Program.  It was sponsored by Alpha Rho Omega, a local chapter of Alpha Kappa Sorority.  It was held at BDs Mongolian Barbeque in Royal Oak.  Lol. That was a mouthful. There will also be a walk and run at Belle Isle on July 26, 2014 for MOTTEP.  I'll miss it this year.  I have a one way ticket to Las Vegas for Friday, July 25, 2014.  :-D

Kool and the Gang, "Summer Madness".  My favorite song by them. I prefer the jazz and R&B cuts.  Didn't like their disco phase as much, but it was quite profitable for them and showed just how versatile they are. No hating at all. Ah. Listen to the synthesizer.  I had no clue what kind of instrument that was at the time. :)  Sometimes I can't write because I get distracted by the music...like now. New paragraph coming up.  

So yes, I've been enjoying my retirement. It took a little reflection to realize that.  I'm doing much more than I had during 2-3 years preceding the kidney failure. Everything took so much effort. And I hurt. My back hurt and my knees hurt. Mobility was such a huge issue. I'd be tired by the time I got to work.  Well let's fast forward. Once we knew what the diagnosis was, treatment started.  I felt better, but I needed to get to a functioning state. I needed to get to Vegas to visit Mom. I couldn't get there before she died. Well then I needed to get out there it support Dad. I made a few trips, but I didn't like him being out there alone.  

Oh oh!  Something entirely irrelevant.  Every Wednesday...and I mean every Wednesday, the nephrologist checks up on us. He usually rolls in around 8:30 - 9:00. But another doctor just came in.   But I know this doctor!  He is a partner of my nephrologist!!!.  When I was in dialysis at the hospital, he checked in on me. What was so special about him?  He's a dead ringer for my primary care physician (PCP) . So yeah, I'm sick and hooked up to a dialysis machine and I called out the kidney doctor for looking just like my PCP.  So when I see him walk into the module today, I called him twin. Lol. He chuckled.  

The Dramatics, "Be My Girl". Back to happy retirement.  My point was I had too much to do to feel sick and be sick.  I hated being confined to the house. Shawn was graduating from college. I needed to work with that. At that point it seemed the only places I was going was to see the doctors and to dialysis. Ugh.  Somehow I decided we were going to Disney World.  See, we had planned to go the previous December. That didn't happen.  Well it happened in June!  I used an electric cart while there, but I did my fair share of walking. I decided I was going to participate in a  couple of walkathons.  We took several day trips in Michigan...Port Huron, Frankenmuth, Monroe.  Oh yeah, even before that I'd just ride with Brian while he ran errands.  I did the first of several road trips to Urbana Champaign for Shawn .. Like getting an apartment and moving her. 

Now we're moving to Las Vegas.  The whole process of moving has been daunting, but we've made so much progress. We've had a lot of help.  We had to replace the front porch.  That was even fun.  Especially negotiating prices!  

Tom Browne, "Funkin ' For Jamaica".  Chair dancing.  Bass.  Air guitar. Hey!!  So last evening, after we left the restaurant, strolling through Royal Oak, I realize I'm basically happy. I'm happy being retired.  We're enjoying ourselves doing stuff. Water aerobics, acrylic and water color painting. Trying new restaurants. Visiting Shawn because I want to and because I can. Having the time to take a train.  Involved with fundraising and volunteering for kidney disease awareness and transplant awareness and kidney disease prevention.  Moving to Las Vegas. Planning to go to Denver and New Orleans this summer.   Life is good.  Yes, my kidneys have failed and I have treatment 3 days a week....in the center up to 5 hours...but I realize it could be much worse.  I'm grateful and I'm happy.  In addition, I'm ready to start doing my treat myself at home (with help from Brian, of course!). 

Signing off with Frank Sinatra, "Luck Be a Lady". Watched Guys and Dolls this weekend. This is one of my favorite musicals.  We question Marlon Brando singing, but with his acting and good looks we can overlook the quasi-singing.  Lol. Marlon Brando actually "sings" "Luck Be a Lady". Fortunately Frank recorded it. Lol. He is soooooo much better.  7 more dialysis treatments left here!!!   

http://motteplifewalk.org

The "Who Knew I'd Like The Transformers?", edition.

iPad shuffled to Heatwave, "The Groove Line" .  How was your holiday?  Had ribs at my mother-in-law's house. Brian's brother did the ribs.  Always good. Brian and I planned our own holiday dinner.  We had it on Saturday. Red hot sausages, green beans, sauted corn and potato salad.  I'm pleasantly surprised that I made everything except the sausages.  Well Brian did help with peeling the potatoes, dicing the onions and mixing the potato salad. 5 pounds of potatoes and all the fixins are a heavy stir.

