Paul's Corner

Paul, I'm sorry to hear about your painful injury, and about the appearance of the arthritis.
I have often wondered what kind of long term effects the continual workouts would have on the human body. I know that dancers can really push themselves.
I guess that it generally catches up with you, in one form or another.

I send my best wishes and hopes that treatment and work on your posture, and general fitness, wellbeing and health will help to ensure that you have many years of pain-free mobility ahead of you.

Lynette's end of year ballet concerts are on this weekend. The ballet was on yesterday. We really enjoyed it The kids were just great. The jazz and tap is this afternoon. I'm looking forward to that too!

I hope the body gets better real quick.

That sounds horrible and painful! Life is tragic hey... sometimes I wonder why if God created us and loves us, why does he make us feel pain? Not fair :(
Unfortunately as yet there is no real cure for arthritis. My mother and grandmother both have it in their hands and that can be quite difficult and painful at times.

"Developing a little tire around my middle" hehehe too little exercise and too much of your home brewery I think. Any way, a little pudginess is kinda cute!

I hope both you and your wife’s health doesn’t get any worse but as long as you’re both positive and happy, I’m sure you’ll be alright.
Take care and don’t stress.

Oh yeah Paul, “I guess this is the price you pay for being such a magnificent dancer” lol, Funny stuff! J/K ;p

Kerrie

Peter thanks for the words. You know too well also about bad backs and the strains of exercise on our body as also does Inn.

Life is great and then it catches up with you, hey? Having stress in your life I think makes a lot of things worse or to put it a better way stress puts pressure on "all" of "you", emotionally, physically and spiritually.

As the line in that song goes.. "sometimes I wonder how I keep from going under"

I guess it is due to hope and stubbornness!

Dear Paul,

Looking back on my own health, I learned that moderation worked, if one starts early.

I was once told that I had 5 herniated discs in my back, but I took up bike riding, and I've been fine for years!

Now, in retirement, Ellie walks 3 miles every day around our village...he carries a red umbrella for rain and the hot sun, so by now everyone knows him!

I have arthritis of the knee, but I go to the gym and work out 30 minutes 6 mornings a week on the recumbant bike, and I no longer need pain killers. Of course, the weight loss of 35 lbs. has helped! (The doctor had prescribed Celebrex, and although it relieved the pain, it contributed to a big weight gain 2 years ago, so I dropped it.)

Athletes and dancers, unfortunately, pay the price eventually, but that word "age" is what levels the playing field, and, of course, weight is important too.

My gym "buddies" are all older than I, most in their late 70s and 80s, and even 90s! They are on the treadmills (bad for backs and hips, and knees), but I just do my thing on the recumbant bike. My thighs and legs have slimmed down, but the belly hardly, but that's another story!

One of our daughters, who is a physical therapist assistant, insisted that I NOT use the treadmill, EVER!

Walking outside, like Ellie does, is the best exercise, but then, you would need a red umbrella!

Shalom and Love,

Mil

Paul-

Sorry to hear about this. It is a part of growing older and how hard you pushed yourself. What I hate is that it seems my body is giving out long before I'm ready for it.

In high school I was on something called danceline. (think pom pon girls!) Well we did these things called knee drops. You went from standing to crouched down on you knees. Very dramatic to see during a performance. Well these caused me to have huge black and blue knees - the whole knee area. Now I'm paying for it. I believe that in the future I'll need knee replacement. Although it looked cool in high school, I wish I knew then what I do now!

((hugs)) - take it easy.

Jill

Jill, the orthopedist who gave me the Celebrex said that a knee replacement is an option down the road, when my lifestyle is compromised by the pain.

At my age (almost 72) I will try to avoid surgery like the plague, by exercising and losing more weight!

I wish you well, as you know, also to Paul and Andrea. You and they have given so much to others, and as they say, those are the gifts that keep on giving.

Shalom and Love,

Mil

Well here is a subject I know lots about, pain.
I have more wrong with my body then Cat has bandwith to list it. In retrospect I should have used my body in moderation but I don't think I could have been happy that way, so now it's time to pay my piper. This is on my mind especially as winter is setting in here and I will soon be almost too stiff to move. I won't take any of these "new" drugs, celebrex,bextra, I was on vioxx for a time and I have had to go through all kinds of heart tests recently to check for damage..there was none. So, Paul I can relate to missing the "magnificent" things my body used to do and understanding the magic of simply walking.
Hey, just remember we will always have the pictures! Wouldn't it be nice if we all knew we would grow to be Millies and Ellies? Shabat Shalom Grandma Mil!
Peace, Inn

"If I knew then what I know now" - would we do things differently? I don't really know the answer to that, do you?

