Oh my god, it was somewhere between hysterical relief and just hysteria.
I was just going through a box early this morning and I found them!

I hadn't even told anyone that I'd lost (or misplaced) them during the move.
They've been missing all this time and its been just killing me.
I didn't what anyone to get upset or feel bad for me or rush over here to
search or anything. But it was just making me sick at heart and so sad and
depressed to think they were lost - but I found them! The whole set!

What was lost? Our wedding pictures!
I was so happy to find them I just sat there and cried in relief.

Ok, I feel a LOT better now.

And I'm finally back online.

If you've been trying to reach me online here or on email, sorry!
I haven't been ignoring you, I've been nearly completely offline since
the end of May - but all is solved and I'm back online again

Drop me a new line if you need to get in touch and sorry for the
no news blackout. 

In other news, the unpacking is still in the nightmarish cardboard
jungle stage - which is to say that we're still tripping over boxes
and stumbling through piles and the sofa is far more accessible
then the bedroom - but there is hope in sight.

Should be back in the loop and getting back to social things
rsn.   Hopefully, we'll be dug out enough by mid-July to have a
come see the new place cookout or some such ... but no bets.

On the job front, still working on training for the new career - so
still not ready to make a public announcement but I WILL say
that it promises to be most exciting and for some folks might
be very good news ;-) should be announcing it also rsn.

Ok, that's it for now, catching up to a month of unanswered
email - YIKES - but I should get new messages now.

And so, I repeat my cry for help - ONE LAST TIME - I need a small army on Saturday to help me finish emptying this house out mostly onto the curb, as I'm pretty much trashing anything I can't justify trying to fit into my little, as my friend puts it, "hobbit house in the woods".

Got a few hours on Saturday?  Friday?  Sunday?  I will feed you.  I will buy drinks.  I will let you break things. It's all good.  Drop a line if you can show up or, better, call me since my computer time may suddenly go away for a few days.   News for Saturday:

I'm planning on getting started circa 8 am.  I'm not expecting much in the way of help before 11 or noon, though my cleaners are coming at around 1030 and all the areas they need to clean have to be cleared out by then, so if you CAN come early, cool beans, that'll be a big help.  I'm boxing up everything in the fridge early in the am and taking to Hudson, so if you're planning to be REAL early, let me know so I can leave a key and a list of instructions somewhere for you in case you get there before I get back from Hudson. Drop me a line if you have any comments or questions, and THANK YOU!

So, I'm getting started circa 8 am. 

You are welcome to show up any time after 8 am.

Around 1 in the afternoon, I will buy a mess of pizza and soda ( and beer if requested ) and feed the masses.

I have this strong hope that we can be finished by 7 or 8 pm.  Ok, I'm on crack, but I can HOPE>

Let me know if you can make it and your approximate eta.

Thanks!  - Jet

Some people say, 'if it wasn't for bad luck, I'd have no luck at all'.  They really don't want to meet me, cause if they did, they'd never be able to say that again with a straight face or without worrying that saying it might make it REALLY true for them, like it is for me. 

Let me explain.  No, that would take too long.  Let me sum up...


A few days ago, the kid calls me, tells me he missed the bus and needs a ride home.  This is not uncommon, ok.
Go out, jump in car, drive to ... no, drive 2 feet ... oh.  Flat tire.

Stop car, look at tire, curse.  Attempt to call child back, only to discover his cell phone is going directly to voice mail.
I check the last call - oh, from the school office, I see.  So I call the school office, who promptly tells me that nobody
from the office called me and Damien isn't in the office.  I know this, he's on the curb waiting for a ride, but trying to
get this across is futile.

I'm expecting a friend to come over, so I call the friend and find out that in the 15 minutes she has to devote to her
own life inbetween helping me sort out mine, she's had to run an errand.  Ok, that's not unreasonable.  I tell her about
the tire, and the kid, but FAIL to explain that the kid is now waiting for a ride, so she finishes the errands before coming.
Again - totally my lack of communication there - and in the meanwhile the kid is waiting at the school.

Arrive on the scene - another friend - who has come to take many of Tali's clothes to a charity - v nice.
In sympathy at watching me fighting with the flat tire, she loans me her car to get the kid - huzzah!  I go and get him, and
get back about 3 minutes before the first friend arrives - this is amusing.

Kid and I try and try and try to change tire, and continue to fail.  Friend two - the one with the clothes - calls AAA and gets
help.  Triple A guy comes and ... cannot change the tire.  Apparently, the bolts are stripped and the tire cannot be removed.
Really, I thought to myself at that point, really, what are the changes of getting a flat tire that cannot be changed by
roadside assistance.  What are the odds?  While it DID cross my mind, I dared not voice it out loud for fear one of the
people with me might try to answer and I'd have to kill them.   So, back to this less then believable story...

You have GOT to be KIDDING me.  No, no he is quite serious, but while he's there he asks for a tour of the apartment
cause he'd like to rent it.  Why they fuck not, right?  I give him a tour - and warn him that the landlord is insane and does
many illegal things.  He asks for contact info.  I decide he's nuts and give it to him.

So, then he calls a tow truck to come get the car that ... never comes.  It is too late to do anything useful, so we resume
the breakneck packing and cleaning.

Next day - kid misses the bus again, tire is still flat.  Kid has to wait over an hour for a ride until friend one can come out
and help me rescue him (I did mention that friend one was srsly busy and has been out here nearly every day helping me
pack and move - a job I wouldn't wish on my worst enemy - so friend one being late is completely reasonable and its really
pretty amazing that friend one keeps showing up at all, really , but I digress) - by which time kid has started walking home.

