Chicago spring meetup - date set, reservation made!!!

[MooseMom]

OH no... I have been waiting for you to call me since yesterday, and I have been really worried about you.  You have my phone number, so let me know if I can help.

[MooseMom]

Ps   did you get my reply to your email?

[MooseMom]

I personally find these meet-ups to be the one most effective thing that helps me cope with this disease.  I've only been to two...last year in LV and just today here in Chicagoland, but I've derived so much pleasure from meeting other people who have been so supportive over the years.

I had such a nice time meeting everyone and was frankly surprised to see so many people show up.  We were twelve in number, and it was all really great except for the fact that the restaurant apparently had never taken note of our reservation.  Cattlekid had arranged everything with the OWNER, no less, and she was the first to arrive, only to find out there was no table reserved for us.   But we're kidney patients and are used to people not doing what they're supposed to be doing for our wellbeing and quality of life, lol, so we just sat and talked until our table was finally ready.

Rsudock, her brother and her best friend had driven all the way from Ohio just to come and see us, and her poor brother wasn't feeling well but STILL came along, and the three of them were just such fun to be with.  As much as it pains me to see young people afflicted with kidney disease, it was great fun having them around to liven up the party.  Barb must be such a great friend to Rachel and Neil, and I am really grateful to her for being a friend to our IHD friends.

Cattlekid's no-nonsense approach to home dialysis gave me a very good idea of what I will need to do for myself once I start D.  She mirrors a similar approach as do our other IHD home hemo people.  It was wonderful for my sanity to be able to spend time with her.

Once again, Chris dodged Chicagoland traffic to join, and I appreciate that because there is just no way I would drive by myself to where he lives!  And you should see our nametags that he made for us!  They're so cool!  I've stuck mine on the front of the notebook I will be taking to my pre-eval appt in Madison so that I will remember all of the IHD support I've received over the years.  I'm grateful.

CebuShan had some special news!  She had cannulated herself for the first time since starting D in her clinic!  Isn't that terrific!?  She has every right to be proud.  I'm very admiring of her husband who very politely listened to all of our yucky medical talk.  LOL!

MrB123, his wife and his son were also there, and it was terrific to get to meet one of our newer members.  That his family accompanied him was nice, too; I like seeing family members get involved; it shows support that is so important.  MrB is another pre-dialysis patient, and being one myself, I appreciated the opportunity to hear more of his story.  MrB, I hope it is a VERY long time before you ever have to see a dialysis machine!

Anyway, thank you all again for taking the time and trouble to meet up.  I find that I am becoming more and more of a recluse; I didn't used to be this way, and I sometimes have to force myself to leave my house or to talk to another human.  It just seems so enervating, and all too often it is easier to merely keep to myself.  That's not really good for my emotional wellbeing, so thank you all for being part of my "cure".

 

[okarol]

I personally find these meet-ups to be the one most effective thing that helps me cope with this disease.

Thanks for the report - sounds great - so happy you all go to meet. 

[cattlekid]

Hello all!

Thanks to everyone who attended our meetup and again I am very sorry for the mix-up with the reservation!  I learned another valuable lesson today = double check everything!!!  Of course, being a dialysis patient I should have known that already!!!! 

Thanks to rsudock, Neil and Barb for coming all the way from Akron and thanks to Chris for the nametags.

A special thanks to MooseMom for her generosity!!!!!

Hopefully, by the next time we all get together, CebuShan, MM and I will all have our cheesehead kidneys!!!!   

[Chris]

Just got home from the meet, but I do not have pictures to post since I did not take any. It was nice to talk with cattlekid since we knew a few of tue d9fferejt towns ins and outs. MooseMom and her husband were great, they took those of us who didn't have to leave to a chocolate shop that had very very good coffee that I have never seen brewed that way. It dates back to the 1800's. CebuShan and I knew a couple of each others doctors and had a couple laughs about that. rsudock gave an explanation of her screen name, so now I know and understand. MrB123 was nice to meet and unexpected, so sorry I did not make a nametag. It was a good time, even tho there was seafood served and the good news is that rsudock's hair did not catch on fire from the cheese!
 
