sorry I've been remiss in responding to y'all... it's just that on this borrowed computer, I don't get much time.

seems I read slowly these days...

:o;):o

Sarah, happy happy birthday, Lady !! congrats for making it through another year, with grace, love, and hugssssssssssssssss... lol !

Spitfire, good on ya, glad this doc takes time to explain... many don't bother, and when they do, they either go too fast, or use words we aren't familiar with.

NaeNae, prayers for the job hunting to go well, and yield you employment that is fiscally rewarding, not stressful, and satisfying to your mind and heart.

that's a lot to ask, but it's *everything* you deserve, so I put it in the prayers.

:hug:

Weaver, Joelle, Julie, Angel, Kelly, and DiM, glad to "see" you around, and hope to see MUCH more of yas !!

Finny, we cut back on the coffee too... one small mug each morning, with a big dollop of milk, and off we go... for me, it's not the heated beverage, as we have our cups at dawn, when it's cool, and the milk cools it to "drink in four gulps" level...

my problem was the false burst of energy given by 2 or more cups, which led me to trying to MOVE too fast (good way to get injured!) or overdoing things under the wrong impression that I've got loads of ooomph.

so, 2 cups leads to CRASH 'n' BURN by 10 am, flat on my face in bed.

:D :p:D

Vonn, peek a boo, I see you !!

Barb, keep it up, you can DO it... and remember, "Slow and steady wins the race."

*******************

my update-thing-a-ma-jigger-dealie-bopper:

the capacitors arrived from California, DD used hideously expensive international airmail... and my beloved eMac is now THOROUGHLY disassembled on the kitchen table.

mi esposo soldered in the caps, but ALAS, there's three MORE bad caps, in the power supply, and they're HUGE ones...

so, he just left for a little tienda he recently discovered, a dude who repairs VCRs and TVs and stuff... seems the guy has a big ol' JUNK pile of pieces and parts, so my honey is gonna spend a bunch of time searching through for matching, and hopefully FUNCTIONING parts.

this is good for two reasons, first, it means *I* get to use his computer (in peace) while he's gone, and secondly, maybe this will fix my computer, as the withdrawals are agonizing, lol !!

:p:eek::p

oh the agony, acme pc repair on the way http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/pi...&pictureid=711

good day everyone how yall doing,

just a wee bit warm out more humid than anything

everyone be careful dont over do it today

oh, I just LOVE that lil emoticon !!

*kay gazes over at her darling eMac in pieces on the table, sniffle-snifetty-sniff*

and goshdarn it, I forgot to include you in my morning greetings, dude...

hey Frank ?

that blows about the UTI... I really *hate* getting them, and hope you're done with it soon.

:hug:

rest, lots of fluids, and don't over-do it, or bacteria will become your downfall, thus sayeth one who surely knows... to another who ALSO knows...

:D

Good Luck today Renee!
Belated Happy Birthday Sarah

I was going to write this 5 days ago when I got home. My dd & I got home from our vacation with my SIL & nieces (my ds stayed home cuz of work & my dh was/is working out of town). We all went beach hopping. We went to St. Augustine beach & stayed at a hotel. My SIL sorta taught me how to use a boogie board. Each morning about 10:00 SIL & I went down to the beach & stayed about four or five hours. Then we all visited town at night. One day we went to Coco beach then Daytona beach. BTW, my dd & I took a GPS to inlaw's in Virginia & my neice drove to Fla, following the GPS. Soon after we got to Fla we found the GPS had been working by battery because the cigarette lighter in the car didn't work (it has a cord that plugs in to the lighter thus runs on the car's power). We had to find some way to make it work again, but HOW? We stoped at a Sears to find some sorta cord. We weren't sure what to get so asked a guy working there. He suggested a certain thing but found the neccesary cord not available. He saw one of my nieces had her laptop so gave us a cord to plug the GPS into to recharge it. I guess he felt sorry for the two 50 yr olds females & the three lovely young ladys (they are 16, 19 & 19 and he was young too..if ya get my drift. LOL). His coworkers were far away but laughing. We went to a restaurant & ate lunch while my niece plugged in the GPS to recharge it. (I just wrote on that post about a certain thing in history you will never forget. I'm sure that guy will never forget that.)

