Happy Birthday To My Innanet Boo!

We bonded over a post on Multiply. We compared survival stories. His touched me to the core of my soul.

He was the very first person I met personally, that was a victim of Hurricane Katrina.

He was very humble and gracious and thankful and he knew without a doubt that God had his back and that of his family and he's not afraid to say it.

I cried as he told of the water coming into his home and up each level until there was nothing left but roof.

I felt for him as he told of "things" that had been forever lost, but always remembered.

I rejoiced with him for the people he still has. He captured my heart before I ever knew what he looked like.

And then I saw his picture...





Good googley moogley! This man was FINE!!! Finer than frog hair, flea feces and all that stuff!

It was unreal. You know how they describe people as being just a real sweetheart, but they are a little hard on the eyes? Or when someone is so fine, but their personality leaves a LOT to be desired?

He is neither. I'm sure he has flaws, but he is a keeper. And I'm keeping him! I claimed him as my "Innanet Boo".

I don't care who he's with, I don't care who I'm with. There will have to be room for the two of us, LOL.

One day he told me of a website he dreamed of putting together where people of all colors could come and congregate in love and more importantly WITH NO DRAMA. I knew from our talks, he had the faith that would carry him through until his dream was a reality. I prayed for him and it was so.

He has always been the same, from the day I met him. Since that day, we've shared many thoughts and dreams. Shared stories about our families past and present. Welcomed new babies and again, he's always been the same.

That day you sent me a message on Multiply, you made a friend for life. One of these days...

Today however, I celebrate you!

Happy Birthday to Dante Perez, CEO of UrbanSoulz! I can't say it enough, I love you Dante!!

Remembering...

Melton’s Pink Store
Penny candy

Riding to Commonwealth with Aunt Carolyn.
Buckling her sandals.
Her watering the lawn in a halter top or bra, LOL.

Sitting on the porch with Off coils burning in the dark.

Aunt Cat.
Helping her decorate her classroom at the end of the summer.

The drive in.
Randall Court block parties.
Running from the Shoultz’s dog.
Playing hide and seek while trying NOT to get humped by Randall (the Williams’ dog)
Playing with War.
Riding bikes.

Popsicles.
Mother May I?

Dairy Queen on Cook.
Hardee’s on 18th.
Jackie Robinson burgers in a greasy brown paper sack.
Tops Big Boy
Lum’s

Putting quarters on the train track and retrieving them after the train goes by.
The Southeast hills
The Cornell Hills

Standing on the corner of the cul de sac, right in between the Banks’ and the Matthews’.

The Voice delivered by bike, not mail.
Paper boys

Johnson Park
Gregory Court
Brian Lane
Wirt
Pope

Slumber Parties
Lightning bug “wedding rings”

Saturday Cartoons
Soul Train
American Bandstand

Feel free to say what these things might remind you of or what you remember…

How Come You Don't Call Me....Anymore?

I'll just have to fake it until I can make it. There's a smile on my face, yeah, but I'm broken inside. Yeah, sometimes I cry, whem I'm all alone with this heart of mine... ~Eric Benet-Sometimes I Cry

Yeah, yeah, I know it's a Prince title and an Eric Benet quote...Both are songs that stood out to me this morning and it's my blog, so :p

Sometimes superficiality gets to be too much for me. People get off on how you look, what you can do for them, how you can make them feel, etc.

I suppose there are still plenty of people who enjoy doing for others, but we seem to be few and far between.

This "Me" persona seems to be taken on by everyone. Friends, family, colleagues...people want to take, take, take.

Why haven't you called? Why haven't you come by? Why haven't you done this? I get tired of always being the one...

Why should I always be the one to see how you are? Why should I always be the one to call and say let's go out? Why should I be the one to suggest trying something new? Why should I miss your voice before you have to hear mine?

I'm TIRED.

I'm not going to write much more because I'll risk naming situations and people.

I'll just end saying that I cannot and REFUSE to maintain every relationship that includes me, outside my immediate family and my best friends.

Sh*t or get off the pot...It's spring. Time for growth.

Another Chapter in the Dialysis Chronicles

Wow, 7 days have flown by...I have no idea what I'm going to write about, but I promised myself I'd do better.

I think I'll talk about the ugly part of dialysis. The repetitive use of the same veins, creates an anurysm in the veins (I think that's the proper term). Basically, the site where the blood comes out and the site where the blood goes in, looks like I have ping pong balls under my skin.



It doesn't hurt, but I do have to protect it because if it gets damaged, I'll have to go back to a catheter in my neck (the catheter is actually connected to your jugular vein).



Each treatment, I get stuck with 15 gauge needles connected to tubes. One tube pulls the blood out, runs it through the machine, cleaning it and the blood goes in the other tube.

The whole process used to take 4 hours. Now, because of the lower rate it runs, it takes 7.

The other morning when I was getting the last of my blood back, I moved and the needle pulled slightly, causing me to infiltrate. What that means is that instead of my blood going back into my vein, it went into my arm. That causes a bruise that will probably stay with me for a loooong time (you can see it both in the pic above and the one below).



If you ever have any questions related to kidney disease or dialysis, feel free to ask...

100 Words: Cinco de Mayo

Cinco de Mayo. Do you even know what it is?

On the 5th of May, it’s celebrated widely in the US by Mexicans as a celebration of heritage and pride, and the cause of freedom and democracy during the first years of the American Civil War. It’s not even celebrated in all of Mexico. It’s primarily celebrated in Puebla, Mexico.

In the state of Puebla, the date is observed to commemorate the Mexican Army’s unlikely victory over French forces at the Battle of Puebla, on May 5, 1862.
Cinco de Mayo is not Mexico's Independence Day. That’s on September 16th.