Sunday was movie day.  Except for Malificent, I've deferred to Brian's choice. They've turned out to be entertaining. Yesterday was no exception.  We went to AMC Star John R.  The theater with the reclining seats. <3.  We got our (way to much) popcorn and (way to much) cups for drinks and settled in for The Transformers...in 3D of course.  The movie did not disappoint. We were in it for the special effects.  I am a bit taken aback that I enjoyed robots with personalities turning into trucks and cars. When the cartoons were out, I was not only out of age, but it marketed to boys. What a waste by Hasbro.  Girls could really get into strong female Transformers. I digress. 

The Delphonics, "Trying to Make a Fool Out of Me".  The movie was like a live action cartoon. Mark Wahlberg has giant forearms. Kelsey Grammar was suffiently evil.  The teenage girl was a girl, but she had balls when necessary. Stanley Tucci's female assistants kicked ass...literally.  My feminist side considered that the movies could have more female super heroes, but that's a discussion for another day.  Optimus Prime and his crew were pretty cool. 

Michael Jackson, "I Can't Help It". Written by Stevie Wonder.  There's a version on Youtube of Stevie playing this song. Check it out. The other thing about The Transformers is noticing Detroit in the movie! Lol. I forgot that some of the filming was done here. My first clue was in an early scene where a boat that looked like Boblo boat. Especially a boat named Ste. Clair.  I was going to ask Brian, but it was loud and the movie moved kinda fast.  A while later during a chase scene Brian says that's the Packard plant.  Later on I saw the People Mover.  It looked like it was facing east near Woodward.  I know the critics didn't care for the movie, but sometimes all you need just a great special effects and the ability to follow a story without thinking too hard. :)

The Dramatics, "Toast to the Fool". Welcome back.  I guess iPad put them back on the shuffle rotation!  Lol. As I was thinking about the scenes shot in Detroit it reminded me of another movie shot here.  You knew I had story, didn't you?  Some of my readers may remember this one. I had to look up the movie.  I remembered it starred Harrison Ford and I knew the filming took place in the late 80s or early 90s. The movie was "Presumed Innocent". 

We were at work at CAYMC...City County Building at the time.  It was Good Friday. For some reason, the director, deputy director and all of the managers were gone.  A seminar I think?  Our offices were in mid expansion. We acquired more office space on the north side of the building. Anyway, the uber tech guys were on that side of the building.  One comes running over to our side, opens the door and hollers, "Harrison Ford is filming!"  Whoa.  My side of the building empties.  A stampede of programmers.  Lol.  We line up at the windows.  See, since the remodel was in effect, there was no furniture in the room.  It was just a long line of windows.  Just enough space for all of us camp out and watch!!!!  To say we were excited was an understatement.  And the uber tech guy was (in theory) supposed to be in charge.  Lol. 

"Let The Good Times Roll", from Q's Jook Joint...assorted artists, but you can bet it's Stevie Wonder and Ray Charles, and Q's big band. The horns. The horns!!!!  Now this was when the Greyhound bus station was still standing. So we're on the fifth floor looking slightly down on the rooftop parking of the bus station.  A scene was filmed where some folks hosed an area wet and  simulated rain. Harrison Ford and Bonnie Bedalia ran through the rain under an umbrella. We thought that was the coolest thing ever. Apparently we were easily entertained.  Lol.  

 Tina Turner, "Proud Mary".  After the scene was completed, Harrison Ford came over to our side of the building, lit a cigarette and looked over the side, looking down on Larned.  As if on cue, we all started yelling and banging on the windows. Roflmao. This windows are thick and double paned.  I have no idea why we though he'd hear us.  Well guess what?  He did.  I can only imagine that employees on other floors may have done the same thing, but there were at least 30 of us. Lol. Harrison Ford looked up, smiled and waved at us!!!!!!  OMG. There was no more work done that day.  We talked about what happen for the rest of that half day......like none if us were there and saw it.  Rofl.  Did I ever see the movie?  Eventually, when it was on cable.  I smiled at the running the rain scene.  I saw it when it was filmed.  :)

So where's the dialysis tie in?  It's in the meals. Yes the sausage is not on the good for me list, but every now and then I splurge.  Besides I had the green beans and corn...no baked beans.  Potato salad?  I boil the hell out the potatoes. Bye bye potassium.  And popcorn at the movies...no salt. I do need to watch the portion. I didn't want anything to eat for the rest of the day.  Bleah. And even though they gave me a gigantor cup at the theater, I loaded it on ice and didn't come near to filling it up. I avoided the cola and had ginger ale!!!  Next time, though, I'll ask for a smaller cup...or get a bottle of water.  