The conversation went something like this:

"What are you doing?"
"Walking."
"Why?  Haven't I told you not to walk home?"
"Yeah, but I called you for a ride and you didn't come."
"Where's your cellphone?"
"At dad's, charging"
"So obviously I cannot call you, right?"
"Right"
"And you know not to wander home, right?"
"Right"
"So why didn't you call me back to find out why I wasn't here yet?"
"Um ... "
"Did you call from the office?"
"Yes"
"Why didn't you go back in and call me back to find out what was wrong"
"Um ... I forgot?"
"Get in the car."

So we drive to the mechanics shop where the tow truck was called from - to discover that
they've gone OUT OF BUSINESS - no, I can't make it up.

So we find a new shop, who *can* fix the car, provided I call AAA and get them to tow it there.
This is accomplished, but the towtruck is 45 minutes late cause it got diverted to a high-priority
highway situation, so the mechanic is closed for the day.

Now, I can get the car in the morning when it's fixed - and they open at 730.

The pod guys are coming to move the storage unit at 700am, and they need me to go along.
Great.

So, friend one loans me her car for the morning, thank you thank you.

So we come back to the house, there is much work with kid and dad moving lizard tank to Hudson,
and friend one and I packing the house and doing much much work.

We load the car, drive to Hudson, unload the car, unload some boxes, build a bed, then I drive her
back to Arlington, then come home.

To discover that the dog who was walked 5 times during the day, and who had put herself to bed for
the night, decided to poop all over her kennel - which included her kennel, her bed, herSELF, every one
of her toys in the kennel, her food bowl AND through the bars onto the floor outside the kennel.

So today I have to follow a pod at 7 am, meet with the mover guys at 9 am, get back to Natick to take the
dog to PetSmart cuz I don't have time to bathe her, get the car back to friend one, then get my car from
the mechanic, load both cars up in Natick, then go back to Hudson.
Oh, and somewhere in there pick the kid up from school WHEN he misses the bus and doesn't have his
phone with him again.

So, I say, if it wasn't for bad luck ...

PS:  It's 737 and the pod picking up guy hasn't shown up and hasn't called.
Oh, and with two wet loads of laundry in my basement?  My dryer just stopped working for no apparent
reason.  Cause ... this wasn't pathetic enough, apparently.   See?  Should have never said the if it
wasn't for bad thing.

PPS:  Oh, and I just got an email from the pod people telling me that my pod was scheduled for pickup
at 700 this morning, thank you for using our service.  Um....

PPSS:  I have finally decided that my purpose in life is to make the rest of you feel better about your lives.

Oh hell.  The mouse broke again.  Sigh.

PPPSS:  The pod guy showed up around 8 - because they'd lost my movng request information a SECOND time and he had to be diverted.  OMG.  So, the pod is moved, finally.  Yay.  At Hudson, mover guy one shows up, only 5 minutes late.  Mover guy two doesn't show, doesn't call - no sign of mover guy two.  So mover guy one explains that he has a little brother who can do the job with him, but it will take him about an hour and a half to get there and with two vehicles that's a bit expensive on gas.  I tell him we give mover guy two 10 minutes - during which time he doesn't show - then I tell mover guy one to get the little brother.  Mover guy one starts working on all the things he can do by himself until the little brother arrives.
Finally the little brother arrives, and the two of them do a fantastic job of emptying the pod and putting everything where I want it to go.   While they are working I discover that I left my meds at home and I'm sick, so by the time they're in full swing, I'm half passed out from pain and sick and have to arrange the kid being brought to me at Hudson alowng with the missing meds.  Ouuuuuch.  Now about the mover guys.  They finish in record time, so I pay them very well.  They tell me they are available to work any weekday, and they do all kinds of handyman stuff, including carpentry (licensed but not insured, so they offer cut-rate prices for cash under the table), and plumbing (same deal).  S0, if you need any work done or carpentry, I HIGHLY recommend that you call these guys, they're SUPER and QUICK and they don't break things and they are very reliable.  These guys are worth paying for any job you need done, srsly.

Let me know if you want their contact info.


And so, I repeat my cry for help - ONE LAST TIME - I need a small army on Saturday to help me finish
emptying this house out mostly onto the curb, as I'm pretty much trashing anything I can't justify trying to
fit into my little, as my friend puts it, "hobbit house in the woods".

Got a few hours on Saturday?  Friday?  Sunday?  I will feed you.  I will buy drinks.  I will let you break things.
It's all good.  Drop a line if you can show up or, better, call me since my computer time may suddenly go away
for a few days.
 

News for Saturday:

I'm planning on getting started circa 8 am.  I'm not expecting much in the way of help before 11 or noon, though my cleaners are coming at around 1030 and all the areas they need to clean have to be cleared out by then, so if you CAN come early, cool beans, that'll be a big help.  I'm boxing up everything in the fridge early in the am and taking to Hudson, so if you're planning to be REAL early, let me know so I can leave a key and a list of instructions somewhere for you in case you get there before I get back from Hudson. Drop me a line if you have any comments or questions, and THANK YOU!

Beyonce is a lovely black kitty cat with a few special needs which are making it very difficult for our shelter to continue to care for .
Her petfinder page with pictures is here: http://www.petfinder.com/petnote/displaypet.cgi?petid=12852843

 Beyonce has been at the shelter since january, and we noticed when she first arrived she had a large very painful looking ulcer on her upper lip. Our vet said this was an allergic reaction, gave her a depo shot and it went away... only to return a few weeks later. She requires a special diet - our vet thinks she is allergic to chicken, and will need allergy shots the rest of her life. 


 Our resources for cats are limited - we primarily are a dog rescue shelter. We have an open room with small cages in which we can confine cats, but mostly our cats roam free and its essential they can all get along and share litter pans/food etc. We are struggling to find foods that she can eat to take down this reaction, and share with the other cats.