Corrected my post. I have lost 7.2 pounds. I do not want to forget that one pound. LOL

way to go, Barb ... according to the Army ... losing 2.5 lbs per week is normal ... so you are doing awesome!!

Great barb!
With my DH not home (working outa town, only home every 2nd or 3rd weekend) I'm not eating nice family dinners, so I might lose weight. I'd like to lose but not like this.

The reason I got on is to say I remember a building we saw in 'old town' St. Augustine. It was called "White Room". I thought of 'In my white room with black curtains in the station' by Cream. I thought of this cuz Eric Clapton is on TV right now. I mentioned the song then & some guy looked at me as if to say "oh yeah, I thought of that too"

http://bestsmileys.com/music2/16.gif http://bestsmileys.com/music2/15.gif

Hey all. We heard from Jim's spinal cord doctor and he spoke with urology. They want Jim to come back in, if he's willing, to talk with them. They would like to do the cystoscopy again to see if something happened since the last one. We think we'll wait until he's due for his kidney ultrasound early next year for that since they like to admit him for it. Of course if he gets worse we'll do it earlier if necessary.

PS: I forgot to add, they said not to do the betadine flush. That is for surgeries, not daily use. So, I guess that young doctor wasn't right. *sigh*

Looks like the VA was doing their job all along and doing it well.

Sandy and Jim :hug: lets hope the UTI's simmer down for Jim

barb congrats good work:hug:

so when yall told me not to over do it with this UTI did that mean dont paint a big sized kitchen ceiling:rolleyes::rolleyes::rolleyes:

its done thats what counts now i shall medicated myself into lala land:eek:

it had to get done so i can finish this kitchen, fin will back me up on this lol wont ya fin:rolleyes:

have a good evening everyone


peace

hey, where's a "spanky" emoticon when ya need one?

Frank, you're first.

then, we all get to take turns lining up, because we ALL over-do it.

there's just stuff that has to be done, like moving chickens with hatching babies from inappropriate nesting spots.

argh, I'm sooooo tired !!

but the two silly mommas are now safe, with their dozen babies, whew !

now I could pen them all up, but free-range eggs taste so much better, and it's a lot better life for the chicken.

that analogy extends to us.

we'd probably DO better with the MS if we were stuck in cages, but then we'd have no lives, right?

:grouphug:

Kay, somehow I don't think your life would be boring. lol

Hey all, well I did nothing today.....absolutely nothing oh wait I went out into the yard once! Oh and I did talk to my disability attorney, apparently I can only keep appealing if I work 15 hours or less and or I can refile here in this state but I cannot use any of my past submitted medical info only that info from the date of my hearing until now....which I have none of because I haven't been to a doctor since then! She told me the standard wait for a decision on the ALJ appeal is at least two years....sigh......I first filed in Feb of 2005. I am happy for anyone who gets their disability approved but it seriously chaps my butt that I have waited this long to no avail and I have tons TONS of supportive medical evidence, letters from 4 different doctors and my congressman!

Ok rant over, I'm just stressed at facing getting a full time job when I know it is going to be to the detriment of my health! I finally got to where I can walk halfway decent with the Tysabri wich I haven't had in 3 months GRRRRR.Oh and because of my child support/alimony I do not qualify for any of my state funded healthcare Double GRRRRR! LOL

The job interview I have tomorrow is working for a psychiatrist LOL maybe he can de-stress me!

Renee, I wish I had the answers for you. It burns my **** that your mom can't be civil enough to let you stay where you are until your approved. I know there are no guarantees but still, it seems like you will be approved eventually. I am just as stumped as you are to why they approve one but not another. I think it's like random drug testing, some get tested, some don't and you never know who it's going to be. Ugh

:hug:

skips off singing:

I'll NEVER be a bird in a gilded cage...

