Cindy in Chicago - Day Eight

Average wait time at the University of IL: 180 days. Days I've waited on the list: 175

Friday
4-29-2011

Moving day today. I'll be busy till the afternoon. Some amazing person and peoples helped get me a room in the city of Chicago--real close to the hospital.  Wowza! I think this'll be the last move before the call; the we-have-a-donor-pancreas for you call. So keep an eye out here. I'll post a quick update when "it's time."

Here's something else everyone should travel with--a small, two cup hot pot. No, you can hardly find them in any stores, online, from Amazon or SkyMall or Overstock.com. Really. I peruse the thrift stores and watch for it at garage sales. Never paid more than $3.00. Great for tea, Starbucks VIA, instant soup. I have three so when one dies, I can replace it. Stock up as long as I find them.



Probably will have better updates and pics once I move into the city. Yahooo...










Visit me at http://www.cindyscinto.com

Cindy in Chicago - Day Seven

Average wait time at the University of IL: 180 days. Days I've waited on the list: 174

Thursday
4-28-2011

Cloudy but the SUN is out! Yes!

I'm so bummed. Yesterday was such a terrible day--I missed American Idol! OMG--missed the ONE show I watch with a passion. Oh, James, I didn't get to see you perform. You won't be on Hulu, YouTube, or anywhere. My heart sinks at the thought.

Hey, that reminds me of one of the teachings I do, "A Heart By Any Other Name." I use certain phrases to illustrate our hearts are more than a muscle. If it were really only a muscle, why do we use it in so many inanimate ways?:

"I love you with all of my spleen."
"My intenstines break for you."
"I love you from the bottom of my stomach."
"He wears his liver on his sleeve."
"My bladder goes out to you."
"Absence makes the thyroid grow fonder."
"He's a man after my own pancreas."

What ones can you come up with?

Well, off to the gym soon. Then a walk on the wild side to some stores. Work to do. And more posting later. See ya...

Walked cancelled. Gym cancelled. On the phone for hours...and ...drum roll please.... I now have a place to stay in downtown Chicago, affordable, a few block from the hospital--The Presidential Towers. Oh ,yes, no mo' packin' Like, "On the road again, just can't wait to get on the road again..." Sing it Willy!

I have to repack once again. Man, this blog is getting boring. Pack and unpack, pack and unpack, I promise some exciting news is coming soon. Actually an amazing event that I'm hoping to will happen soon. Keep reading...

But first, a word from out sponsor....dee deeet dee deeet (that's a teletype machine--you know, before computers.)

This computer I'm blogging from, an ASUS netbook, 2gb RAM, Atom Processor, is my friend, buddy, comrade, and life saver on the road. Sorry iPhone, I'm not in love with you yet. And because I travel often, and I love a great cup of coffee with HALF AND HALF--not powder or wee wee milk, I bring MINI MOOS! No refrigeration needed, they fit in your purse or pocket, (don't squash them) and if you are desperate you can add water and have a bowl of cereal with them.

So, computer and Mini Moo's go together and I named my computer: MINIMOO.

Think I'll get some work done; I'm getting way too silly.

Signing off until tomorrow,

Cindy in Chciago
Waiting for a pancreas transplant







Visit me at http://www.cindyscinto.com

Cindy in Chicago - Day Six

Average wait time at the University of IL: 180 days. Days I've waited on the list: 173

Wednesday
4-27-2011

It's still gray and rainy out.

Oooops...have to do some rearranging. Be back later tonight.

* * *

Wow, Okay, I'm back. Had a rough day today. You'd think I could just be sick in a peaceful way. Oh well, such is the way things can go. I haven't heard from the gals at the hospital yet. Need to have two tests done and they'd like to get them scheduled before I get called for a pancreas. So...I'm waiting...and waiting...

For now, lot's to do to keep me busy. I'm in a hotel off of Naperville Rd. and think I'll take a walk to explore tomorrow. Kind of got off keel a bit so bear with me.

Had a great friend from Iowa meet with me today. Haven't seen him in two years. Love that guy. We chatted and caught up in a short hour and a half visit. Funny how when I'm traveling for business on my book tours and for speaking events, I don't feel as lonely as I do tonight. The busyness of traveling and planning keeps me occupied. Having a purpose makes the tired a good tired.

So I may have to find something else outside this hotel room for me to be occupied with. I'll let you know when I come up with something. For now, here's some recent advice I learned:

Advice For Life:

1. Remember, when you go into a new situation, not everything is absolute.
2. Faced with an aggravating dilemma? Don't get frustrated or fight it. Life is too short.
3. Raining out again? How do you think the earth gets green?
4. Hash browns soggy and cold? At least there's food on the plate.
5. A simple trick with string and a bobbin beats a video game any day.
6. What's a cell phone?
7. When you win the chocolate bar at Bingo, the decent thing to do is share it with the loser next to you.