To add to her predicament, she is a black cat, which nobody seems to like :(  She also had ringworm when she arrived, which made it very difficult as during her 4 weeks of sulfur dips, she was unable to recieve a depo shot. Nobody has shown any interest locally, or on the internet. She's docile, timid around strangers but would make a great lap cat for an owner with the resources to provide her with the diet she needs and regular allergy shots. These are not expensive shots, just a commitment is all..

We normally do very well holding on to animals that seem like they're unadoptable till we find the right home but her illness is affecting the way our whole cat rescue operation runs and we are running out of options.

We are located in wynne, AR. But we will work with anyone, anywhere to get this cat to her forever home! PLEASE let us know if you could help us help Beyonce find her place...or suggest anywhere else we could turn for help, if you can't help us.!

Thanks for reading, please email with questions or suggestions - wynnefoa@yahoo.com, or call 870-238-9663.

Lucy,
Wynne Friends of Animals

We are really getting down to the wire with the moving, and things are looking ... hey, not so bad!

Up in Hudson, I have two rooms nearly finished (painting), and there's great progress on getting the rest
of stuff that needs to be done up there  ... done.

Here in Natick, there are more boxes then stuff laying around - that HAS to be progress.
I've got stuff separated out for donation, and stuff designated to move.  The only iffy thing is that I'm rapidly
running out of pod space.   I believe tomorrow D and I will load my car and head up to Hudson - finish up
at least one of the rooms with the painting, and unload a load of stuff that we can easily transport by car.

Monday I have a couple of guys coming to move the rest of the stuff that's getting moved into the pod -
especially the rest of the furniture. 

Everything I'm not taking is ending up out on the curb - where donations people will be encouraged to
come take it away, or really anyone who comes by and wants stuff.

There is still a ton of stuff to go away, from clothes to kitchen stuff to nickknacks to furniture - and its all
free, so srsly, if there was something you think you might want?  Anytime after lunch tomorrow, anytime
Sunday, anytime Monday, I'll be here.  The rest of the week is going to be back and forth, but most of
the stuff will be outside by then so come and take what you want.

Need a nice, solid wooden dresser?  How about an old style heavy wood men's armoire with three small
drawers and two cubboards on the top behind cabinet doors and several large full-sized drawers on
the bottom?  Shelves, metal or wood?  Bookcases?  A random assortment of pressboard storage
furniture in white?  How about some good wooden endtables that only need a new finish?
Need an entire wardrobe in women's clothes?  How about some holiday decorations, or a heavy double
door metal cabinet?  Need a few wheeled office chairs?  Or decorative half-heigh book shelves?
How about kitchen goods or cookbooks?  Want an old color tv for the kids playroom so you don't have
to let them wreck a good one?  It's all out there and more.

Come and get it, it's FREE FREE FREE.  Grab it before the end of May or it's GONE GONE GONE.

I hate to see so much stuff going to get junked when so much of it is useful...  give us a ring or just stop
by unnannouced and grab what you want - help yourself and give some useful stuff a good home.

And now for your entertainment - the quote of the night.

When discussing possible natural disasters and sinking islands and tidal waves, my son's only response
to the concept of Hawaii being sunk in to the ocean was that ...

"But that will create a tidal wave that could reach Scotland!"  (no, I did not supervise his Geography lessons).

"And that's what your worried about, that it could flood Scotland, not Hawaii sinking into the ocean?"

"Mom.  C'mon.  It's SCOTland ... and David Tennant is Scottish so he lives there!  I don't want ANYthing
to happen to where HE lives."

And there you are.  13 year old lack of logic with an also tremendous lack of geographical knowledge.
If any of YOU can figure out how Hawaii sinking in the ocean could cause a tidal wave in Scotland,
I would SO like to know it!

F836 -- one of just 52 lobos left in the wild was  -- was
killed by a poacher shortly after being released to the wild. Federal officials said that prior to her
death she “was on her way to being a successful animal [in the wild]…”

She was one of the rarest in the world: a southwest wolf (also known as a lobo). 
Scientists gave her the designation F836 to keep track of her.

Raised in South Salem, New York’s Wolf Conservation Center,
she was released with excitement into her native habitat in Arizona late last year.

But just two months later, a poacher killed her then dumped her like garbage along a road near Pinetop, Arizona. Sadly, her few remaining brethren could face a similar fate if we don’t act right now. 

Supporting Defenders of Wildlife can help catch lawless wolf killers like the ones who senselessly killed wolf F836.  They need help to fund their vital action in the courts to end mismanagement of the lobo recovery program and support our effective on-the-ground education, organizing and conservation efforts to save lobos like F836 and other endangered animals. 

Lobos like F836 are the most endangered wolves in the world. Only 52 lobos -- and only two breeding pairs of these Southwest wolves -- now exist in the wild.

According to the Fish and Wildlife Service, illegal shooting was the leading cause of documented loss of lobos in 2008.

With your help, we can bring the lawless wolf killers to justice, save our lobos and put them back on the road to recovery.

Your donation will also provide vital support for on-the-ground conservation work to save these magnificent animals, paying for fencing, range riders, fladry and other non-lethal tools we can use to keep lobos and livestock away from each other… and out of harm’s way!

Your contribution is also vital to our court battle to correct the terrible mismanagement that has undermined lobo recovery efforts. In 2007, 19 wolves were removed from the wild under flawed management policies now in place -- more than one-third of the lobos then in the wild.

We know there is a better way to manage wolves in the southwest. With the support of caring people like you, we recently scored an important initial legal victory in our case to return wolf management responsibilities to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and to end the controversial “three-strikes” rule that has led to the unwarranted killing and removal of  lobos from their natural habitat in the wild.

But we need your help save our lobos from extinction. Please give whatever you can afford today to fund these vital efforts and our ongoing programs to save the lives of endangered species.

