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. 

Should I Stay or Sould I Go?

That's what my kidney wants to know.  I thought I was kickin' the little bugger out, but now I'm not so sure.  Turns out that little fella does a whole lot for me and hasn't once complained, about anything, ever. 

This is a huge commitment and one I'm having trouble making.  I want to help a friend, but I don't want to risk my health or go broke trying to get a CA kidney to a TN friend.   The more research I do, the more it freaks me out.  I've never had surgery (ok, except when they yanked out my wisdom teeth, but I got to keep my clothes and shoes on, so that doesn't count).  Being naked on a cold steel table gives me the heebie-jeebies.  The fact that there is very little data kept on living donors isn't comforting.  I don't know how much data and information I need to make an "informed" decision and if there ever could really be enough info, but what is available seems grossly inadequate. 

Seemed so easy when I first encountered this.  Friend needs kidney.  I have a kidney.  If only life was that simple.

Bourbon Blondies

Made some Bourbon Blondies for a party.  Typical blondie recipe but instead of a teaspoon of vanilla I added three shots of Bourbon.  Of course, if one does that you have to increase the amount of flour to offset the added liquid and that's a dicey proposition... too much flour and it'll taste like cake, not enough and it'll never bake.  They turned out and were quite good, but I think next time I'll add more flour.  A fun treat for when you want some different. This is the recipe I found and then modified.  Enjoy!

Living Kidney Donation

I'm in the process of finding out it I'm a candidate to be a living kidney donor.  It's a very exciting and scary opportunity.  Those little fist-sized organs are amazing.  The more I learn about them, the more I'm horrified to realize how little I know about my own body?! 

How did this even come to be?  I have a friend who lives in TN.  I live in CA.  So, for anyone considering doing the same, finding someone who is geographically desirable will make this process a lot easier!  But, if that's not an option, please don't let it discourage you.  It's still an amazing journey regardless of geography.

Anyway, this friend's wife wanted to donate her kidney to him, but during the final stages of testing discovered she couldn't.  I could tell she was devastated.  I know I would be if it were in that situation.  If my husband needed a kidney and I couldn't donate to him I'd want somebody to come forward.  I wondered if I was a potential match, so I e-mailed my friends explaining I wanted to help, was there anything I could do, and that my blood type is O+.  Realize, at this point I know next to nothing about any of this!  Turns out blood type is extremely important, which I figured it would be, but blood is an interesting thing.  Remember high school human biology?  Anyway, being O+ is helpful, makes me a universal donor to all other blood types.  My friend is also O+.  This is a good thing since O's can give to anyone, but they can only receive from other O's.  Ok, lecture over, you can do more research here if you're really interested.


I decided on my own that this was something I wanted to do.  I discussed it with my husband.  He freaked out, which is to be expected.  This is quite the bomb to drop on someone!  Of course, it's not usually a topic of discussion, so how to bring it up in the first place is probably going to be awkward enough.  But, it did come up and we've been talking and sharing out fears and concerns about this ever since.

I've shard with friends and co-workers my desire to donate a kidney and everyone has been extremely supportive!  I'm very lucky to have such fabulous people in my life.  As I said, this is exciting and scary, so having the support of friends and family is vital.

Some of things I've learned are, I'm just like a lot of people, all of the following stats apply to me:

• Most kidney donors (45%) were between the ages of 35 and 49.  I'm 36.
  
• 71% were white, 13% black, 12% Hispanic, and 2% Asian.  I'm white.
  
• The majority (58%) of donors were female.  I'm a female.
  
• 45% had type O blood, 38% type A, 13% type B, and 4% type AB.  I have type O blood.
  
  Source: OPTN Data as of February 28, 2008
  

I find this to be very encouraging.    Live kidney transplants have been happening since 1954, longer than I've been on the planet! 

This is just the beginning for me.  As I learn more I'll share it here (I have a lot of data and information I'm still processing that I'll post later).  If you have any questions please e-mail me or comment here.  If you know anyone is has been through this or is considering it, please let me know.  There are thousands of people who donate live kidneys each year, yet to the best of my knowledge, I haven't met any of them, but I'd like to. 

Resources:  all information was retrieved from the http://www.livingdonorsonline.org/kidney/kidney.htm site.  This site is also very good site:  http://www.kidney.org/transplantation/livingDonors/index.cfm

I'm sure as I do more research I'll find more sites.  If you know of any that I should check out please let me know.  Thanks!