With the limited knowledge we had back then, smearing ourselves with baby oil before baking in the sun was the thing to do. Now, we worry about skin cancer as Mil has attested to. Cramming our big feet into pointy-toed spiked heeled shoes and walking in them all day no matter how much they hurt was "fashion", and to my horror, they're baaaack! And speaking of backs, Paul, I have degeneration of the lumbar spine and osteoarthritis in the knees, so I feel for you. I'm glad you, Mil, Jill and Inn have found a therapy that helps. I just take mega doses of muscle relaxers and anti-inflammatories and go to the chiropractor three times a week. It keeps me going, so can't complain, hey?

Be well.

Yes, Sally, those pointy toed shoes..they're back, I fear, but only for real dress up among the youngsters, and the podiatrists are in the dough!

I remember when traveling, especially by plane, people dressed up, with high heels, etc.

Now, it's sneakers and jeans, and take off your shoes for security checks, and what do you have in your bra?

When we used to go to Israel to visit our kids, the Israelis separated the men and women into their own examining rooms, and the searches were done without embarrassment.

After the agents looked into your face, they asked questions about where you were from, where were you headed, and did you have any packages in your luggage, and did you always have access to your own luggage?

Ellie and I certainly didn't look like terrorists, just two graying seniors "schlepping" (dragging) themselves thousand of miles to kiss and hug the children and grandchildren for a few days. Those sneakers always felt good, and the fancy shoes for travel is now a relic of the past.

Inn, what's the latest for FIF? Please let me know!

Shalom and Love,

Mil

Just came back from the gym! Couldnt actually do any of the things that I normally do. Put my gym membership on hold for a couple of months and now I am out to buy a red umbrella.... well actually I may go for a purle one.

Hi Paul,
sorry to hear about the job not coming through. It made me mad, because it sounds so disrespectful what your industry does to its people. Dont' they ever think about another's dignity??? I shall pray that something good will come along for you ASAP! Sorry to hear about your neck and back pains and problems, sounds terrible. Allow yourself and your body to heal completely, I wish I had done it with some injuries, but I was young and pushed myself too hard too quickly and am suffering the consequences for it now, still think it falls under the minor aches and pains category most of the time. Wishing you a quick and complete recovery and to Andrea and every one else with back, knee, hip watever other health problem.

Paul, as to the above-mentioned stubbornness, I always felt that a healthy dose of stubbornness well applied is a good thing to have when trying to make it through tough times. Hold on to that as well.

Speaking of your career, sorry no business proposal, more something for the rest of the group here: Brian sent me a set of “Dancing with the Stars” and “Through My Eyes” as CD and DVD since I volunteered to do the duplicating here in the US for anyone who wants it, so that he wouldn’t have to do it. So if anyone wants a copy, email me off this site (click on my name below for my email), let me know which set you want and where I should mail it to. Well, if you don’t live in the US, … if I like you well enough … :) I’ll probably make you one too. Yeah, please give me something to do. I have at least 6 hours of “dead time” at work this week, giving the three final exams, probably not totally professional to copy DVDs, but it’s quiet and I won’t be bored :-).

Set ‘A’ – The two disk CD-ROM of DWTS
Set ‘B’ – The one disk CD-ROM of TME
Set ‘C’ – The one disk DVD-ROM of both TME and DWTS

Okay, I’m going to go back to watching “Through My Eyes.” Man, the night scenes are really spooky.
Love to everyone,
Evelyn

Clay disloacated his right shoulder and tore his rota cuff.

He only did wrestling to stay in shape for baseball. Now he may need surgery and he may have to sit out another year fo baseball. His freshman year , too. The varsity coach has been watching him for Varsity this year. That would have been cool.

I can't believe this is happening. Again, I can't believe this. I am devistated. I am totaly devistated again. I can't believe this.
He jsut layed on the mat, crying in pain, screaming, my baby, I couldnt beilieve it. No one said the heard him but I did. I did. I went to the edge of the mat but no onit. My hubby went on but I didn't know he was there. All I could see was Clay, well part of him, anyway. There was so many people around him. They had three mats going and they called for medical poeople on his mat over the load speaker so I knew it was bad. We were an hour and half away from our doctor and he was in so much pain but because of wonderfull insurance, we had no choice but to rush him to our doctor in Kalamazoo. Somewere between Aue 'claire and Kalamazoo, his pain subsided quite a bit and the doctor said thats probobly when his shoulder went back in socket. The exray shows that it was still out a bit, but they got it back in and he is feeling better but still cant move his arm.

