So, while all my friends and family are having/attending BBQ's and drinking their faces off, where will I be?

That's right. On a date with my stupid boyfriend that I can't dump AKA the dialysis machine.

There's no justice in the world.

Wow, it has been a while, hasn't it?

Well, summer has officially come to stay in my part of the world. Finally. And, with this brings my longing to go swimming.

Of course, I then think about what would be required for me to actually go swimming.

On second though, I'm content with parking my chair in 8 inches of water and simply lounging with my feet in the water, my sunglasses on and a nice bottle of. . . . something in my hand.

A good friend or two wouldn't hurt either.

Don't forget your sunscreen either kids!

Perm cath vs. Fistula.

Everyone has an opinion on the matter and I think I'm in the minority when I say I hate my fistula and wish I had never had it done.

Today is my "Kidnaversary!" (the one-year anniversary of my kidney transplant)...

In celebration, my nephrologist's office called and gave me the results of my bloodwork from last Friday - Creatinine .9 with a Tac (Prograf) level of 6.7. Awesome!!!

(((HUGS))) to my bro (and his kidney) that continues to produce the most wonderful pee on planet earth on an hourly basis. I wouldn't be here like I am without him.

My good friend Judy mentioned in one of her posts recently that it seems many bloggers are taking a break from writing - all for a variety of reasons. She suggested that maybe we all need a NoBloPoMo (a No Blog Posting Month)...

... I might just have one right about now.

It's not that I don't want to blog or that I don't have things to say/express/share, it's more about the timing, or the lack of time I'm going to have for to blogging in the upcoming month.

I feel a need to fill the gap. This is what I do. I hate awkward silences, even if they are online.

So, I've been re-watching The 4400, this terribly underrated science fiction series about 4400 people who were abducted over 60 years, given special powers (mind reading, pre-cognition, healing, moving things with their brain. . .) and sent back to earth with the mission to save the future of humanity.

This has what, exactly, to do with dialysis and what not?

GETTING THERE! BE PATIENT!!

Anyway, the healer character (Shawn, for those who care) got me thinking. . .

ETA: The title of this entry? Absolutely nothing to do with it. I was lacking for a title and Cowboy, Take Me Away was playing on my iTunes, so, there you go.

I officially hate the internet. I had a lovely journal about how I'm a freak all written up and then I did something and the whole thing disappeared. What a rip!

Of course, looking back on the entry, it was really just me bragging about how I kicked ass in university, despite being on dialysis.

Since I don't have the want to write it all up again, you people are going to get some FUNNEH STORIES! from my Dialyse This journal.

So, here we are kids. The first blog of the new Hemo blogger for the wonderful Krissi. My official title: On dialysis/awaiting transplant blogger. Unofficial title? Kicker of a$$ and taker of names. (Dude, I feel SO. DIRTY. using the $$, but, Momma Krissi says so, so. . . ) ((For unedited versions, pop over to Dialyse This ))

This will totally be dialysis/awaiting transplant related, right?

Uh, sure, let's steer it in that direction, shall we?

Taking inspiration from Penny's question "Why do you blog?" I thought I'd turn my answer into a Thursday Thirteen post.

I blog because I want to! Aside from that...

I blog because I want to share my experience and thoughts about adopting and adoptive parenting. I write about adoption because I believe my opinions are valid and should be recognized as equal to all other adoption viewpoints.

I blog because I want to connect with other kidney disease patients. I write about my personal kidney-related health issues to express my emotions about living with chronic illness and to prove to the world that living with chronic illness does not equal chronic unhappiness.

I blog out of a sense of urgency to advocate for the issues for which I believe are the most important - mainly adoption/adoption parenting/adoption reform and kidney disease/organ donation awareness.

I blog to express my frustrations... not about anything specifically, but about everything specifically.

I blog to explore my insecurities, and I find that sometimes I blog to discover my insecurities. Blogging about what bothers me most helps me figure out why I feel the way I do.

I blog when I need a friend who does nothing but silently listens reads...

... although, I also blog when I need a friend to leave a comment to offer advice, support or point out things that I might not have otherwise realized or considered.

I blog as a form of self-therapy and to record my thoughts so that I may look back at them when I need to remind myself where I've come from and where I'm going. Of course this also creates a great record of my life and a journal of who I am.

I blog because I feel much less inhibited in expressing myself online, especially about difficult to discuss topics. I can always delete a comment (although I very rarely do) that has gone awry, but I can't un-speak words said during an in-person conversation.

I blog to make friends!

I blog to be controversial and non-conformist (when the topic at hand warrants it.) I also blog to be united with others (when the topic at hand warrants it.)

I blog because it makes me happy - that is pretty simple, wasn't it?

Hello blogger world. Yes, I realize I've been a bit absent from this blog for awhile, but I'm sure you'll forgive me, right?

Yesterday and today I've been feeling really achy. I'm wondering if I'm having another "fibro-flare"... I should count my lucky stars as I haven't really had one since Thanksgiving (all the other chronic pain from other stuff doesn't count..)

I'm working really hard on this site - half of the work is learning how to use Drupal to it's full advantage. I tend to reverse-engineer things which, of course, takes longer than just learning it before trying to apply it.

As of now - 2008/05/28 @ 2242 EST - I realize I need a break. Maybe I'll go watch some TV for once (instead of blogging/Twittering/site-building!)

P.S. If you're reading this from a feed, would you mind coming on over to take my little 10-second survey? I'm interested to know who reads my blog.