Lazy Critters

Book Club... in the works

A friend and I both throughly enjoy reading so we're starting a book club.  Our meetings will hopefully occur on the 3rd Tuesday of each month, with the first being in February.  The selected book is "Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet" by Jaime Ford.  It's not something I'd probably have ever picked up, which I suppose is the point of a book club.  I'm a third of the way into it and finding that I really like it.  When I read the editorial review I wasn't much interested.  Glad I didn't pass it over.  

I'm 36 years old and so World War II was just something we glossed over in History class.  I know my texts covered it, but it was mainly stuff like, "on this date this happened, x-number of people were killed, blah blah blah." I always hated History because it was about memorizing a bunch of stuff, reciting it back and if I did well I'd get an A.  Boring and what a disservice to those who fought, lost their lives, and to the survivors who live on.  To take actual events and reduce them just death tolls and numbers on a calendar shouldn't be allowed.  Anyway... I digress, probably due to a mediocre education.  

The characters in the book are fictional but the events are not and that's what I find compelling.  The author glides between 1986 and 1942 in a manner that is very easy to follow and keeps it interesting.  Thus far the story is unfolding in a predictable manner, but I'm enjoying it and wanting to know what happens next. Can't wait to finish it and discuss it with my friend and anyone else who joins us.  

Don't let her sleep!

Not too long ago Jordan the cat was extremely obnoxious, more than usual.  Ginger's usually only annoying in the morning when she wants her daily Cat-Sip fix (crack-cocaine for cats), whereas Jordan basically is bothersome pretty much all of the time, except when she sleeps.  And, unfortunately Jordan perfers sleeping during the day.

Each night we feed the cats, Jordan in her kennel with her own private litter box, and Ginger in the same room as Jordan but with full privileges of said room. Since Jordan's nocturnal she bellows loudly for long periods of time, and rattles her cage.  If she had opposable thumbs I'm certain she'd drag a metal cup along her cell bars. 

Since her behavior on that particular night was particularly perturbing we decided we wouldn't let her sleep that day so that hopefully that night she'd behave herself.  The day was filled with, "Hey, Jordan, where are you?  Whatcha doing?"  "Oh no you don't, you can sleep all night..." and other such remarks.  I held her in my lap most of the day and would continually wake her up if she seemed to be nodding off.  It was a long day for all of us, but our diligence paid off!  Jordan the Annoying was quite all night long. 

Down and out dishwasher

The dishwasher isn't working... again.  Hubby called Bosch and they said they'd cover parts and labor to repair it, but it has to be their repair person who does the work.  This is the same dude who "thought" it was the drain pump.  I have little faith in him, but it's on Bosch's dime.   All I know at this point in time is that I won't be buying anything by Bosch in the foreseeable future. 

Melted Snowman Cookies

Frosty's Bachelor Party in Florida!

I made about 33 of these little fellas for a "Goodie Exchange" at work tomorrow.  The base is a sugar cookie, the middle marshmallow, pretzel arms, then it's all covered in white chocolate.  Mini chocolate chip eyes, mini M&M's for buttons, a Reese's Peanut Butter Cup for a hat, and a nose made of orange frosting.

Keeping the Kidney

Toughest decision I've ever made.  For over a month I've grappled with the idea of donating a kidney.  Researched what I could on living donors and didn't like what I learned.

The stress from the constant thinking, worrying, and wondering about if I would, what would happen if I did, how this would shape my future in terms of not just financial security, but my health... it was acute.  Early in this process my days were consumed with thinking about my friend, his situation, his family, my family, my health, the medical procedures involved, the recovery, how I'd feel after, what if it wasn't successful, what if I developed high blood pressure, or kidney problems of my own...?  It was an endless parade of happy thoughts (friend's healthy would hopefully be greatly improved), terrifying thoughts (my health possibly greatly diminished), and everything in between.  I lost sleep over this.  I had headaches, many, many headaches (which I don't typically have).  My stomach was upset.  I felt very tired, more than usual.  It was just a very unusual sensation, being more aware of my body, and the way it's affected by thoughts - good and bad.   

I'm grateful for this experience.  It's been one hell of a journey, but one I wouldn't trade for anything. 