I hope he can play in March. He is saying " al least I can stil play first base". Thats my boy, keeping it positive, He gets negative at times, though. Hes just a kid, what can I expect. He use to be able to throw a ball the length of a football feild no problem, he had such an arm, but now I doubt hell have that arm. Not with rota cuff. I have a bad rota cuff. It just isn't the same anymore.

Why always Clay??? I don't get it !!!! Everyone pleae pray for his arm , and for him. I dont care if anyone ever prays for me ever again, just pray for him. He will bne devistated, if I have to see him sit and watch another season I won't be able to take it.

WEll, enough crying over this.

Paul, sorry for your ailments. If you hadnt been such a gifted and hord core dancer in your prime you would not be suffering today., But if someone would have told you this would happen, you would not have done anything different, I bet. You hurt now because you wre that passionate then. No crime in that.
Be well, and I hope Andrea is well, also.

Brian, Thansk for the gift. I think it will be one of the nicest I get this year!

Love to all, Kelly

Wow, sorry for all the typos, I was going so fast just to get it all out. I wasn't paying attention. I feel better, thanks for the vent. I am still paranoid and worried about his pitching arm, but only time will tell.

Well, it's been a long weekend, so off to bed I go. Love to all KISS KISS HUG HUG to everyone.

Brian, Paul, I see you guys are getting Lost and Desperate Housewives over there next year. I wish I had a way to tape them for you here. We took our DVD recorder back to the store as it was not working correctly. To bad I couldn't hook my pcu to the tv and record them for you and send them to you. You would have a heads up on everyone else in Australia! :)

Kel

Grandma Mil..sorry to say it's still a no-go at this point. We are still hopeful.
Kelly, so sorry about Clay. In respect to my last post...you should really slow that boy down or he will be complaining of his aches and pains too early also. There is something to be said for living life slowly even if others say not.
Peace, Inn

Paul, I strongly recommend a purle umbrella.
In my experiencee, they're far more effective.

Your "Hope and stubborness" sounds a lot like my eternal optimism and "never say die" attitude.

I'm actually lucky with my back, in that I don't suffer pain on a regular basis, only when it "goes", which is not too often, fortunately.
I don't think that the exercise has really caused me any injuries, because I did so much cross training, i.e. aerobics, weights, cycling, water running and of course running.
My running weeks were limited to about 60km max, which is relatively low mileage.

Let's hope that you can get back to the gym soon.

I heard the "Superman" song yesterday. It really picked me up.

Clay, I heard about your wrestling incident and I just wanted to say that I am sorry that it happened to you. Your mum says you are a pretty positive kid so I wish you well and urge you to stay positive and I am sure you will get back to 100%. I might suggest you give wrestling a big miss though!!! Leave it for the ugly guys on TV!

Take care mate!! Give yourself time to heal.

Kelly and Clay, good wishes to you for healing and recovering as well. Take it easy and I hope you find lots of other fun things to do while recuperating. :)

Kelly, I'm sorry to hear about Clay. Unfortunately with sports no matter what kind, injuries come with the territory but I sympathize with how you're feeling. I hope Clay will recover soon. Stay on top of his treatments. Make sure he recovers fully before sending him to the field. You want to make sure these injuries don't come back to haunt him later in life.

Paul, I'm not a physician but it sounds like you may have had just stretched the muscle badly. If you tore anything you would be in the enough excruciating pain to cry and fall on the floor. But its best that a physician clarifies this small tears can be possible. The best thing is ice and heat, like your doing, and of course keep up on massage therapy treatments if you can and don't do to much with your leg for awhile even if your feeling better.Slowly get back into your routine at the gym when the time comes. Remember, pain is natures way of telling you, "hey, get some rest". So make sure that you listen to what your leg is telling you.

a hello to Millie, I hope to see you soon!

take care all,

P.S. oh and of course don't forget ligaments from the health food store. Tiger Balm has some great products out for heat and cold ligaments.

I meant linaments.

I just can't write the english language anymore! I give up!

AH!

Paul, sorry to hear about the injury. I hope the treatment will lift any discomfort that you still feel and that awareness of the underlying wear and tear will turn out to be a positive thing in some way.

Kelly, I'm sorry Clay had to go through this. I wish him a full recovery.

Healing thoughts to anyone here who has to carry pain on a daily basis.