Violette Lemon Baby Bundt Cakes

The hubby makes a fabulous Aviation Martini (check out link above if you're so inclined to try this, I highly recommend it!).  In honor of my baby's mad-drink-making skillz I created a dessert to go with it.  The Violette Lemon Baby Bundt Cake:

This is a standard lemon cake mix, but instead of adding water I used Buddha's Hand Vodka, Limencello, and a bit of lemon juice for added flavor.  The frosting is Creme de Violette, butter, cream cheese, and powder sugar.  A little food coloring was added to give it the beautiful lavender color.  The lemon drop candy and lime "leaves" were added for decoration.  Very tasty.  We had two dinner parties over the weekend and I made this for both occasions - it was a hit! 

Active

This morning we walked the dogs to the groomers then had brunch at a local eatery, Scrambles.  We followed that up with a little shopping at Casa Bella.  Purchased a few Holiday items for Grandma, and Mom G., as well as a couple of birthday gifts for various friends.  We had a nice walk home sans doggies.  Vacuumed then mopped the floors.  Next we shopped for groceries.  Had a late lunch/early dinner of bagels and lox with a side sliced cucumbers.    The groomers called to say the girls were ready to be picked up.  Drove to get the prettified critters and came home.  The dogs are beautiful and Karma's white again!  They even smell nice, much to their chagrin.  Did a little yard work, weeded, raked, mowed, trimmed... just glad it's done.  Now we're relaxing and enjoying Aviation martinis.  A nice way to end an active day.

Access, 2007, the Final Frontier... well, not really

I'm taking an Access 2007 course at the local community college.  I'm rather impressed with the book, though I did NOT pay the $150 new book price.  I purchased an electronic copy for only $53 smack-a-roos.  The book is well written:  clear, easy to follow, great examples, and lots of pictures of "how to...",  who knew Microsoft had it in em?  The same appears to be true of the Excel 2007 book (which I also purchased an e-copy of).

Both Access and Excel have new features that the previous models do not.  Great features that I really like and are easy to use.  Of course, my employer still has 2003 for all Microsoft programs so these fabulous things I'm learning won't be of much use to me at work... yet.  I'm ever hopeful they'll upgrade.  If not, hopefully potential future employers have the newer programs.

My Saturday mornings are now all about homework.  And, I'm enjoying it?!  I guess that's a good thin.  I'm hoping by the end of the semester to know enough to create a Fantasy Football thingy for the hubby.  He's really into that stuff, and I figure, "hey, why not let Access do all the heavy lifting?  Import some data, run a few queries, and presto:  it'll spit out the names of who should be played that weekend."  And next year, hopefully this little database will assist him in drafting his team.  I don't pretend to understand all the ins and outs of this Fantasy Football stuff, but luckily I don't have to, that's they hubby's passion, I just want to put my schooling to good use.

Baking... just not posting

I have made a few items over the last few weeks, mainly banana nut bread and brownies.  I did manage to remember to take a few photos, but haven't loaded them yet.

Then, horrors of all horrors, I ran out of baking soda?!  I don't know what's happening to me, last time I ran out of Bourbon.  At least with Bourbon I can easily swap Brandy or Rum or whatever... but baking soda, nope, no sub for that.  The banana bread was very pale and somewhat dense, but fortunately it tastes fine.

The previous batch of brownies were coffee toffee, but heck if I could taste either of those flavors.  I need to kick that up several notches. 

The most recent batch: peanut butter brownies.  Mmmm, the peanut butter taste is present and good. 

However, the hubby's and Kelly's favorite are still the orange brownies.  I have nothing against orange, but I'd rather not have that mixed in with my brownies, hence the attempts with other flavors.  Next I want to try something with marshmallow and/or caramel.  Wish me luck, seems I need it these days.

Homework

Homework is consuming more of my time than I imagined. Fortunately, so far, I'm enjoying the course work, but the idea that it's cutting into my baking time is a bit saddening. I'm taking Access 2007 and Excel 2007 courses at the local community college. These classes will be good for work, but mainly I'm doing it for me. I've always liked Excel and once I started dabbling in Access I just knew I had to learn it in more depth. Up until now I've been self-taught in both these areas, but realized that the programs have so much more to offer and I goofing off on my own wasn't the answer if I really wanted to have a full understanding of what each program truly has to offer. So, until the classes end, in December?!, I'll probably not be baking as much. On the one hand that's probably good for my waistline, however, sitting in front of a computer for hours and hours on end isn't.