 Nametag 2.0 is in the works, came up with a redesign idea in the morning after I printed them last night. So if I have the finances to go to Vegas, I can use that template.
 
Dd I mention the Chocolate store?

[cattlekid]

I definitely want to go back to the chocolate shop if only for the fancy coffee!  I have a feeling I will be up all night but worth it since I am still on vacation from work until Wednesday. 

[Chris]

I definitely want to go back to the chocolate shop if only for the fancy coffee!  I have a feeling I will be up all night but worth it since I am still on vacation from work until Wednesday. 

Me too since I usually only drink decaf coffee because of transplant centers protocol. However  want to go back for the coffee, the chocolate, and GELATO! Although Naperville may still have the gelato place on Ogden Ave, it doesn't have the other two.

[okarol]

As Epoman would say = TTIWWP (This thread is worthless without photos)
 
Anyone?

[MooseMom]

Rachel took some photos, so maybe she will post them once she gets back to Ohio.

"Cheesehead kidneys"...that would be so funny. 

[cattlekid]

Chris and MM - anytime you guys want to get together, just drop me a line!  And MM don't forget you still have to come by and see my setup for NxStage.  Depending on the day I may even make us a renal-friendly dinner.   

[Chris]

I thought someone else (possibly MrB) took some pictures too. I know group phot was taken by rsudock's friend and she mentioned she had to go to walmart to get them developed.
 
Well August would be good, I'll have my guide dog. Chocolate shop will be a must if we meet up there or Chicago?
 
 
Sorry, I dropped the ball on taken pictures. Had camera with, but got to involved talking to people.

[CebuShan]

What a great afternoon! It was so nice to finally put faces to names. Jim and I are still so full, we didn't eat dinner!     MM, the Chocolate Kitchen was amazing! Thank you so much!     We definitely have to do this again! "Cheesehead Kidneys" what an awesome thought!     Chris, the nametags were great. I've got ours here by the computer. As soon as we can get copies of the photos, I'll put them together in a frame. RSudock, hope Neil is feeling better soon. Have a safe trip home. Loved meeting you and your family, MrB123. Cattlekid, what can I say? Thank you so much for starting this whole thing! When's the next one?     P.S. I loved hearing where everyone's screen names came from! Great stories, especially Chris'!!         

[Chris]

OK, I have to go back to the Chocolate Shop after looking at their website! Apparently I missed a chocolate dinosaur there.
http://www.allchocolatekitchen.com/

[Chris]

Surprisingly the coffee did not keep me up or make heart race...........and that is a good thing.

[cattlekid]

Me neither!  I wonder if it has something to do with the way the coffee was brewed. 

Surprisingly the coffee did not keep me up or make heart race...........and that is a good thing.

[Chris]

Me neither!  I wonder if it has something to do with the way the coffee was brewed. 

Surprisingly the coffee did not keep me up or make heart race...........and that is a good thing.

I am not sure, but I'm sure it's not the sze of the coffee grounds. Keurig coffee was not the same today, just didn't hit the spot 

[MooseMom]

Oh dear, Chris...I think you're spoiled, now!

[Chris]

Oh dear, Chris...I think you're spoiled, now!

I have a to go back, there s a chocolate dinosaur sculpture there  didn't see that their webste says is there. As for he coffee, I'll have to have plain decaf Folgers coffee and work my way up to the keurig

[MooseMom]

Oh dear, Chris...I think you're spoiled, now!

I have a to go back, there s a chocolate dinosaur sculpture there  didn't see that their webste says is there. As for he coffee, I'll have to have plain decaf Folgers coffee and work my way up to the keurig

Two Christmases ago, we were walking down 3rd street in Geneva and came upon this chocolate shop that was clearly just in temporary premises.  We got to talking to the owners, who happened to be Chef Roby and his wife, Esther.  They said that they were thinking about opening a permanent shop but were for now just seeing what the foot traffic was like.  They had the dinosaur complete with dino egg, along with Neil Armstrong and the Blackhawk's player. 