Inn, I really hope you can make it to FIF.

Peter, do you mean the music from the Superman film? That's really uplifting.

Hi Michelle, Evelyn, Sally, Jill, Mil and all PCers.

Love to everyone,
Mary

Mary,
Why aren't you sleeping?

The song is "Superman, It's Not East to be Me" by Five for Fighting.

See: http://members.fortunecity.com/akasha77/superman.html.

(but only after you've had some sleep).

Paul,

Clay read what you wrote and thought it was cool that you would address him a mate! He said "tell him thanks, Mom. I never realized that site you read all the time was just a bunch of friends talking to each other, I am glad you have them to talk to. I didn't realize you were all so close. That explains why it's always up on the computer, that's cool."

He gets it. My boy gets it. I took him back to the doctor today and he has more range of motion with his arm but not much. He has to do exercizes with his arm and we will see what happens in 2 weeks. She seems optimistic, though, that he will heal fast as he is so young. Lets hope. Only time will tell.

WEll, I worked a 13 hour shift today (execept the 1 hour with Clay at the doctor) , I am beat.
But now I am on vacation till 12-23-04 !!! 9 days of no phones, screaming customers, deadlines or fear of money losses. To me that's a retreat.

Love to all,

Kelly

Hello to Paul and everyone else in this group!
I've been just an "silent" observer for the past few weeks, but this morning's post about back problems has compelled me to finally write something.

For all those with back problems, I have a book to recommend: "The New Back Doctor" by Hamilton Hall, MD. (Seal Books, Toronto)

My husband, Larry, who is now 41, had back problems a few years ago, as a result of a desk job (he's just not built for sitting at a desk for hours on end) and he went through all sorts of approaches to treatment and attempts at diagnosis without much luck. This went on for about 6 months of pain.

He is a distance runner (as am I) and he'd stopped running on recommendation of the doctors he'd seen for his back. That seemed to make things worse. Then he started cycling to work (at that time, a distance of about 30km each way) and things started to improve (like for Mil, in her earlier post).

About that time he finally got an appointment for an MRI and they found out he had a bulging disc. His doctor (actually a sports med doctor) said it could get better by itself and recommended the book.

Following the recommendations in the book worked great and the problem went away. He was able to get back to running, and continued to use the bike for commuting (until he quit that job, to get a non-desk job instead!). Now it's been a couple of years and no major problems. Once in a while he'll do something that will irritate his back but it's totally manageable with the exercises from the book.

Personally I have had lower back issues but get my problems solved by visiting my chiropractor once in a while (once a year or less). Does the trick every time. While it works for me, my husband hasn't had good results with chiropractic treatment, so the book is perfect for him. Each case is different of course.

Paul, don't necessarily blame your disc degeneration on the dancing/athletics - maybe the ditch digging had something to do with it too? Also it's just a normal thing for discs to degenerate as we age (starting in our early 20's). For my Master's thesis (Physics) I was studying the detection of disc degeneration using MRI, so I saw lots of images of spines from people of all ages, and read the statistics. The more active you stay, the slower the degeneration, as discs can only get nourishment from motion (being compressed and released as the spine moves).

Maybe try running! It's the most natural sport, and much more fun to be outside than in a gym. Great stress relief too. Check out John "the Penguin" Bingham's website www.johnbingham.com for inspiration and how to get started sensibly. (He's actually a client of mine: I'm a web designer and he hired me for his new "John Bingham Racing" series sites. Great guy, very funny!)

As a runner I see many other runners well into their 60's, 70's and higher who have no problems whatsoever after many years of running. Any runners I know who do have knee and other joint injuries ALL got the injury playing another sport like soccer, mountain biking, or doing something else unrelated to athletics.

Also, I never would say that a healthy athletic life is a guarantee of later arthritis and joint problems. Rather, the incidence of arthritis is far higher for inactive people, almost guaranteed for those who are overweight. Eating habits and nutritional status play a big role too.

Someone said earlier in this thread that "there is no cure for arthritis yet" but that's a western medicine (read "pharmaceutical companies who make millions from arthritis drugs") perspective. I've seen plenty of stories in 'Alive Magazine' from people who've cured their arthritis (among other things) with a nutrition/exercise approach.

Besides staying active: eating mainly fresh organic foods, avoiding medicated meats and all pharmaceuticals including over the counter medications, while taking a high quality antioxidant/mineral supplement will make many problems 'disappear' or not show up in the first place. It's a process - you can't change habits overnight of course. 'Everything in moderation' was mentioned already and I totally agree with that too.

