Shrapnel

I don't know whether I'm coming or going these days. Maybe both at the same time? A lot's been going on.


LIFE, THE UNIVERSE, AND EVERYTHING

I turned 42 a few weeks back. I was really feeling very low-key about the whole thing, but Michael and the boys sneaked around behind my back and bought me lots of cool gifts, like a bottle of tequila and a Zen Stone. Mine is just like this, but bright red. (Michael obviously knew better than to buy me a pink one.) Isn't it the cutest? And he pre-loaded it with some great tunes.








I also received a big package of Shamwows, proving definitively that I married the right man.


THE LAST WORD ABOUT MY HEALTH

I'm so frocking tired of thinking about my health. Part of the reason I haven't been posting is that anytime I open my brain all that comes out is "Ifeellikecrap mykidneysarefailing I'mtiredasshit mykidneyshurt wahwahwahwahwah." SO, I hereby declare a moratorium on posts about my health, unless there's something really new to report.

(The current bullet is: my kidney function is at 32%; I have no anemia or thyroid issues that would otherwise explain my pervasive fatigue and lack of stamina; I feel some degree of pain most days; my nephrologist thinks we'll start talking transplant in 1-2 years or when function is at around 25%; I am extremely lucky in that I have family members who are willing and able to donate a kidney to me. If you have questions I'll be happy to answer them in comments or by email, but I'm DONE posting about my frocking kidneys. For now.)


BUT WE CAN STILL TALK ABOUT PKD -- MY BLOG, MY RULES!

I finally mustered the energy to put up a fundraising page for the October 2009 PKD walk. I'm expecting it to be a really tough year for fundraising, so support at any level would be most appreciated. Clicky here or at the top of the right-hand sidebar if you feel so inclined. We will also be having a silent auction/cabaret fundraising event on October 2, so mark them calendars...


WHAT HAPPENS IN FELLS POINT STAYS IN FELLS POINT I SHALL NOW BLAB TO THE INTERNET

My glorious friend Maureen and I finally got our collective crap together after 5 months' stalling planning and ran away for the weekend to Baltimore. We stayed right on the water, across from the building where they filmed "Homicide: Life on the Street". See?




































Cool, right? We shopped, spa'd, drank beer and ate crabs. And we spent an hilarious evening at the Cat's Eye Pub making fun of with the whitest man in America.
























I am protecting his identity for his own good -- he had less rhythm than an elephant on crack and was under the delusion that he looks like Mike Schmidt. (In his dreams!) But he did endear himself to me by asking Maureen whether she and I were "together." Bless her quick-witted Irish heart, she answered "Well, we're together this evening!" I love messing with clueless, rhythm-less drunks.

The Cat's Eye Pub is fun not only for its excellent bartender and its ridiculously rhythm-less white guys, it's also a great place to pick up a Fells Point Boyfriend. Meet Omar.



















I was drunk by then struck dumb by the size of his biceps. And look how talented he is!




































A man of many parts, is Omar. Call me, doll-face.

The closest I got to baking all weekend was the Domino Sugar sign.




































Thanks for running away with me, Maureen. I needed that.