There are only 52 lobos left in the wild, and the fight to save these magnificent wolves from extinction will be a tough one. But, with your help and rapid action, we can prevail. We owe it to wolves like F836 and other lobos.  

Stuff Left Over from Moving Sale

EVERYTHING MUST GO

Come on out to 13 Harding Road

All offers accepted.   Many things FREE. 

Everything is in the yard - IF YOU WANT IT COME GET IT

A thousand million thank yous to my amazing moving crew today!!! You guys rocked the known universe! I never expected to get as far as we did, thank you all so very much.

For those who weren't here to see the miracle - the cleaned out about 89% of my basement - no I'm NOT kidding, there only Dami's toys and a small section of Tali's stuff left, it's nearly completely empty and I haven't seen that much of the floor since I moved in! - and took care of the tent and yard stuff, and got most of the big furniture off the second floor, not to mention a good 5 or so dozen boxes and bins - the pod is more then half full - my god, you guys were so awesome!!!  Can't thank you enough.

And a VERY special thank you to the extremely brave and intrepid paradoox who completely loaded his car with and hauled away a mound of trash that would have rivaled Alice's Restaurant.  THANK you SIR.

I'm feeling very positive about making the move deadline now!

Saturday the 16th will be the next moving day to get things that are being moved into the 'pod'.
Things that are being sold will be moved into the yard for the yard sale on Sunday the 17th.

I'm hoping to get started around noon, and planning a pizza break for around three.
There will be soda and beer for anyone who shows up to help move things.

There is a significant amount of furniture to be moved from the second floor, and a sadly
heavy sofa to be moved from out of the basement, but this can go out the basement
back door and directly into the yard and then the pod without trying to get it through the house.

Because of the recent back surgery, I cannot lift, so all and any help will be GREATLY
appreciated.

Assistance with the Sunday yard sale would also be very appreciated.  The yard sale will
be started at 8:30 AM and running to about 400 PM.  There will be coffee and doughnuts
in the morning, and tea is easily makable for anyone who doesn't want coffee.  There will
also be soda and lemonade thoughout the day for any volunteers.

The yard sale will be listed on Craig's list by Friday and there will be signs posted all over
town.  Help organizing yard sale stuff would be amazing - and I'm looking to get started
with that by 730 AM.

If you are coming for either or even both days, please drop a note here with your day and
time so I can plan for anyone coming.

THANK YOU

News, news, news...  volunteers heroes who want pizza and beer or soda, read on - several days open for needed help!

Anyone who has claimed stuff from the free stuff list and hasn't yet come to get it  - TIME IS RUNNING OUT!!!
If you still want it, pick a day, let me know, and come get it very very soon.

There will be yard sales here May 17 and May 23.
The Saturday's of both of those weekend, May 16 and May 22 - anyone with any free time - help is needed to load
stuff into the storage pod!!  If at least 4 people volunteer to show up each of the Saturdays, the 16th and the 22nd, then
beer or soda and pizza will be provided for anyone who is here to help.

I have a storage pod and anyone who has a little time to spare, come whenever it's good for you and help me get
things into the storage pod.  No big one day truck load and unload, no tons of stuff for a handful of people - but things
need to get into the pod and I need help getting them there.  Anyone who comes and volunteers time, I will try to
have refreshments for any work time, even if it's just lemonade and cookies for folks who stop by for an hour.

Help, and stuff you want to get rid of, is also both needed and welcome at either of the yard sales - come have your
own table or space or donate stuff to the general sale - any option is welcome - the more stuff, the better the turnout.

Anyone available at the end of May / beginning of June who is willing to help unload the storage pod into the new
place -there will be a pizza and soda or beer day for the greatest concentration of unloading crew - and also for
whomever is willing to help me empty out this place once the stuff being kept is gone - everything left goes out
on the curb for pickup and the place MUST be cleaned out by or before May 31 - all and any help is very very welcome
and will appreciated with food and drink!!!!

Pick your volunteer day - sign up now!  Jump on board for this last push for the move, lend a hand, and get fed.

Time is really running short for me.

Move things into the pod days:
Saturday May 16
Saturday May 22
any day or evening you have free time

Yard sale days:
Sunday May 17
Sunday May 23

Clean out the old place days:
May 28th through 31st
(hopefully starting by May 24th)

Empty pod into new place days:
May 31st thru June 6th or 7th


THANKS!!!!

PS - the back is getting better all the time and I'm walking without a cane now, but I still can't lift all this stuff so I'm desperate for help!

You can start cringing now ...

Health News (includes job news or lack thereof): I saw my surgeon today and the results were great and blech.
The great was - the incision is clean and nicely closed - so no more bandages.
More great - I can drive!  And swim!  And shower normally!  And I'm to start walking and working up to at least a mile a day.
(I did tell him that I didn't walk a mile a day BEFORE the injury, but he was not deterred and wants me to walk, so I shall walk)
Now, the blech - not ready for rehab yet, come back in a few weeks when you can do that mile walk without exhaustion.  Ah... well.
So the job acquisition is put off a few weeks - not in rehab, no working, says the doc - and so it goes.
I'm taking far less painkiller stuff then he thought I would be, and he's pleased with the pain and nerve progress - everything I told him got the response of 'that's normal' - so, yay.