Well I don't know if there's a word limit for these posts but I think this is getting pretty long now. The main reason I wrote this was to recommend the book!

My background info, in case anyone is curious: I live in Gibsons, BC, Canada (a ferry ride from Vancouver, and home of "the Beachcombers" TV series - I think a lot of Aussies are familiar with it) - with my husband and two children (son age 8 and daughter nearly 4). The rest I already mentioned above (web designer, runner).

How did I end up on this site? My first real date with my husband was to see Strictly Ballroom at the theatre (late 1988), so it's always been one of our favourite movies. We tracked down a copy of the video to purchase in late 1996 - in fact I was watching it when I went into labour with my son! Got the DVD just a couple of months ago (when we finally bought a player). That's what inspired me to do a Google search to see what the principal actors were doing these days, and that's how I found this site.

Okay, it's even longer now. Merry Christmas!

hey there!
im probably the youngest one here..yep im 16 =)..
thing is i have Music as one of my subjects.. my teach said we were watching an old movie.. of course we whined and stuff.. but guess what.. it was Strictly Ballroom..
to make the story short.. we all shut up while watching.. even the guys..cuz for the first time we watched something cool in that class.. =).. neways some of the girls jus kept going "aww" throughout the movie.. one being me.. OMG it was soo cool.. how was it working with "Fran" i mean dance wise.. the last dance scene with ur entrance sliding thru the stage while kneeling was sooo cool.. the juniors and seniors in my class were all shrieking with every romace scene.. even though the kiss was too innocent.. =).. but hey u dont have to answer my question. dont worry im not a lunatic high school fan =) jus thought u luked great in the movie.. i have the same reason as the previous person w/ the comment, upon entering this site.. bye!

by the way.. screw how u luk now! point is u WERE and IS still a great actor .. no matter how much u oppose..oh ya.. gud luck w/ ur gym and health prob..

its me again.. dang.. read ur articles..ur a great dancer.. sorry.. jus forgot 2 mention it above.. u were fantastic in SB.. did ya have a hard tym with the moves.. or "your" moves.. =)

Peter, great song. I really like it. Hadn't heard it before. Thanks for putting the link up for me. You're very good. Unfortunately it wouldn't work for me (outside its market area or something like that) but I tracked it down myself. As for the sleeping...you know the story. I suppose thinking 11:30 does not count as late is not good! I'm working on it. Promise.

Kelly, enjoy the break. You deserve it.

Hi to everyone and welcome to the newbies.

Love to all,
Mary

Wait 11:30 is late?!?!

11.30pm is late!!
Teresa welcome and thank you for your thoughts. Running is one thing I have never been able to mentally get in to. I have run around many a stage but that is always a sprint kind of thing. Just getting out and doing a long distance run - anything over five minutes is long distance - is something I have thought would be good but I have never been able to do it. I love to walk and am quite happy doing an hour or two. Riding my bike for an hour or so I love also. Great to have you on the site!

Jackie thanks for stopping by and I am glad you enjoyed the movie. We shot it in 1991 and I am happy that it is still cool! I didnt have any probs with the moves, I just worked hard and got them!! It's easy if you work hard - is that an oxymoron??

Peter I also treid the link and it didnt work for me either.

Kelly a holiday!!! MMMMMMMMMM! Enjoy!

Mary and Paul, the reason why the link is not working has most likely to do with the fact that you are copying Peter's sentence period at the end of the URL. If you take that off, it works, at least it did for me.
Liked it. Thanks Peter for putting it up. How are you doing, Peter?

11:30PM is late although I rarely manage to go to bed at that time. It's only 8:30 PM but I think I'm going to call it a night for today, read a bit. After giving two final exams and grading the lot of them and calculating final grades, I'm beat. One more tomorrow and then I have term break, 4 weeks of no teaching TG!!! :), 3 new classes to design and prepare for, but my first semester as faculty almost behind me, yeah for that!

Hi Mary!

Inn, I hope you get the problems solved with the airline so that you can come to FIF. It would be so cool to meet you then.

Hi Grandma, hope you are well and are getting positive results from the doctors, ahmm, positive for you, not positive in the medical sense of cancer test results. Hugs to you and Ellie!

Mary and Paul, the reason why the link is not working has most likely to do with the fact that you are copying Peter's sentence period at the end of the URL. If you take that off, it works, at least it did for me.
Liked it. Thanks Peter for putting it up. How are you doing, Peter?

