The Excitement of Self-Sufficiency

Yesterday Catherine, Marissa Jane and myself had been busy - a tree went up, lights went on, ornaments were hung, and a true mountain of gifts were wrapped.

It had been a late night Friday as the three of us took in the remake of Annie. We all liked it though it had a more streetwise modern sensibility. MJ was up late...

In any event, we were all a bit tired as dinner time arrived, but had no plan for a meal. We contemplated picking something up and MJ wanted McDonalds.

It was then that I pointed out she could buy her own dinner having earned a gift card by hard work at school.

Marissa then realized she could buy everyone including her grandfather (Opa in German} dinner.

I have never seen a child so excited to be able to buy dinner. This was likely her first time. She raced off to loudly ask Opa if he'd come out for a free meal!

When we arrived at the restaurant, she told her mother "Leave yoir purse in the car, you don't need it!".

As it turns out, she hasn't quite grasped the entirety of costs, so her $20 gift card would only feed her and Opa, but it was the glee we all saw at being able to treat her people that was magical.

Self I sufficiency is indeed a glorious feeling. I am glad she is discovering that as well as the gift of giving.

She has been setting aside about 25% of her allowance for a month and a half for Christmas charity donation.

She's a good kid. I am lucky to have her in my life to be able to share these moments.

Aging Gracelessly

Around 7 NOV 2013, my kidneys - dormant for nearly a year- started being uncomfortable and wreaking havoc on my sleep. It seemed kidney stones might be coming my way again.

30 DEC 2013 was the date of my CATscan. 3 JAN 2014 was when my G.P. called to give me the mixed bag of news which appears to be my lot.

On the plus sign, no sign of kidney stones or non-stone blockages. That's good.

On the less good side, my right kidney is showing signs of calcification both in the passages and organ tissue. If I understand correctly, this means reduced efficacy.

It appears this calcification is a consequence of some cholesterol issue. Untreated, renal failure in the right kidney is possible. The left may be clear now but that could change.

The intervention appears to be starting to take a statin daily, get back to the gym, lose more weight and take omega-3 supplements. Also useful is drinking water, perhaps demineralized, limiting salt, watching blood sugar, and avoiding drugs hard on tje kidneys. Unfortunately this includes many painkillers to help with the ache/claw-in-side discomfort which isn't wonderful. Also grapefruit is off my menu.

One issue right now is the statins are pricey. I am making choices between hand physio to fix my scarred and problematic hand vs. drug meds. $54 for the starins isn't cheap and physio is $140/hr. Have to see what I can afford.

I can go back to the gym and use my wind trainer. I can walk in temps to about -10 C. I can drink water. Hopefully the statin will halt the kidney damage.

It is frustrating to be close to the life I always wanted but to have my future impinged upon by this condition.

Still, I am grateful for my blessings and supports. They make things easier.

Treasure your health. It underpins most other agendas.