Walking

The hubby and I have taken to the streets.  We walk about three to five times a week, sometimes we even take the dogs.  It's been wonderful as it's not too cold yet.  And, with the dishwasher still not working, it's great to have a few eateries within walking distance.  Though, I fear the food available pretty much cancels out any benefit the walking would have otherwise provided.  Oh well, at least it gives my dish pan hands a break! 

Thankful it's over

One thing I find really odd about Thanksgiving and the upcoming shopping scam of buying a bunch of useless crap for all the people you've ever come into contact with in the last seven months, is dishes.  Yes, yes, I'm back to that.  If you've read the previous post you know I hate washing dishes by hand more than my dogs hate being bathed.  Which is to say I have a very high tolerance for dirty dogs, but yet, not dirty dishes.  Anyway, as usual, I digress.  My point, dishes.  Perhaps you have everyday dishes, fine china passed down for generations or a lovely wedding gift from some distant relative who's name you can never remember, and maybe even "Holiday Dishes".  It's the last bit I'm referring to.  I can understand having everyday plateware that can withstand the abuse of a clumsy husband and/or children.  But "Holiday Dishes"?  Really?  A set of fancy plates, bowls, etc. that are only eaten off of once, twice, or maybe as much as three times in a single year?!  And since these dishes are so special it's terrifying to put food on them, much less take a fork and knife to the delicate surface for fear of scratching, chipping, or marring it in any way.  I'm pretty sure if such an object is damaged in any way it's grounds for divorce, abandonment, or capital punishment, whichever penalty is most horrific.

I find the concept of "Holiday dishes" ridiculous.  Storing a set of such special eating ware that's only worthy of the most special of occasions is just plain silly.  Clearly I don't own any such thing, nor do I care to.  What's the point?  Tradition?  Don't even get me started on that.  Anyway, cupboard and storage space in my home is so scarce the mere of idea of stashing away anything to be used on the rarest of events makes me want to bathe my dogs, which is as likely as me teaching my dogs (or myself for that matter) calculus.  It's not going to happen.  The cups, bowls, plates, silverware, stemware, decanter, etc. that I use everyday are good enough for all the foolish Holidays Hallmark has ever made a card for.  I find every meal, whether it's a dead bird brined to perfection or a hot dog on a stick, to be special.  Food is fabulous and regardless of what it's served on, it's to nourish the body, not induce fear of bodily harm for ruining what it's eaten off.  Besides, these emblematic eating receptacles usually need to be washed by hand, and typically shouldn't even go in the microwave.  How special can it be if the microwave turns it into a Fourth of July spectacle?  And, if I can't place in the dishwasher alongside its lowly cousin, the commonest of eating ware, it's just not worth having.  Make life simple people, get rid of all that extra junk you don't need and find yourself thankful.  Thankful for more room, thankful for less fire hazards cluttering up your life, thankful for what remains.  Less is more and the less you have to wash by hand, the better!

Dish pan hands

The dishwasher still isn't working.  The hubby called the repair place yesterday and was told the part should be in tomorrow or Monday... let's hope that's the case.  I've had it with doing dishes by hand.  The hubby tries to help out and do dishes but I'm anal and very particular about how dishes should be washed - scalding hot water, lots of soap, clean/new sponge.  I hate sponges, but since the husband is obsessed with them I relent, and we use sponges.  I buy them in bulk so that we're both, more or less, happy.  I'm also very particular about drying dishes and putting them away, but don't worry, I won't bore you with the banal details of my neurosis.

Anyway, my dishwasher woes have led to Thanksgiving day woes.  We were going to host it, then I asked my friends if we could have it at their house instead because the number of dirty dishes that would be generated in the making and eating of Thanksgiving dinner was making me break out in hives (well, almost).  Friends said, "sure, ok."  Then, the night before they call to say, "NO!  We're really, really, really looking forward to having Thanksgiving at YOUR house."  My reply, "fine, but we're eating off of plastic plates, drinking out of plastic cups, and using plastic forks, knives, and spoons."  GASP, a loud sigh, and other such noises emanated from my friend.  She was NOT pleased with this response and offered to do some of the dishes.  No dice, I'm way, way to abject to even consider such a thing.  The food will taste the same whether we eat it off fine china (which we don't own), everyday dishware (which we own two non-matching sets of) or lick it off the floor (though admittedly not nearly as comfortable as eating at the table).  If she wants to bring her own dishes she may, I'll even admire them kindly as I make a big show of eating off the plastic plates we purchased last night. 