:D:p:D

She's only a bird in a gilded cage,
A beautiful sight to see.
You may think she's happy and free from care,
She's not, though she seems to be.
'Tis sad when you think of her wasted life
For youth cannot mate with age;
And her beauty was sold for an old man's gold,
She's a bird in a gilded cage.

Seriously LOL can you bottle whatever you are drinking out there in the jungle and send me some?

I kind of want some of that too, Kay! Are you drinking that "Jungle" punch again? You know what I mean. LOL

Renee - That really sucketh! I have heard that a lot depends on what state you are in and who is on that particular state's review board.

Additionally, age is a factor for some reason. He!!, if you're 30 and can't walk, can't see, sleep 20 hours a day, lose your cognitive functions as well as other many other functions (when I did my appeal paperwork, I did mention "accidents") they still don't approve you because of your age. It makes no sense to me.

I'll keep you in my prayers.:hug:

eees marahoochie brownies, babysis.

medically indicated for relief of spasming leggies, naturally, lol.

will be happy to bake a batch for you, but doubt Homeland Security would allow entry of such a fragrant item.

:D

Trish, LOL !!

:hug:

Dang Homeland security!!! Sandy................... Can you really really package up some treats LOL

I'd bake some but she'd have to come to me. lol

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 :D

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

~~~~~~

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. :D

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.

:grouphug: :hug: :grouphug:

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". :D

ide bake some but then i get arrested :yikes:

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!! :o

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! :p

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? :cool:

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.

:grouphug:Have a great day all

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!) :p... 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!

Off to job interview this morning, keep fingers crossed!

Good morning everyone!

Vonn - The fog on your lake is like my brain this morning. I saw DD214 and kept thinking is that a typo? Dear Daughter 214? LOL. I am glad you found the paperwork.

Kay - I think we are living parallel lives!:eek: Selling clothes, books, furniture, etc. to come up with the money for bills. Child support and the little I made transcribing was all we had to live on. I did and still do similar things. I have a ton of recipes for lentils (high in protein) which we would have with rice to make a complete protein. This replaced meat as meat is too expensive. Oh man, I could go on an on.

The best thing about it all was that I was able to support us on about $800 a month (with food stamps) and did so until I got the SSDI. That was a huge accomplishment with very careful budgeting and always reminding myself that there are others worse off than I.

Kelly - I am glad Kevin had a good time last night.

Weave - I hear your excitement. I would be the same way. I will pray that she has a good and safe trip home as well as a wonderful reunion with you all.

Fin - I hope you get to rest today!

Sandy - Yikes! That's a lot of money. Wished we lived closer. DBF and I would certainly help build it. He and his BIL have designed one for his step dad (has ALS) for when he needs it. The stairs are getting more difficult for him so I am sure it will be soon, if not when he goes up there at the end of August. We all would do the same for you guys in a heart beat!

Renee - Have you looked in to the transcription stuff yet? You have the background and computer skills so it will be easier for you to get in to. I can only sit for so long so it certainly isn't lucrative for me. I do have a friend that does it and she was making around $4,000 a month. Of course, she typed all the time and is fast and accurate.

Just something to think about. You can work at home, the hours can be flexible depending on who you work for, and if you work for a larger clinic or hospital you can get insurance and other benefits.

Hi everyone else! Hope you all are having a good day!

good luck Nae Nae, on the job interview and hugsssss

Kitty, that was too funny...how much do I weigh...hehehehee and thanks

thanks all for bday wishes...I was working last night..end of month inventory...the manager in charge for last night called in sick..so I was doing floor managing and counting inventory....fun night...long night...so when I finally got home at 1230pm....:eek: four of the kids were awake sitting at counter with a birthday cake (daughter 13 took the little ones in stroller to store bought and baked a cake ahhhhh)
they had a candle in it and sang to me....ahhhh and had posters up too...that say we love you...
also Mikayla (13) had a card homemade with a cuopon in it for 10min backscratch....hehe...

that made my whole day...

I have my apt this afternoon, the one I made with drs assistant...last week...when in pain ...my wrist and all is mostly better...so I guess I just discuss what I was going thru....maybe I should go ahead and ask assistant if she can do referral to the next neuro....what do you think??

Wishing I could afford not to work, it takes a lot out of me physically and think mentally too....some of me I think love the drive it takes though too..to accomplish stuff....

anyhow thanks all for bday wishes...and thanks for being you...you are all wonderful...

oh Sandy, good luck with Jim..hugsssss

hugss all, sarah

Well, whew~ I was offline yest, so just caught up reading.

Since Kay was asking about a "spanking icon", I found one for her.

Use w/caution, Kay! http://dl6.glitter-graphics.net/pub/...sn2hc9lw2y.gif

:grouphug: y'all!

Good luck Renee. I really am keeping my fingers crossed(well, in my
head).:)

Sandy....as always your JIm is in my thoughts and prayers.

Good morning everyone else. Just trying to get everyone off for the
weekend and then I am alonneeeeee. scary.....isnt it.:eek::D

:grouphug::hug::grouphug:

Enjoy your weekend, Sox. I love my alone time....I'd go crazy(er) without it!!

Hi all, sorry I haven't been here much, Just spending time with my mom (and the kids & DH). My mom is doing a lot better after getting off the cymbalta, seams she was allergic to it. It gave her a rash on her face, made her face puffy also.

It's going to take me a week to read all the post I've missed :p
Miss you all :grouphug:, I'll get catch up soon, when the kids are back in school in 3 weeks at the latest, LOL. :o

Managed to get some running around before it got too, too hot. Even took time to get my hair cut (was looking like a shaggy dog, LOL!)

Came out of the last store with the heat justing hitting me. I'm like, "yep, time to go hug the A/C" :) So now hiding inside for the rest of the day.