Signing out with  Five Special, "Why Leave Us Alone". That's Tony on bass. :)   Have a great day.  I have 8 more dialysis sessions left here!!!! 

The "Of Course I'm at Dialysis On July 4th", edition.

iPad shuffled to Whitesnake, "Here I Go Again".  Lol. Song title matches the blog title. Here I go again.  Dialysis stops for no one.  As you know, or maybe not, the only holidays that we don't dialyze are Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day and New Years Day.  And  we don't skip treatment, the schedules are just adjusted so we have those days off. See, dialysis clinics are closed only on Sundays. To accommodate those holidays, the clinics close on the holiday and open on Sunday. So yeah, I dialyzed on Christmas Eve day in Las Vegas. On a side note...the clinic I went to in Vegas was in a building at Meadows Mall. We had to compete for dialysis treatment center parking with Christmas shopping parking.  Back to here. A few folks aren't here today...holiday.  What a surprise (sarcasm).

"A Real Mother For Ya", Johnnie "Guitar" Watson. "Rents gone up higher, got the parents lyin".  Story time!!!  You know by now I went to concert at Chene Park Wednesday evening. Last time I went to Chene Park was maybe 15 years ago?  Saw Will Downing and had backstage passes. That's another story for another day. Prior to that, Brian and I went there on a date...I think he had just finished the police academy. Yes it was a real date. Lol. He stopped at a party store and got a bottle of ...something. I don't remember. We get to the park.  I get searched..carrying a big ass Coach Bucket bag (remember those?). Brian didn't get searched!!   He gets in with the bottle of .. Hennessy?  I'm like wtf?  Lol.  It's the story of our relationship.  I'm the troublemaker and Brian's the angel. More like I'm the fall gal and Brian ends up looking like a really hood guy. And I'm sure no one will believe me. That's ok. After 30 years I'm used to it. Lol. And no we've been married for almost 27, but we met in 1983. :)

"Sun Goddess", Ramsay Lewis and Earth, Wind & Fire. This stands the test of time, too. So back to Wednesday.  I have a friend from childhood, Tony. We met when his family moved to the neighborhood. We were about 7 years old. Fast forward to the late 70s.  I go to a club, he's there with a band he's producing. Heck, I hadn't seen him in years and had no idea he was a musician or was producing groups.  Was nice to see him.  Moving into the early 80s, my best friend and my cousin went to Orthea's Place. Guess who's there with his band?  Tony!  And his band was Five Special (remember "Why Leave Us Alone"?).  He was the bass player and the leader. My friends thought it was kinda cool I knew the band leader.  I did too because my cousin is gorgeous and I'd always considered myself her wingman.  Lol. 

"Gold Digger", Kanye and Jamie Foxx. Lol, Kim Kardashian came to mind. Ok, I'll go sit in the corner. I was bad. Well, the next time I saw Tony was around 2007 and the Facebook thing. Finally, we'd see him at the neighborhood restaurant we go to after dialysis. He told me about his show.  I'd been trying to go see him for years, but with the effects of the failing kidneys, I just couldn't go.  This time he let me know about the concert. I told Brian. And Tony caught him too. So we went and got some tickets. 

I was a little concerned because the concert was on treatment day. That meant some walking from the car to the seats. And sitting 3 or so hours for the concert. Of course I'd be able to leave, but I not only wanted to see T Money Green and Roadwork and the main act, Morris Day and the Time!!  The middle act, not so much...I digress. We left early, got a close parking spot...lol. They're all reasonably close. So the walk was a nonissue.  Just a few stairs to navigate. So far so good. The seats, eh.  My back hurt after a while, but I didn't crash or get tired. Lol. I went deaf, but that's another story. 