Moving News: still apartment hunting, but I went to see one place Thursday evening that has good potential and is only half an hour to Natick, which is also muy good.  Will let folks know how this turns out.  If it doesn't work out, then I'm very definitely needing to get a roommate to get a place somewhere in the greater Natick area - and there is commuter rail here, so if you're thinking about new living arrangement and want to split expenses, let me know.  I come with an incredibly well applianced and stocked set of kitchen stuff, an Xbox, a Wii and a huge DVD library and a huge music library, as well as one small dog, one part-time teenager and one small lizard.  Look at all those fringe benefits!
More Moving News:  Sometime between now and the end of May, I will be desperately recruiting volunteers to help me move.
The Good News - I'm moving only a small percentage of my stuff
The Bad News - the rest of it needs to a) get carted to storage b) find a new home or c)get out of the house and to the curb for trash pickup - I will continue to post stuff up for grabs as I can manage to organize it.  A variety of things have been claimed, such as:

• about 1/3 of the cookbooks
• the dining room table and chairs
• the two metal kitchen storage racks
• the pasta maker
• a handful of kitchen utensil things
• the slow cooker
• the cat
• a punch bowl
• the patio furniture
• the lawnmower (I think)
• some percentage of the holiday decorations

I may also be trying to be having a yardsale in early to mid May.  Ebay is too much trouble and stuff isn't going fast enough, really.  Yardsale stuff organizing volunteers are VERY VERY welcome (and badly needed, I'm still a lightweight for lifting and bending), and if you agree to help with this your very least reward will be coffee or tea and yummy baked treats, and you get to keep stuff for the sale that you need or think is very cool  - can't beat that awesome reward list, huh?  You're tempted, you know you are ... ok, you're not tempted, but you may be struck with a deep and abiding sense of pity ... ok, maybe not, but I'm willing to both beg and feed you...


Art News:  I still have a pile of art pieces due to a pile of very very very patient people - you are not forgotten!  When life calms down a bit, you will be on the top of the to do list again.  Other, older and already done art, has found its way onto two websites where it can be obtained:

Animal News:  Pharaoh has found a new and wonderfully loving home with a friend of

roaming's.  He is adjusting well and is likely to be subject to a whole new round of spoiling.  Raithe is adjusting to the lack of playmate reasonably well, with the slight caveat that she's a little more cuddly and clingy whenever I'm anywhere near her.  On the up side, she's getting a bit better about dealing with new people.  The miniature dragon has declined to comment on the lack of cat in his environment.  Also, we now have a little raccoon that creeps up on the back porch to visit late at night.  The raccoon is rather skittish, though I left him/her some food.  The dog is terrified, brave little thing that she is, of the raccoon.  Life as usual.


Kid News:  Still growing, still taller then me.  The bus and bus pass issues have been resolved and an official bus pass will be issued after the upcoming school break, for those who were 'in the know' regarding this small drama.


Gaming News:  The Star Fantasy Star Wars game will be on indefinite hold until the moving/living situation can be sorted out.
Progress on the Pirate Island larping team goes very well - things are looking up and looking cool, we have a great team.
I should be rejoining the Madrigal plot staff in the immediate near future, now that I can drive again.  Yay!
Guitar Hero still tells me that I Rock!  Validation from a video game - welcome to the new world.
The kid got a new Wii game from the Easter bunny, called Heavenly Guardian, so there is much Wii happiness here.


So  there's the current update and pretty much all that's going on here.  I can't imagine there's anything more to tell - and COULD my life be more dull ? - so I bet that's the last time I get chastised to update my life!

 

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Two pieces of sad news came today.

First, one of my oldest and long-time closest friends called me today to tell me that her mother had finally lost her long battle with cancer and has passed away.  She and her father are in the sad process of making arrangements and sorting out lives.  Spare them a kind thought and a moment of sympathy if you can.

Second, Carrie, one of my acquaintances on my Irish geneaology research list posted this sad news today:

"Late last year my dad was diagnosed with a rare and serious form of Lymphoma, one which the doctors said was resistant to chemotherapy. He went through the chemo anyway, and began a stem-cell transplant at the end of March. (These are stem cells that they harvested from his own blood and grew more to transplant back into him.)   The transplant process was to take a month. (until mid April).
This morning, during a platelet transfusion, his heart stopped, and he is now on life support and we are waiting for more test results to see if he has had any brain damage or other problems. What I'm told is that he is in critical condition. It's a really scary time for us, and we hope he can make it through this with minimal problems. He is only 61 years old.  Anyone's prayers would be greatly appreciated. Thankyou."

If you would be so kind as to add her to your prayers, send good thoughts, healing vibes, whatever her way - her family is going through a very difficult time and could use a little help and fortune.  If you wish to post good wishes or comments for her, I will pass them on, but I am trying to respect the family's privacy and not post personal information.

I hope there is not a third - you know how these things always seems to come in threes - and I hope I didn't miss another piece of sad news posted today.  Sigh.

For those that expressed concerned, Pharaoh has a wonderful prospective adoptive home and will be meeting his new potential human next week.

I'm going to have a number of pieces of furniture that have to go.

1.  At least 2 bureaus.  Possibly 3.  One long style, low, with 6 side by side drawers.  One old style with small drawers in a cabinet on top and larger drawers below.  Those are going for sure.

2.  A shoe cabinet - it has drawers that rotate out and has slots for shoes

3.  I can only describe it.  It's black, it has two drawers on the bottom, a big center cabinet that has removable shelves and the back has a TV style punch out for an entertainment thingie, and the top stands at about 4'6"

4.  A whole bunch of that quick storage furniture, cabinet and shelf things, and a few metal kitchen storage shelves.  I have three, I'm only keeping one - the two that I'm getting rid of are the tall, silver square style shelves.   These are in excellent shape.

5.  There might be a computer desk up for grabs, depends on my space limitations.

6.  As above, there might be a futon, black frame, black futon, up for grabs - depends on my space

7.  I am getting rid of my two beat up black leather sofas, one long, one loveseat.  These are very beat up.  But if you have a rec room for kids and want something they can trash, you can have them.  They're very comfy, but I'm tired of them and they take up too much space, and they're very beat up.  