~~~~~~~

Renee, hope the interview went well

Vonn, LOL, I've done stuff like that too. Nothing like putting something in a safe place, and then forgetting where that safe place was.

Weave, glad you had fun at the lecture. Sounds really neat.

Sox, Hope you have a relaxing weekend.

DM, LOL. Thanks for the icon. :D

Sarah, awww. your kids are so sweet! Glad you had a good b-day.

Good morning everyone! Not much is going on here. I may go see "Swing Vote" this afternoon; it looks funny.

It is too hot and humid to do much. I am leaving on Tuesday for a trip home to Ohio to see family. I will be driving so I will probably make the drive in two days. It is about a 500 mile trip each way. While I am there I am going on a four day bus trip with my mom to Atlantic City. I have never been there before so it should be interesting. So I doubt if I will be on here for about two weeks (after Monday). My mom does have dial up service, but since I "screwed" (her words) up her new computer the last time I was home, I think I will keep my hands off of it. ( I am still hearing how her computer is not the same since I used it.)

Renee - Good luck with the interview!

DM -- Loved the icon!

Sarah -- I know what you mean about work even though mine is not physical. Part of me is looking forward to the beginning of the semester and another part of me is dreading it.

Kelly -- Can you Fed Ex those leftovers to Illinois?

Hi Kay, Frank, Jenn, Tricia, Sandy, Vonn, Weave, Lurkers and anyone else I missed. Hope you all are staying cool and that you have a decent weekend!

Well, in our basement it is finished with a bedroom, living room, bar area and bathroom. It houses all of Jim's sports stuff. It is where we have all our parties for the holidays and such. It's a complete recreational room.

To us, having a house and only being able to enjoy half of it is a shame. To go downstairs he must have someone lift him into the ceiling lift and place him on the stair lift. Then we have to transfer him into a separate wheelchair downstairs. It's something he cannot do by himself. Reverse that to go back up. If he could get down there by himself he would gain back his Independence in that way. I guess to some it's not a big deal, but to Jim he'd like to enjoy his whole house since he is paying for it. :) Some people spend their money to buy cars, boats, etc. to get around town. It really isn't different when one thinks about it.

I will say if we ever get this house paid off and buy another it will not have a basement unless it has an elevator. But for now we can't afford an elevator. Maybe once I get our van and beds paid off. It truly is an investment if done the right way.