11:30PM is late although I rarely manage to go to bed at that time. It's only 8:30 PM but I think I'm going to call it a night for today, read a bit. After giving two final exams and grading the lot of them and calculating final grades, I'm beat. One more tomorrow and then I have term break, 4 weeks of no teaching TG!!! :), 3 new classes to design and prepare for, but my first semester as faculty almost behind me, yeah for that!

Hi Mary!

Inn, I hope you get the problems solved with the airline so that you can come to FIF. It would be so cool to meet you then.

Hi Grandma, hope you are well and are getting positive results from the doctors, ahmm, positive for you, not positive in the medical sense of cancer test results. Hugs to you and Ellie!

Sorry, another blonde moment for the day :) Feels like the story of my day today, not sure why, though.

Hows Mercs Beer doing? How was the opening? Will there be another beer aside from peach coming soon. When will it be imported to US ?
Thanks. xx Kate.

Well, on at least two nights a week I am still in work at 11:30pm. I usually don't get to sleep until about 2am and I get up at 7am and get the kids off to school. Which is why on some days when you call my house at noon you'll find me in bed...right Grandma Mil? And what's this about cancer tests? I must not be reading very thouroughly...I too hope the test come out in your favor.
I always used to run a few laps around the track after a workout but running is terribly stressful on the body and I can't imagine doing it for long periods would be good for a body that is already damaged. Biking is great, but not the rough road type..also too stressful. We have a beautiful path along the Susquehanna river that goes for miles and is a lovely ride.
Evelyn, I hope I can get my airline problems worked out too. I REALLY want to see you all at FIF.
Peace,Inn

Having been through back surgery, I'm a strong proponent of walking. Mine was a herniated disc that eventually caused numbness in my foot, not to mention lots of pain. I waited 10 years before it got so bad I had to do something. I feel much better for it and am more active as a result.

Linda, how are you feeling since your back surgery?

Inn, I hope it will work out for you to come to Florida. I've been looking forward to meeting you!

Hello to all my friends here! I'm busy with Christmas preparations and trying to stay warm. Love to all of you!

Michelle

Thanks Evelyn!! It worked this time.

Congratulations on reaching the end of the first term! I hope by the time you read this, you will be on holidays and that you have a fantastic break. I have four more days to go. Can't wait.

Love to you,
Mary

PS Hi Michelle! Just missed you.

Love to you too,
Mary

Evelyn, I just cannot quite imagine you having a blonde moment.
It just doesn't fit.

I'm OK, but it's too hectic. I can still see that light at the end of the tunnel though!
The destination is getting closer, it's just that the grade has suddenly become steeper.

I'm having all of tomorrow off. It's my son's eight birthday and I plan to share it with him.
Work can wait.

Welcome, Teresa!
I can relate to the love of running, but I can understand why some people find it such a chore.
I also enjoy walking and cycling as a means of getting out there.

Best wishes to you and all at PC.

Hi Mary,
as I'm reading this, I'm giving the last final exam :) wondering where the best student in the class is, he's an hour late already. If he decided not to take it because he has such a high average going into the final, I'm going to be pxxxed!!!! Enjoy your last days befor the Holidays and I'm thinking of you and your son tomorrow at the doctor's appointment. Hoping for good news for him and you.

Hi Michelle, when did you have back surgery? Did I miss that? I'm glad you are feeling better with your back problems. How are you? You've been awefully quite (which of course is okay) but I miss your posts!! Oh and to stay warm (yes we had the icy cold winds here Sunday and Monday too, sigh!) you could make a Grog: 1/3 rum 2/3 hot water, not only does it warm you up FAST, it also put me into a VERY good mood Monday evening right as I started grading the first set of final exams :) perhaps the students benefitted from that.

Hi Inn, what I was talking about was Grandma Mil's tests for suspicious changes on her skin and consequential (is that a word???) screening for it. Keep bugging the no-longer existing airline to give you your money back. You think it would help if I give them the evil eye?

Hi Kate, I totally spaced on the official launching of Mercs Beer. Yeah, how did that go, Paul?

Okay another 50 minutes to kill ...

Hi Peter, you posted while I was writing this. Well as a natural blonde ... what can I say, it does happen :))) and I must confess, sometimes it's awefully fun to play the dumb blonde stereotypes to---uhmmm---their fullest or to an extreme, but you know when/if you challenge me on that, I'll deny having said it and WILL assert the opposite. Oh man, it's clearly the end of the semester, sleep deprivation makes me silly.