Everything is you come and get it.  I can't lift or carry, sorry, and I can't deliver. I can point and give advice, but will abstain on request :-)

AND

I need to find a home for Pharaoh.  I think I cannot find a place and continue to afford a dog and a cat.  I HATE to say this, and I would rather
not do this, but I think Pharaoh needs a home with MUCH less stress and somewhere he can get more attention.  I don't have the time or emotional energy for both of them, and the dog is very clingy.  They've started playing rougher and the cat attacks the dog randomly now, out of jealousy, I think.  So, if anyone knows anyone who would like to adopt a very healthy, very friendly, very loving mush of a cat - he is only 2 and a 1/2 years old, he is fixed, and he is in excellent health.  Here's the catch - he's never met another cat that he liked.  I don't know if he will acclimate to a cat household.  He has no fear of and seems to like most dogs.  He thinks he's a dog, frankly.
He comes with his own bowls, feeding tray, all the food we have here, and lots of toys and supplies, including a hard carrier and a pet tent.
This breaks my heart, but I have to be sane and practical, and keeping both the cat and dog is just too much for me.
So if anyone knows of anyone who might like to adopt him, let me know - I will keep him before he goes to a shelter, a rescue, or anything like that - it's a good home or he stays and I work it out.  Thanks.

Ok, aside from the kids books claimed by ryxander , I have 97 cookbooks and about 30 cooking/recipie magazines up for grabs.
I undercounted.  I knew we had a lot of them, I had no idea we were well over 125.  Ouch.  NOBODY without their own restaurant needs this many cookbooks, I'm sure.

About 10 of those are bartending guides or drink mix books.
There are a number of low-sugar and diabetic specialty cookbooks, including The Joslin Diabetes Gourmet Cookbook.

I'm not going to type all 97 books in, I don't have that kind of time, however, here's 20 titles:

Emeril's Tv Dinners
(there's another Emeril cajun one, can't find the title right now..)

Rachael Rae: Just In Time
Rachael Rae: 2,4,6,8
Rachael Rae: half a dozen magazines

Julia Childs: The Way to Cook
Julia Childs: The French Chef's Cookbook

The Frugal Gourmet: Cooks Three Ancient Cuisines - Chinese, Greek, Rome

Jane Brody's Good Food Book

The Kitchen Survival Guide

The New York Times Cookbook

The Rodale Cookbook

The Cook's Colour Treasury

The Treasury of Creative Cooking

William Sonoma's Chocolate

The Picayune's Creole Cookbook

Francine Prince's Gourmet Recipies for Diabetics

The Vegetarian Baby

In A Cajun Kitchen

Mrs. Witty's Home Style Menu Cookbook

McCall's Cookbook

and a whole lot more.  I'll hold the Julia Childs aside since those were requested.
The rest are first come-first serve, unless you send me specific requests.

Donations would be appreciated, but not required.

Thanks

Ok, here's how I'm going to do this -

I'm home all the time - except Thursday morning from 9 to about 2.

You can come when works for you.

All I ask is that you give me about a 10 minute phone warning that you're about to arrive
so I'm conscious.  If you don't have my phone number, drop me a private email or drop
roaming a private email, and one of us will give it to you.

Ok?

Also, I have no bags and no boxes for stuff that isn't boxed, so bring your own.
All my boxes are being used to pack, sorry.

Thanks!!!

For big furniture, some of it is in storage, call me to make arrangements to get to the storage
unit to pick up.

Things for grabs:

1.  There are over 60 cookbooks up for grabs, including Rachael Rae, Emeril, Julia Childs, kids cookbooks, specialty cookbooks and tons more.  MInd you, I'm keeping my favorite 2 dozen - these are the REST.  I don't use them, I don't have room.  If you have little kids, let me know, I have a few great kid books.

I think somebody wants this????  2.  A Pasta Express pasta maker.  I hate pasta.  Unopened, unused I believe, still in original packaging.

3.  A stand and 9 shotglass set of Tic Tac Toe shotglasses - no I'm not kidding - also still in original packaging, suitable for an odd gift

X claimed - 4.  An electric Snackster Sandwich maker, in original box, probably used a few times but not in a while

5.  Tons of random kitchen utensils, gadgets and tupperware style storage things.  And I mean tons.

6.  A  countertop spinning glass and metal spice rack, all bottles labled.  The spices may be old, but the bottles
are glass and can be refilled - it's fairly nice

7.  A few complete sets and a lot of random coffee/tea mugs that have lived on display shelves.  Many sizes, some specialty, holiday and characters - like cartoons and stuff.

8.  Office supplies.  Enough to rival staples.  Let me know what you're looking for - some are claimed

9. A bunch of plastic and heavy plastic punch and serving bowls for parties - at least one is claimed

ah... more later

Oh yeah. 

X - claimed  - 10.  Patio furniture.  Outdoor chairs and things.  I have a bunch of those too, if someone needs them.  They're all black.

X - claimed  - and some of those big, heavy duty plastic component shelves - the kind you can use in a garage or outdoors.  I have two, maybe three, sets of those  - they'll need cleaning cuz they've been outdoors, but they're completely indestructable.

Over the next few weeks I'm going to be posting general and specific lists of stuff that's gotta go, so if you want it, chime in.

It's either for free or for voluntary, no-guilt donation - YOUR choice.

The only catch is you have to come get it - no deliveries, no shipping.

The first list of stuff will be kitchen, starting with cookbooks, small appliances and general kitchen stuff.

Also, there is furniture that needs a home, and if you want it, you can have it.
So far, there are at least two breakfronts, one table, several iffy bookcases (good for a basement or playroom only)
several office style desk chairs, a few small tables, some metal shelving and lots of other assorted things that will
show up on the list.  Descriptions are more likely then pictures just due to time.
I also have either 5 or 6 metal filecases - most are three drawer, most on wheels, one is a tall 5 drawer.  All but one,
or possibly all, of them are going.

I'll try to post specifics of the kitchen gadgets and cookbooks when I get a chance but if you have a question, let me
know.

