Frank, know what you mean about some stuff just needs done, LOL.

Kay, don't forget me when you send out the bottles of jungle juice, LOL

Renee, Ugh! Sorry to hear about all the disability stuff. This government stuff is so weird sometimes. Hang in there.

~~~~~~

I also had an almost "did nothing" kind of day. I only did a few things that needed done, like dinner and a load of laundry. Been aching all day and felt like a pretzel, LOL. Did do some stretches, helped take the edge off at least.

Did do another painting today, and kitty almost helped me unmake it, LOL. She never came near my stuff before, which is in an open room which doesn't have any doors. She tried to take off with one of my brushes, tried to sniff the paint, and was making a general nusiance of herself. Can't believe we got through it without a purple or blue kitty.

NaeNae, I was in a similar spot, and remember it painfully well.

it's like the Catch-22 of MS.

the agonizing wait for the disability approval, and the "child support income" problem meant that for nearly ten years, I had to pay for my medical out of my own pocket, because I didn't qualify, but at least my kids had coverage.

one thing I WAS able to do was get TEMPORARY MediCal (California's Medicaid) JUST for the MRI needed to prove the diagnosis.

it was only a one-shot deal, and then, no health insurance again, until I got MediCare, lemme think, two years after the SSDI approval.

and for a short time in there, my STATE disability insurance kicked in, which helped for about a year.

during the "starving times" we lived on the child support solely, because I literally could not work, could not drive, right arm hanging down like a stroke victim, half-blind, incontinent, exhausted, etc. blah blah blah.

so I learned a lot of tricks to make ends meet.

swallowed my pride and went to the food banks.

got rides to the Central Valley, and bought food and fruit in bulk.

and yeah, we ate a lot of beans and rice and ramen soup...

joined co-ops to stretch the food dollar further.

got LIHEAP to help pay for a tank of propane to heat the house.

they would only do ONE tank a year though, alas... and *shiver*

babysat for friends to get a few extra dollars, and made handmade cards for a friend to sell at her flea market booth.

sold some furniture, and the kids' outgrown stuff at the flea market as well.

finally moved to a cramped 2-bdrm apt. (with 3 kids, ouch!)

and helped friends do inventory at their store, under the table...

yeah, it was rough, but you're smart and stubborn just like I am, and a MOTHER LION for your kids, so you will find a way to get through.

but if you DO take a real job, with a payroll and deductions, it'll totally screw up the disability application, because then they'll say "See, you ARE able to work!"

it can be a LONG drop, falling out of the middle class into poverty, and a hard row to hoe, but we made it, and my kids turned out okay.

JUNGLE JUICE


JUNGLE JUICE

JUNGLE JUICE

repeat ... repeat ... repeat ... and throw in a brownie!

I just spent all day trying to find a cheap elevator and/or an inclined platform lift for our house. We have a stair lift now but Jim wants to be independant and be able to get in the basement by himself. Since our house is established an elevator will have to used because we can't do the modifications to accomodate a platform lift. UGH! Are you ready???? $18000+!!!!! Oh my I think I am about to faint, catch me...

Why does everything for handicap people costs so damn much? WHY? And before anyone asks, no the VA wont pay for an elevator. lol

So, pay off beds, pay off van and then maybe, just maybe we can get the elevator. I am a freakazoid when it comes to too much debt. I don't like a bunch of bills staring at me. *sigh*

I understand anyone wanting their independence but what is down in that basement that he wants to get to so bad? That is, unless basements are really different in your neck of the woods. Here, there's a washing machine, a dryer and maybe a pool table. That's it. If someone told me I could never go down to the basement again, I'd be like "Okay".

ide bake some but then i get arrested

Good morning all....seems I'm the early bird here!!

We had a really nice birthday dinner for Kevin last night. The lasagna turned out wonderful....soooo good. There is enough left over for dinner tonight. Why does it always taste better the second night??

It was just me, Matt, Kevin and Kevin's girlfriend Jessica. We ate and then sacked out in the living room to watch Evan Almighty. I have no idea if it was a good movie as I was asleep before the opening credits were finished!!

Matt has been in a training class all week at the Police Academy. He has accepted a new position which requires him to be trained with an assault rifle. He has one issued to him and brought it home last night to show us. It looks so mean and it's soooo heavy!! He's excited about today - they do their qualifying tests. This is one step towards the SWAT team position he wants. I just try not to think about it too much.....I'm so proud of him and what he's accomplished but the "Mom" in me just worries about him. I keep telling myself that he's got good training behind him and the criminals are stupid!

I'll be holed up inside for the next week. I just saw the weather forecast and it's supposed to be in the upper 90's through next Tuesday. Ugh........ I just ordered the neatest coupon organizer - can't wait for it to get here so I can sort and categorize all my coupons. Yeah.....I'm bored!!

Sandy, it sounds like it's time for an Extreme Home Makeover!

Renee, I hope you can get your SSDI worked out. Maybe your doctor can go to bat for you??

There's a line to use this computer so I will be back later!!

Good morning all Still a little sore this morning, but I keep on a truckin'. Hmm. Wasn't that a Grateful Dead song?

Sun is shining, and I may have to go out in it in a little while. Some stuff I need done, but gonna be careful.

Have a great day all

Good morning everyone. I was wide awake 45 minutes before my alarm was set to sound off. Wonder if that has anything to do with DD returning tonight? Can't wait , can't wait , can't wait!

<sigh>

Well I managed to get most of yesterday's list done and decided a treat was in order. I went to the lecture and am so glad I did. The lecture was on vintage Victorian era clothing complete with a few vintage garments on display. Sadly these items are kept in storage as the historic site they are connected with doesn't have the money/ place to display them. I suspected before I went this would be a once in a lifetime viewing so I'm really glad I went.

There aren't enough hours in this day for me to get everything done I want done before DD returns tonight. I will figure something out I'm sure. Make a list and then prioritize.

Hope everyone has a nice day. Stay cool!

morning all ... how wonderful it is to wake up and see what everyone's been up to and join right in ... thanks!!

well, last week sometime, I sent out a form/ap to the Women Veterans group ... and this week received a very nice email ... and she commented that if I had any concerns or questions to email her - because that's why she's there ...

sooooo, I filled her in about how I've been treated being dx'd and no help and when I did ask for help, I'd get the paperwork shuffle and waiting list scenarios ... she asked me to send a copy of my DD214 and my immediate enlistment to the active reserves ...

well, I KNEW it was in a box I packed ... last night I emptied out all the boxes I had brought in (and putting away right away) .. so this was quite a challenge .. then I'd forget what I was looking for because I was decorating from another box ... you know how that goes! LOL

went to bed without finding my papers ... woke up this morning thinking that I put all my army forms and discharges in my briefcase ... sure enough - I went right to it (even tho I passed it a ga-zillion times unpacking last night!) ... and there are all the papers!

will copy them and send them off to her this morning ...

Tricia ... FOG out on the lake .. it's already getting muggy and the sun is brightly shining ... and just sited a brown bunny in front of my window ... and off he hopped!