I love to walk, but running, so not my thing.

Enjoy your day off tomorrow and happy birthday to your son! I can understand that about your journey and things being steeper. Mine has been rocky lately and I keep ending up in the same dead end road. I'm going to figure it out what I'm supposed to learn but am not quite getting that lands me in the same dead end road.
Only 39 more minutes ...

Michelle, ooooooooh, that herniated disc sounds painful. Did you make a complete recovery?

Mary, Hi to you. I hope that you are enjoying some walks in those lovely, rolling hills, and also getting plenty of rest!

Evelyn, I truly hope that you can find a better road, one that's much nicer for YOU.

I'm also disgusted with you for playing the dumb blonde. Talk about an imposter! LOL

Hang in there, only a few more minutes to go.
I'm off to a client's site now. Blechh.

Hi all, been doing a lot of reading at PC lately but no heart to post. I've been doing the same at the BC board I've been a part of. Not depressed or anything that bad. I just feel like I'm drifting through my days right now. Not so sure why. It's like I'm going through the motions but not living in them at all. All be laughing and smiling but late realized that I wasn't fully there. I've been staying up later again. I'm usually in bed by 9-9:30, but now I don't want to go. Is it the holidays? Is it because I'm slowly coming off my Paxil? Who knows. I'm just gonna call it a slump. I know I'll come out of it and that I can expect more. I'm not angry about it, more resigned. The one thing I refuse is to let it stay much longer. I WILL NOT be like this on Christmas!

Christmas is what I'm longing for now - the Santa Christmas and the Christmas of my faith. Maybe that's the slump, I just want it here, so I'm sick of waiting. OR I'm worried about how I'll feel after Christmas - the let down. Again, who knows.

Anyway, just thought I'd let out these thoughts. I know I can here.

hugs to all and take care

Jill

Hi all, been doing a lot of reading at PC lately but no heart to post. I've been doing the same at the BC board I've been a part of. Not depressed or anything that bad. I just feel like I'm drifting through my days right now. Not so sure why. It's like I'm going through the motions but not living in them at all. All be laughing and smiling but late realized that I wasn't fully there. I've been staying up later again. I'm usually in bed by 9-9:30, but now I don't want to go. Is it the holidays? Is it because I'm slowly coming off my Paxil? Who knows. I'm just gonna call it a slump. I know I'll come out of it and that I can expect more. I'm not angry about it, more resigned. The one thing I refuse is to let it stay much longer. I WILL NOT be like this on Christmas!

Christmas is what I'm longing for now - the Santa Christmas and the Christmas of my faith. Maybe that's the slump, I just want it here, so I'm sick of waiting. OR I'm worried about how I'll feel after Christmas - the let down. Again, who knows.

Anyway, just thought I'd let out these thoughts. I know I can here.

hugs to all and take care

Jill

Hi all, been doing a lot of reading at PC lately but no heart to post. I've been doing the same at the BC board I've been a part of. Not depressed or anything that bad. I just feel like I'm drifting through my days right now. Not so sure why. It's like I'm going through the motions but not living in them at all. All be laughing and smiling but late realized that I wasn't fully there. I've been staying up later again. I'm usually in bed by 9-9:30, but now I don't want to go. Is it the holidays? Is it because I'm slowly coming off my Paxil? Who knows. I'm just gonna call it a slump. I know I'll come out of it and that I can expect more. I'm not angry about it, more resigned. The one thing I refuse is to let it stay much longer. I WILL NOT be like this on Christmas!

Christmas is what I'm longing for now - the Santa Christmas and the Christmas of my faith. Maybe that's the slump, I just want it here, so I'm sick of waiting. OR I'm worried about how I'll feel after Christmas - the let down. Again, who knows.

Anyway, just thought I'd let out these thoughts. I know I can here.

hugs to all and take care

Jill

Hi Evelyn! Thanks for missing me! My back surgery was in October of '99, and I've felt fine since. Knowing what I know now, I wish I had done it sooner.
My memory of that time is so sad because my dog died the night before my surgery. She was 15 years old and had lived a good, happy life. Still, it was hard.

Inn, should we form a posse to take care of this airline situation? I really want you to come to Florida!

Peter, have a wonderful Happy Birthday celebration with your son! He'll remember that you took the time to be with him, a gift in the truest sense.

Mary, I'm sure you're counting the days until school is out. You and Evelyn can do a happy dance together!

We should all get together here with our beverage of choice and toast each other sometime during the holidays! That would be fun. A virtual PC party. The drinks will be real, did I mention that?

