Wednesday, May 9, 2012

Hi All, I finally got a chance to blog about last thursday, May 3, 2012, which was very interesting and exciting for me and my family. On Wednesday, my family and I made a day of it, starting with an early morning job fair in Oakland. It was quite productive, as i wasn't there seeking employment opportunitites, but my husband and daughter were. I was just there to get the freebies (lol). I adore pens, so i was collecting them at each booth or table, some where very unique, with a pen at one end and a highlighter at the other, and some of them had a little flashlight attachment. I also got varies company represented mugs and cups, keychains, flashdrives, personal mini tablets, and even a company gave away rubik cubes, isn't that something! it brought back memories of the 70's when they were hot, and of course, i only figured it out once during that time, and never could achieve it again, well i am back to square one, because this revised addition of this cube, is far more complicated, because it is in all kinds of crazy positions, and i am still working on it (lol). My husband seem to be pleased with the outcome of this particular job fair, where he has been disappointed at most of the job fairs he has attended around the bay area last year and this year so far. My daughter was also pleased at some of the prospects. Although i don't like the way you obtain a job since the use of the internet, becauses everybody says the same thing, you can go to our website and download the application (i feel in my opinion, this is so very impersonal), what happen to the days, when you can go to a particular facility or company and fill out an application right in the Human Resources or Personnel Office, and sometime you are lucky to be invited, (after review of your application, that very day) for an interview. Remember, the movie BIG, where tom hanks (who was only 13, but looked about 30, because of magic), was interviewed right after filling out his application. Well i know those days are over, but it makes me wonder, when you submit your application online, does it get lost or maybe you're the unlucky application, that they may think they have enough applicates for that particular position, so yours doesn't even get a chance to be reviewed, and it gets tossed. Well, so much for that, i guess you can see, i truly don't like the way things are done in the seeking employment world. We had planned to go to our favorite restaurant, near the previous Oakland Navy Base, (which is the port of Oakland, since the year 2000), but we discovered our favorite restaurant was no longer there, but there was a new restaurant in the same location, and we decided to try this new restaurant. It is called Nellie's, and as we entered, we were very pleased with the appearance, and of course, the great service. As soon as we were seated, we didn't have to wait but a few minutes, for our waiter, to take our order. I loved that this restaurant, offered some of my childhood favorites, growing up in Louisiana. There was shrimp jambalaya, seafood gumbo and of course deep fried oyster and shrimp po boys, (in which i ordered). It took about 15 minutes, and the waitress returns with our plates, and when he placed my plate down, i was so astonished at how large those oysters where, there were six large oysters on a bed of lettuce, and six large prawns on the other side of the lettuce bed., they gave you the often of turning it into a po boy, with the french roll they provided on the plate, there was also some slices of tomato as well., and of course, there house potato salad and french fries on the side. I couldn't wait to indulge into this wonderful meal. Finally we all finished our meal, and we drove over to a long time friend of ours house (Phil Birdsong), and kicked with him for awhile, because it was still too early to go to the city, so we wasted some time with a visit and then we went across the bay bridge to San Francisco. My family and I were invited to a private home to meet our new CEO of the Polycystic Kidney Foundation Headquarters in Missouri. We arrived, and as usual, had to locate a parking place, so my husband dropped my daughter and I off at the front of the building - which had a sign that said (Private Residence), so my daughter and I were baffled as to where exactly did my friend Katherine lived, we had the address on hand, so we went to the front, to the side and finally to the back, she was at her front door to meet us, but her little fluffy poodle, met us first, with a doll in his mouth, that was so adorable, he was a fuzzy white poodle. He jumped on my daughter, but as he attempted to jump on me, i stopped him in his tracks, because he was jumping near my PD catherer, and that could have leaded to trouble, Katherine had a very strange look on her face, as though, i didn't like her pet, but i immediately explained to her, that i was afrai he could cause an injury to my catherer, and she understood right then and there, and took the poodle upstairs and lock him in one of the rooms. I felt bad, but i couldn't take any chances, right! We entered her home, and of course, most of the guest had arrived, along with the CEO. She had a nice spread on her nicely decorated table, so she took our coats, and we retreated to the dinning room, to get our grub on. I promptly complemented on how beautiful her home was. Because we are all CKD patients, she had an assortment of renal friendly appetitizers, such as parmesan chilled asparagus spears, an assortment of finger sandwiches - ranges from turkey, roast beef, chicken salad, and tuna salad. There was also a vegetable with french onion and artichoke dip. And also renal friendly cookies for dessert. There was sparkling apple cider, flavored sparkling water,wine and also latte and espresso for those coffee enthused. I don't drink coffee. My family and I weren't very hungry, as we had just eaten a fantastic meal in Oakland, but we humored them, by eating some of the appetizers. We sat gathered in a circle in the living room, while we continued to snack, there was also some chips and dip on the coffee table in the living room as well. First, the CEO spoke, and then it was on to the introduction of each member of the chapter. I was first, had i been aware of this, i wouldn't have sit by the CEO, but i wanted to hear and concentrate on everything he was speaking about. I wish i was in the middle, because i wasn't ready to be the first to introduce myself, but i got the courage to introduce myself, and to talk about myself and of course, plug my books as well, i use every opportunity i can to plug my books. (lol). I great deal of the members at the reception, were astonished about my publishing these books, but better yet, they were simply amazed at how long i have been living on dialysis (in my 22nd year as we speak). Then the introducing continued with my daughter, and she spoke so eloquently and precise, i was so proud of her, i had never heard her speak that way before. It came around to some that had just recent received the blessing of a cadaver kidney, and there was one that had his kidney for about six months, from his son, who was also there at the meeting as well. There was one CKD patient, a young man, that was just diagnosed with PKD, because of the trauma he experienced during his soccer game in Denver, he stated he is currently under some study in the clinical trials of finding a cure for PKD in Colorado at present, and he is anxiously awaiting for the results of that study. It was on to many more PKD patients, there was a lesbian couple there, who are in the process of having a transplant real soon - her partner is giving her one of her kidneys, that is so touching to hear. It finally came to my husband, who also spoke eloquently and i was so touch at what he ended the introduction with - He said he is always there to support me, even if he leaves this world before me, I will always have his support in spirit. All in all, it was a very productive day, with all that had transpired that day. As we were leaving, I was walking down the stairs in front of the house, it seemed like the stairs felt a little more steeper and also one sided as well, that i started to experience a dizzy spell, i began to walk sideways. I still fine it strange, that the homes in the city, look like they are lending to one side, but when you enter the home, everything is leveled inside, i still can't figure that out, but anyway, this little episode, brought most of the people outside, and they were so concerned about me. I started to feel better, when my husband told me to lend on his shoulder and he took my hand, and guided me from the steps to the street, we didn't have very far too walk. I was so pleased, my husband found a close parking space. It was all good, after i began to feel better. We headed for home, and we all commented on her beautiful home and how enjoyable the reception was and meeting the new CEO. After about 20 minutes, i fell off to sleep, and slept the remainder of the trip home. Well that was my productive day from last thursday. Not much has happened since that day, so until next blog, stay well and compliant with your renal diet and medication regiment. take care and all the best to all my followers. And this is one of my day in the life of a dialysis pts. most of us CKD and PKD patient try our best to live a normal life, inspite of our Chronic Kidney Disease. God is love, love is God Glo