"Feel the Fire", Peabo Bryson.  Tony's group came on.  Old school G-Funk. Oh did I tell you?  He worked with Snoop Dogg and Dr Dre?  That's his bass you're hearing on their songs. :)  Great set and then he did his solo thing on his bass. OMG. His bass was the best of all of the evening acts. He made that bass sing and dance!!!  The next act was ok.  I thought the singers were a little screechy, but the horns rocked.  

Finally Morris Day and the Time.  I'd seen them at Cobo in the early  80s...with Vanity 6 and Prince. They've been performing for over 30 years.  And they put on a show !!!  The suits, the fedoras and of course, "Somebody Bring Me a Mirror". "WHAT TIME IS IT?"  Lol. I probably forgot more songs than I remembered, but once they started playing, it came rushing back. And no, I have none of their music on the iPad. That will be fixed very soon!!  I had a ball.  And my hearing returned within 30 minutes. Lolololol. Also the crowd tickled me. These were my (age group) people. Lol. I'm looking forward to more concerts.  :-)  For record the other band was Larry Lee and the Back in the Day Band. No, they weren't horrible. 

Signing off with Chaka Khan, "And The Melody Still Lingers On (A Night in Tunisia)".  Photos of the marquee, T Money Green, and Morris Day and the Time.  Have a great 4th of July.  I already made the potato salad. Recipe handed down from my grandfather....and yes, Shawn can make it also!  4 generations. :-D

The "Stopping Dialysis?", edition.

iPad shuffled to Grandmaster Flash and Furious Five, "White Lines". "Don't do it".  The same group that did "The Message". You know, "don't push me 'cause I'm close to the edge".  You know I belong to several groups on Facebook that are all about dialysis.  I'm also involved with several advocacy groups such as The National Kidney Foundation of Michigan, The Americam Kidney Fund, and Dialysis Patient Citizens.

The Dells, "The Love We Had (Stays on My Mind)".  The Dells. :-)  Volume cranked up.  Lately a subject keeps surfacing on the Facebook groups. More often than I'd like to see, people are asking what happens if they stop dialysis. People are seriously thinking about stopping dialysis. More people than I'd imagine. With more reasons than I'd imagine.  People can't deal with having to do dialysis the rest of their lives. They don't have any support from family and friends...or they have no family.  A significant number of people relay that their friends and family have abandoned them after the diagnosis of ESRD. Some people will never be eligible for a transplant due to health reasons. Some people are eligible for transplants, but they'd be responsible for 20% of the cost. Or the cost of drugs are prohibitive 3 years after the transplant. Some people are perpetually tired from dialysis treatments. Some are turned off by the succession of life  threatening infections.  Some have been on the transplant list for over 5 years and are just tired of waiting.  The list goes on....

Aerosmith, "Crazy". No one judges. We can only relay experiences.  The experiences run from what I went through before the ESRD diagnosis to family members who witnessed loved ones who stopped treatment.   Other experiences include missing treatment for a week, 2 weeks, having being victims of hurricanes and other natural disasters where getting to a treatment location isn't possible.  The experiences are different, but a high percentage are affected by fluid build up....in the lungs.  This is not a pleasant experience. It clearly is not a peaceful way to die. :(

After 7, "Ready or Not". Love Kevon Edmonds voice.  However there is a process if a patient wants to stop treatment.  No one is pressured to continue treatment  but the patient is given a lot of information to make an informed decision. A preferred method is to use palliative care, rather doing it yourself at home and probably being more miserable than you can even imagine. And yes on bad days I'm ready to pull the plug.  I'm fortunate to have someone to pull me out of the black hole and I allow myself to be pulled out of the black hole.  That's important, isn't it. Being allowed to be pulled  back. 

War, "All Day Music". Released in 1971.. Over 40 years ago.  It stands the test of time!  Support means a lot to dialysis patients. Dialysis and kidney disease is pretty daunting. We have a condition that can NEVER be cured. A kidney transplant is not a cure, it's just one method to keep us alive. Granted, some of us think it's better than being at the mercy of a machine....which is dependent on electricity, and being dependent on an assortment of technicians and nurses.  Patients are aware that something can wrong during treatment and we'll die on the spot.  

Bobby Womack, "Looking For a Love". RIP.  So when members of the group ask about treatment we don't judge.  The best we can do is support and offer options.  

Signing off with Michael Jackson, "I Wanna Be Where You Are."  I forgot to mention that on the train trip to Springfield, Illinois, the train followed Route 66.  We passed some original diners and there were some Burma Shave signs. Your family were raid warriors if you remember the Burma Shave signs. :)