A few months later, I happened to be walking down the same street and saw some construction and a new sign in the shop where they are now, and I assumed it was decided that they'd have a permanent shop.  In the year that has passed, they've added new things to the menu and have also put in more tables, so I think they might have moved the dinosaur.  However, there is a block of shops attached to Chef Roby's whose owner has retired, and the shop immediately next to the chocolate shop is being rented by Chef Roby; they'll knock down the adjoining wall and expand, so maybe we'll see the dinosaur return.

All of you will have to come back in the summer because they've just added the classic Vietnamese coffee that is so popular in that country.  We were guinea pigs for it, and it was really good despite the fact that I am SO NOT a fan of iced coffee. 

[Mr. B 123]

It was good to meet you all, my family and I had a great time.  Sorry we had to leave early, but we got my son check out of his college dorm just in time. 

rusdock it was great you could make it, you need an award for driving so far just to have lunch, hope you had a good time, it was good to meet you and you traveling companions.

cattlekid thank you  for setting this up, we should plan another event for the near future.  Also thanks for sharing about Nexstage, after talking with you about it, when the time comes I want to go with that!

Chris no problem about the name tags, I missed the post about sending the information to you.

CebuShan and Jim good to meet you, and I hope all goes well with your treatment.

MooseMom I will say it again, you look just like I pictured you would look.  Mrs. B said you and Mike look familiar, she went to high school in Elgin and lived and worked there before we were married many years ago, maybe you crossed paths at some time?

Again it was great to meet you all and I look forward to another lunch/dinner soon!

Here is a link to the pictures I took on my flickr account, sorry I missed the chocolate shop sounded good!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/26087399@N07/sets/72157629576849264/

[MooseMom]

MrB, thanks so much for posting the photos; they're brilliant!  Anytime you are back down this way, let us know so that we could meet up again.  As you know, we go to Rockford from time to time to go to the arboretum and Anderson Garden, so maybe you could join us some time.  That would be really nice.

[Mr. B 123]

Yes let me know when you might be in Rockford, it would be great to do lunch and maybe go to the gardens with you and Mike.  I was telling Mike about Severson Dells.  Mrs. B and I go there a lot nice place for a easy nature walk, blacktop paths on most of it and they have a lodge there to visit and see some of the things to look for on your walk.  e-mail me when you are heading this way and we will try to meet up!

[CebuShan]

Great photos, MrB! Thanks!

[Chris]

Oh dear, Chris...I think you're spoiled, now!

I have a to go back, there s a chocolate dinosaur sculpture there  didn't see that their webste says is there. As for he coffee, I'll have to have plain decaf Folgers coffee and work my way up to the keurig

Two Christmases ago, we were walking down 3rd street in Geneva and came upon this chocolate shop that was clearly just in temporary premises.  We got to talking to the owners, who happened to be Chef Roby and his wife, Esther.  They said that they were thinking about opening a permanent shop but were for now just seeing what the foot traffic was like.  They had the dinosaur complete with dino egg, along with Neil Armstrong and the Blackhawk's player. 

A few months later, I happened to be walking down the same street and saw some construction and a new sign in the shop where they are now, and I assumed it was decided that they'd have a permanent shop.  In the year that has passed, they've added new things to the menu and have also put in more tables, so I think they might have moved the dinosaur.  However, there is a block of shops attached to Chef Roby's whose owner has retired, and the shop immediately next to the chocolate shop is being rented by Chef Roby; they'll knock down the adjoining wall and expand, so maybe we'll see the dinosaur return.

All of you will have to come back in the summer because they've just added the classic Vietnamese coffee that is so popular in that country.  We were guinea pigs for it, and it was really good despite the fact that I am SO NOT a fan of iced coffee.

I wonder how long it would take me to eat that chocolate dinosaur