There will probably be bureaus going on the list as well, I'm just not sure which ones yet.

Anyway, keep an eye here and yell if you see something you want.

ryxander , if you still think you want that breakfront, now's the time to yell out.

Ok, thanks.


Also on the list are tons of holiday decorations,

My very very good friend roaming introduced me to this song today. 

She's introduced me to so many wonderful things, but this one really spoke to me and I find it deeply compelling.

It is somewhere between the sorrow of a Celtic soul and the beat of a Native American heart.

It is absolutely beautiful, it is enchanting and the lyrics are amazing.

So I had to share.  Perhaps is it already well-known, but it is new to me and I found it very moving.

It seems I've been asked to explain how this whole mess started in the first place and what happened with Michael's to cause all this.   Thinking back, I suppose I never really did explain the whole thing, or if I did it was so long ago that its long lost.

So, I think the first thing I need to say, and this is important, is that my issue with Michaels is not now and never was with the actual store I worked in, nor with any of the people in that store.  To the contrary - most of the employees in that store I considered friends or acquaintances and still do - none of this was their fault, and I would hate to have people angry with the store when I still go there from time to time to say hi to the people there whom I still very much like.

No, my issue is with the corporate machine and the insurance policies, who are entirely responsible for putting me through hell.

While I worked at Michaels - which was for years, in two different stores - I was actually 'promoted' through about five different positions - from temporary seasonal cashier, to full time cashier, to front end supervisor, to fine arts department head, to senior custom framer.  I LIKED working at Michaels and this entire thing has made me very sad because not only did I like my job - I was good at it.  I was VERY good at custom framing and very good at customer service and sales, something I'm sure any of the management there would readily agree with.

Now, being one of the cookie cutter retail operations, everyone wears multiple hats - and when it comes to stocking the store, everyone empties they trucks and stocks the shelves, from temporary help right up to management - everyone works.  And our management team wasn't slacking off and dumping it on the rest of us - they were out there unloading trucks in miserable weather with the rest of us - in fact they were usually there first - so nobody could honestly complain that they were getting crap work dumped on them.  It just wasn't true - they worked just as hard as the rest of us, honestly.  I say this because I really hold NO issues or problems with the crew at the store - this just wasn't their fault, it really wasn't.

Now, working in custom framing, we got more frequent shipments then the rest of the store just by the nature of constant custom orders and getting materials in for them.  The store got one to two trucks a week, depending on the season - custom framing got five.  Its the responsibility of custom framing to receive their own supplies and unload them,check them in and put them away.  So, every weekday we unloaded materials for frames and mats and such.  Mat board comes in pieces that are something like 4' x 6' or so, and are heavy cardboard-ish paper - and they boxes often have one or two dozen sheets in them. This makes them very heavy, much heavier then the actual frames. 

On the particular day, the ups guy gave me a hand and put the matboard boxes on the wheeley cart for me.  I wheeled them inside, then went to lift them off thecart to open the boxes and put away  the matboard - such was my job.  A 6' x 4' x 2' box is very unwieldy.  The box started to tip, so I stuck my right foot under the box to steady it, then turned to put it down.  Somehow,the weight of the box on my foot,while turning, successfully 'popped' a groin muscle and I kinda collapsed, unable to put any weight on my leg at all.  If you've puilled a groin muscle, you'll understand this.  Because the groin pull was so overwhelming,I did not realize at first that I'd also hurt my back - all I knew was that I was in terrible pain and couldn't walk and alarmed the other person in the frame shop by bursting into tears - not exactly what people expect from me.  A co-worker ran and got the store wheelchair, someone called Tali to come get me, I filled out the required injury paperwork, I was wheeled to the car whenTali got there.  People helped me into the car - which hurt - and my wife took me to the ER.

Our local ER is .... challenged.  Because of the overwhelming pain in the groin, they stopped looking for any other damage, wrote it up as a puilled groin muscle,gave me painkillers and crutches and told me to go to the workman's comp clinic.

Which I did.  The clinic saw me a few times, concluded that there was some kind of back injury as well, and sent me to a neurologist,who was older then Methusalah.  The insurance company assigned me a case worker,who was toaccompany me on all doctor's visists.  Whatever.  I was sent for physical rehab, which wasn'thelping.

So the neurologist said it wasn't neurological and nothing was wrong. The clinic AND the case worker disagreed,and insisted I go to an orthopaedist.  I was sent for xrays and an MRI. The orthopaedist said there was a very clear back injury that was new and was definitely from the work accident.  The case manager heard him say this.  The physical rehab people took one look at his report and refused to touch me again, saying they would only make it worse.

I was shufflfed to all kinds of tests and now this becamea legal battle - with Michaels insurance saying there was a preexisting injury and this wasn't their fault.  There WAS a preexisting - but treated - injury, and the orthopaedist said that wasn't a factor.  They didn't  like this, and I was ordered to go to another neurologist - who said there was no neurological issue and surgery wasn't advised.  They tried to use this to say I didn't need treatment - but the orthopaedist said surgery was absolutely required.  Then, suddenly,the case manager was yanked off the case and I wasn't to contact her any more- dunno, guess she wasn't supposed to agre with me orsomething.

This stupid battle and test after test raged on for most of a year.  The injury was in January.  In June,Michaels stopped paying workers comp benefits, saying the groin muscle was all better and that's the only thing they were responsible for.  Now, I had a lawyer who was working on  my case.  In the middle of this mess,Tali was hospitalized with her frist stroke - her entire hospitalization up to her death and funeral occured while this workers comp battle was still raging on andI was living on painkillers in order to walk.  In fact, I have now been on painkillers since January of last year,and am still on them, post surgery

Finally, a little while ago, my lawyer won the case in our third round in court and Michaels was ordered to pay al the benefits from June to present, and to continue paying benefits indefinitely, as well as pay for all medical treatment and surgery.  Eventually the surgery was scheduled, as you know, and now I'm home a week out of surgery.  I have a few more weeks of recovery before I can even start physical therapy so that I can go back to work. I will note, since Tali passed away in November,my entire source of income has been ( aside from the amazing charity of friends) the worker's comp benefits from Michales - which amounts to 60% of my retail pay - wanna guess how much that leaves me with?   The benefits don't even cover half my rent, let alone anything else,and I have a kid to support.