Visit me at http://www.cindyscinto.com

Cindy in Chicago - Day Five

Average wait time at the University of IL: 180 days. Days I've waited on the list: 172

Tuesday
4-26-2011

It's still gray and rainy out.

Too much partying last night--slept past my alarm.

Anyways... I'm working on editing today for my teen writers, uploading changes for book two to my publisher, telecon at 4:00 PM with a publicist, and lots of writing to get done.

* * *

I got busy and then had some phone calls so couldn't post by the afternoon. I'm using my iPhone plugged into my mini to get a connection. It actually works great--like a LAN most of the time. Slows down at night. Disconnects if I take a phone call. Ahhhh...I see the headline...

New AT&T iPhone Commercial “Talk & Surf” Fires Back at Verizon

2-4-2011 -  AT&T has released a new iPhone commercial that jabs at the Verizon network. The commercial features a guy making last minute dinner reservations on his iPhone while chatting on the phone to his partner. The point of the commercial is to brag about AT&T’s ability to use voice and data concurrently, ending with “only AT&T’s network lets your iPhone talk and surf at the same time.”

It’s kind of funny watching the two major US iPhone carriers fight it out over commercials, and Apple is happily caught in the middle here since the product being sold is always the iPhone, the competition is between service. 

I have Verizon...

* * *

Got some work done today. Chatted with the designer at my publisher about book two's cover, and had a fantastic telecon at 4:00 PM with my hopefully new publicist. I love her! Of course, we will resume talks after the new pancreas. Yikes, sounds like I'm on maternity leave.



What will tomorrow bring? What may tonight bring? A call? A pancreas? A tragic death of someone out there. Sad for the family, happy for me, sad for me.


Visit me at http://www.cindyscinto.com

Cindy in Chicago - Day Four

Average wait time at the University of IL: 180 days. Days I've waited on the list: 171

Monday
4-25-2011

Raining again in Wheaton.

Got an email today from my pancreas pre-transplant nurse coordinator. That's a long cumbersome title. We're scheduling some ultrasound testing for my abdomen and to check circulation in my legs. Better get some exercise today.

I'm listed as wait time of 171 days already because of my time in Minneapolis. Average wait time here for a pancreas transplant is 180 days. I guess I'm close.

Well, must exercise and shower. AND BIG NEWS, a dear friend who I haven't seen in almost 20 years has a niece here. She's picking me up at 6 tonight for dinner out and shopping. Oh yeah...oh Yeahhhhhhh...

* * *

Almost 6:00 PM. Yes! Dinner out and a few stores with my angelic friend.

Blonde, lively, lovely, and crazy, Lenee drove off as we figured out where to eat. I loved downtown Wheaton and Lenee shared her experience with her first job here as we passed the actual building where she used to work. "I had a friend's big truck to drive and when I left the interview, I had to climb back in wearing my pink suit. I noticed the entire office was lined up against the second floor windows watching me. What could I do? I grabbed my skirt and lifted it high above my thighs so I could climb in. I got the job. They said the skirt move convinced them nothing could scare me off." I giggled and pictured those faces pressed up against the glass panes.

We chatted nonstop. I love to talk with someone who can gab as much as me--never have to worry about them thinking I talk too much. And ya know, we both gave each other ample time to expound on our life stories. If only everyone was like Lenee! 8^)

She graciously stopped at a few stores and brought me "home." It was after 8:00 so the doors were locked. Willy, a care manager was there to punch the code that let us in and let Lenee out. We posed for a quick picture. I hope she won't hate me for posting it. This is what two women look like after spicy HOT Mongolian food, wine, and a peanut butter ganache and chocolate dessert launching us over the top.

 

It was a great evening.

Visit me at http://www.cindyscinto.com

Cindy in Chicago - Day One

Average wait time at the University of IL: 180 days. Days I've waited on the list: 168

Friday
April 22, 2011

The taxi ride from Chicago's Midway airport to Wheaton, Illinois took 35 minutes and $93.00. If the driver would have listened to Brenda, my iPhone's GPS navigator, it would have saved me $15.00. I think he got lost on purpose. Good thing I had Biker Gumby to protect me.

I'm here, far from my home in Spokane, Washington--again. I need a life saving organ transplant--again. A heart in 2005 and now a pancreas in 2011, hopefully. I'm tired and lonely. But the accommodations are fantastic compared to where I stayed the week before when I was here for testing. I was directed by a patient services department to a cheap room in South Chicago, in a neighborhood where gun shots ring out during the day, where short little white girls are not supposed to walk the streets, and where dusk means get home fast.


Visit me at http://www.cindyscinto.com