Anyway, I at least have an amazing pumpkin pie I can devour to help console me.  Did I mention that the pie has a whole of of whiskey in it?  Oh, well, it does.  Almost enough to help me forget about that damn piece of useless equipment next to the sink.

Donating an organ is not like fixing an appliance

A couple weeks ago the washing machine died.  A repairman looked at it and noted that he could fix it, however, it would cost as much as replacing the machine with a lesser model.  We chose a new machine with a warranty.  The new washer was installed on a Sunday afternoon.  The next morning, the dishwasher wasn't working properly, nor was it draining.  That appliance, fortunately, is still under warranty (for about a month!).  Another repairman came to the house, looked at it, made a mess of my kitchen, and has ordered a part, a drain pump.  Hopefully within a week or two that machine will be operational again. 

Meanwhile, I can't help but think that my kidney is not an appliance.  It doesn't have a warranty.  I can't just go to Sears and pick out a new model and schedule a delivery time.  If I donate my kidney, that's it, that's goodbye forever.  If the recipient doesn't take to it, he's back to where he is now and I'm out a kidney.  I realize his body will reject it and he'll need to take drugs for the rest of life to fight his body fighting the new organ.  It's amazing this is even possible, however, I'm not sure I'm amazed enough myself to fork over my kidney.  I want to help my friend, but all the stats and data I've read is just a huge jumbled mess. 

For living donors "...some studies have shown a slightly higher risk of high blood pressure and proteinuria. These risks can be monitored through regular physical exams, blood tests, and urine tests. Interestingly, Switzerland established a living donor registry in 1993 to track living donors and to ensure they are regularly examined by their personal physician for blood pressure and renal functions. No such registry or post-operative protocols exist in the U.S. or other countries. Some transplant centers will follow up with you after a couple of months, but such follow up is not mandatory and the results are not used in constructive ways (e.g., research). The UNOS Living Donor Committee has proposed a standard medical and psychosocial follow-up protocol, but UNOS has yet to adopt the suggestions."

A slightly higher risk of high blood pressure and proteinuria? How much is "slightly"?  2%, 7%, 45%?  Switzerland is tracking blood pressure and renal functions... anything else?  What about donors who experience depression, PSTD, and a host of other issues after donating?  And the US, what are we tracking?  Oh right, the recipients.  I'm all for tracking the recipients, but what about the living donors?  Donors aren't appliances where you takes the parts from one to fix up another.  Even if Switzerland has an adequate track record of its living donors and their health, how does that translate to American donors?  Would an American donor receive comparable care and as often? 

Studies have shown that up to 40% of living donors do not have health insurance. Consequently, they skip out on follow-up care, and will not see a physician when they experience a complication or problem due to the transplant.


But wait, there's more!  If I donate an organ it's then considered a pre-existing condition.  Insurance companies do not like pre-existing conditions.  Amazing how when I'd need insurance the most (after donating an organ) that's when insurance companies want to turn me away, I'm too much of a risk for them.  Insurance companies are in business to make money.  Pre-existing conditions, care, treatment, follow-up, etc. is expensive.  Do the math.  I currently have health and insurance and as long as I'm employed in my current job I'll maintain that insurance... but if I get laid off or fired, ugh, I don't even want to think about it.

Well, it's time to take the car in for a check-up.  It's been leaking... something.  I'm not a mechanic so I don't know what exactly is wrong, but it's likely it can be fixed.  If that's not a viable option, the car is replaceable.  People, not so much.

Interesting how if an appliance or vehicle isn't working properly I'll do something about it.  However, when it comes to my body I tend to neglect it, I figure it sucks getting older.  Oh those headaches?  Stress.  Not sleeping, it's due to stress.  My period being five days late, stress again.  Wait a minute... if I'm experiencing all of these fabulous side-effects thanks to the stress of considering donating a kidney, what the hell will my body do if I get testing and go through with the donation (assuming I'm a match)?  I can't even begin to imagine.