Now, because of the financial situation, I am facing a court date for eviction coming up in about 2 weeks, because I haven't had the money to pay the rent.  So, no job, still recovering from surgery, I need to find someplace to live asap for my self, my son and our pets - and I can't lift anything heavier then 2 lbs,can't bend,and can only walk slowly with a cane since I just had spinal fusion surgery.

This then is the totality of the Michaels situation and the hell I've been going through for year.  If it wasn't for the incredible generosity of friends taking up collections, I wouldn't have even been able to pay for Tali's funeral - and now I have a little money I'm trying to hang on to in order to manage a downpayment on someplace to move to. Not that I have any idea where I'm going to move to - I have nothing really lined up yet and nowhere to go,which does kinda scare me but I can't let it overwhelm me every day or I'd get nothing done.  Not that I can get much done in my current condition,but still .... Some days I find it nearly impossible to even contemplate how I've gotten to such an impossible place, but I am still grateful for having such amazing friends and family to help me when things get to be the worst.

Ok, that was probably more information then you actually wanted,but that should about cover it, unless you have any more questions - I'd be happy to answer. 

Recovery is progressing, I can move a bit better, though there is still considerable pain much of the time.
I am still drugged out of my mind - course it might be noted that its hard to tell the difference ...

The help and kindnesses of so many good friends have been invaluable and have been making this all bearable.

I look forward to a full recovery in good time - there have been no problems or complications other then the expected pain.

If you've tried to call me in the past two days and not gotten through, please don't panic - my phone died cause I lost my
charger at the hospital, but roaming went and got me a new one today so I am reachable by phone again.

I should be seeing the doc for a followup soon and will let you all know what he has to say.

My personal time schedule is all screwed up - I sleep all kinds of odd hours and am awake at all kinds of odd hours and its totally unpredictable,so if you're worried about calling at a bad time- don't.  Call whenever - I'm on no particular pattern and it doesn't do any harm to wake me up so whenever is fine.

Two oddnesses are noted.

One - I've been having the weirdest dreams about the most incongruous people - I suppose I blame my chemical cocktail - but man are my dreams weird and all over the map. If I could write them down, we'd be talking screenplay.

Two - I got a basket of flowers today.  From "your friends at Michaels" - signed by nobody I've ever met, so I have to assume they originate from the corporate office - ok, how weird is that? The people who spent a year denying that they were responsible for the injury and trying not to have to pay for the surgery ... send me get well flowers?  Ummm.... ok.  That, to me, is totally bizarre.

Anyway, no real news, just letting everyone know I'm alive and kicking ... well, not actually kicking,that would hurt ... but doing ok.  I'm not online much since sitting and typing are a bit tiring, but I'm here on and off as I can.

Thanks for all the good wishes, hope to be up and about and able to see folks again in the near soon.  Later!

The surgery went fine without complications,and no sign of infection up to now at least, though
it is still necessary to keep an eyes on it for any sign of developing problems.
I will be mostly useless for at least the rest of the week, perhapw onger.

I'm still very outof it and will not be very 'with it' for a while, falling asleep randomly and losing track
of things like time and things going on around me - much of this, I imaine,are the drugs.

However the overall prognosis isgood and by the time I'm thru recovery and phys rehab, I should be
righ where I want to beand should be getting back to normal activiies.

Ok, falling over on keyboard, cannot focus very long, tanks for al the good wishes and positive energy.
FYI - another fabulous and attentive nursing staff that deserves hugethank yous.

That's it for now - falling down now - later.

edit - ps - I fhink  I forgot to mention the part where when I don't have my meds on time the pain is so
squalid that walking across the room is torment and I just ant to keep screaming pretty syure I oeft that part
out oh my god this fucking hurts

Hi everyone,

Here's the lastest update on my back surgery in case you hadn't heard.

I'm going in the hospital tomorrow morning for spinal fusion surgery.
I will be going to the hospital to arrive between 8:30 and 9:00.
My surgery is scheduled for 11:00 AM.

I'll be hospitalized for 3-5 days, then home for recovery.
zeyr and the boy are going to try to take care of the animals for me,
but anyone who wants to help them out will probably be very very welcome.
I believe that quezz will also be helping with the puppy.

I'll be in the Newton-Wellesley Hospital, under my current married name, in the
care of Dr. Mitchell Hardenbrook with the Boston Spine Group in
the Spine Center.

Wish me luck.

While I'm in surgery and until I'm recovered, roaming will have my cell phone.
roaming is here tonight, she is taking me to the hospital in the morning, and
she will stay there until I'm out of surgery, at least, so that someone knows what's
going on and can fill in info for eveyrone. She will put updates on HER livejournal,
roaming  or in her hubby's livejournal, lensman 

If you're looking for info or want to find out what's going on, you can call
my cell - either you will get an update from roaming or you'll simply reach me
(or whomever is in my room at the time).

roaming is wicked awesome and a great person so please be nice and don't
overwhelm her, but she will be happy to answer calls from people checking
in.

In theory, I will be going home Thursday or Friday. The caveat here is that
the hospital will not release me until I am able to walk to their satisfaction,
which sounds painful, but hey.

Thanks for all the good wishes, everyone, I have high hppes for a quick and
complete recovery and larping in May! Huzzah!

- Jet