Election coming up

Don't forget to get registered and vote in November! It's your right and duty to vote and you can't complain about how things are unless you have put in your two cents. Get informed and make a choice.

My youngest sister Kristy is visiting this weekend from The Twin Cities. Now, I know St.Paul is one twin, but I have no idea the other. I'm not that up on states and cities lately. Anyway, she's an artist and so is her boyfriend. Awesome artists - as you can see from one of Kristy's peices to the side. She has a whole series of these. I was lucky enough that she mailed me one!! I absolutely love it. Frank creates these amazing mylar?? and light pics of power lines. He has a deep explanation as to why he's drawn to it, but I can't do it justice.

If only I could be as talented!!

It's September and it's getting chilly. I like the cool air, but not COLD air. I can handle the cool days up until about November, then it's to fucking much to handle.

Fall brings on a crisp change - environmentally, emotionally, physically - and it always feels like a time of renewal for me. Maybe it just take me back to my childhood when we got new clothes and school was starting. It was like starting over again every year with friends, teachers, etc. It was also a time of harvesting in our huge garden - not my favorite activity. At least it wasn't a sweltering hundred degrees like when it was summer and we had to lug gallon jugs of water to the garden to weed and water. I hated weeding that fucking garden, but it kept us four kids fed. Anyway, getting the food from the garden was one of the many transitions into winter.

Enough with looking back and waxing on. This fall is exciting because my son is playing football FINALLY! I've never been one to want my kid to play, but he's tried other sports and activities and he's never really been INTO it. I never expected it, but he absolutely loves football! He's pretty good for his first year and I'm glad he's found something he loves. That's a goal of a parent - to guide your child into a life of doing what they love.

I've been walking my dogs 15 minutes a day on most days like my doctors told me. They haven't officially diagnosed me, but I'm borderline diabetic. That stems from the medicine I'm on for my transplant and exacerbated by my weight and inactivity. I'm NOT going to have a lot of complications with this transplant. I've had it for nearly 6 years (November 23rd) and I'm not going to fuck it up. I've gotten lazy in the last few years, especially since I started working again, and I'm not going to let it continue. My doc said to just work on 15 minutes and no more. If I want to do more, fine. If I don't want to do anything - tough shit - do 15 minutes and be done with it.

Froggychick

My Kidney and I

About 6 years ago, I was lucky enough to receive a kidney transplant. My new kidney came from a 17 year old girl from a town about 100 miles away. I've had some contact with her family and I know that she was a very special person, and I'm honored to help her live on.

Tomorrow, I will be walking in The National Kidney Foundation Kidney Walk at Callaway Park in Elwood. I'm trying to help raise money for kidney disease/health awareness. More people than you realize have kidney disease. Some of it is genetic - as is my case - and some of it can be prevented. If you have high blood pressure or diabetes, you can control these issues to prevent damage to your kidneys. Let me tell you, I would love to have been able to prevent my kidney failure if I could have and I know some people with diabetes who could care less about controlling it the way they should. Same goes for blood pressure...check it often and get medicated if needed!

My wonderful husband attempted to give me one of his kidneys 8 years ago, but my body rejected it within 7 days. I kinda joke that my body didn't have enough beer residue to entice the kidney to stay. It was devastating, though, to realize that he went though all that he did only to have my body throw it in the garbage. Things happen for a reason and I knew it would be ok.

I was on peritoneal dialysis for about a year and a half when I got the call on a Saturday morning. It was terrible thinking that someone had to die for me to live a more free life. I know that kidney failure is bad, but it's not as bad as needing a heart or a lung transplant. At least I could go on dialysis to keep living.

So anyway, wish me luck on the walk tomorrow...5K. I'm not in the best shape, but I can do this.

Froggychick

Day One...the beginning

Welcome to my Froggy world. I'm Katrina...nice to meet you:) I'm a working mom, a loving and stubborn wife and the best procrastinator in the world. My son is 15 and is playing football this year for the first time - pretty good for a beginner if you ask me. My husband is a wonderful guy who has his issues, but we are working through them together. I mean, who doesn't have issues? I know I have a lot - and I mean a lot!!!

We have two dogs in our life right now: a boxer named Ollie and a terrier mix/mutt named Ginger. Ollie is the smart, fun-loving dog and Ginger is...well, ginger is 'special'. She's fun and loving, but just a little off in the head.

I work the wonderful afternoon shift at my job: 11am to 7pm. Takes up my whole freakin' day! It's not my favorite place to be, but it's close to home and pays well. The people are pretty nice. I've been employed there for 2 1/2 years and I've adjusted.

I'm addicted to online gaming, shoes, food, sex and money. You can never have too much of any of those!

So, it's great to be here and I hope to have at least a few people stop by and read my blog...I'm not really too boring, I promise!

Froggychick