Love you guys,
Michelle

Evelyn, yeah!! Sorry...just celebrating your newfound freedom. Enjoy!
PS Did your student show up?

Hi back to you Peter. Hope you have a fantastic day with your son tomorrow. Happy birthday wishes to him. To be eight is a truly wonderful thing.

Jill, I think times like this are just part of the rhythm of being alive. I hope the slump lifts for you very soon.

Michelle, the virtual party sounds great! There must be some time during the day when the time zones co-operate.

I hope everyone in PC is feeling good tonight.

Love to you all,
Mary

after i posted my comment, i looked over other entries n the articles.. it answered most of my questions.. sorry 4 asking common questions.. also read the one when u stated that u didnt like being compared to ur roles.. sorry i kinda did.. are you planning to audition for any big screen movies, or r ya jus focusing on dancing?

Mary, hey! jus a newbie saying hi..
and to all!

hey does anyone know where Guam is?

Inn, I hope you and Cheryl can straighten out that problem.

Just tell the credit card company that you did not receive the services you paid for, and that your card should not be charged!

Peter, happy birthday to your son! I'm sure you had a wonderful day off for the occasion!

Old Mil is okay with the skin problem, so far.

Every strange looking mole or freckle is whipped off by by that new dermatologist of mine.

She's quite a character, with a good sense of humor, and very deft and knowledgeable.

I am a wonderful money maker for her.

She says that in the New Year, she will go after the rest of me with vigor in order to get rid of any skin thingee that displeases her. I think I will stay away from her until after FIF!

Shalom and Love,

Gran Mil

Hi to all at PC!

It's been awhile. I was speed reading through the comments and a few caught my eye.

Jill - Good luck getting off of Paxil. I know what it is like - have been on Zoloft for awhile now. Be careful though, I heard an article on NPR (national public radio) about a lady in England that has been trying to get off of Paxil. She is having some complications, mainly severe headaches. Hope that you have an easier time of it. They also mentioned that the research has not shown exactly how anti-depressants work. All the research was done using animal testing and is hypothetical on the actual physiological action of the drug. That makes me want to get off of Zoloft and brave the extreme crying jags! Anyway, anything I can do for you to help, please let me know!!!

Jackie - Guam is an island in the Pacific. My aunt and uncle were living there for a while. They said it was nice. Why do you ask?

Paul - Keep your head up! You have at least 4 major positives in your life - marraige to Andrea and your three girls! I wish I could be so lucky!

Grandma Mil - Loved to hear from you yesterday. We need to get together and I can fill you in on all that has kept me so busy! Maybe if you are not busy on the 31st?

Julie - Still waiting to know where you are going to set out your shingle!

Love to all at PC and happy holidays!!

Beth Ellen

Sorry but I can’t resist doing the old ‘smoking’ joke.

I’m an expert at giving up anti-depressants. I’ve done it HEAPS of times.

(ha ha only serious)

Peter I hope your sons birthday was lots of fun! I enjoyed my girls birthdays as I got to run around and play the games with them - now they are older it aint so cool to have dad hanging out with all the dudes and dudettes!

I didnt ask how the dance concert went? Well the jazz and tap part of it anyway? I am sure it was great and you had and your wife had a big smile on your faces!!

Grand Ma Millie glad to hear all is okay with you but watch out for the doc I reackon she might not leave too much of you for us!!

Brian good to hear from you!

Dearest Paul,

Believe me, there will still be PLENTY of me left after the dermatologist gets through with me!

Shalom and Love,

Gran Mil

Dearest Paul,

Believe me, there will still be PLENTY of me left after the dermatologist gets through with me!

Shalom and Love,

Gran Mil

Here's a great Holiday Cake Recipe:

1C water
1t baking soda
1C sugar
1t salt
1C brown sugar
4 eggs w/ lots of nuts
1 bottle Vodka
2C dried fruit
2t lemon juice

Sample vodka to check quality. Take a large bowl & check vodka again to be sure it is the highestquality. Pour 1 level cup & drink. Repeat - optional

Turn on electric mixer. Beat one cup butter in large fluffy bowl. Add 1t sugar and beat again. Make sure vodka is ok. Try another cup just in case.

Turn off mixer. Break 2 leggs & add to bowl. Chuck in the dried fruit. Pick fruit off floor. Mix on the turner. If fruit gets stuck in beaters, pry loose w/ a screw criver.

Sample vok-ka to check for consisticity. Nesh sift 2C of salt or something - who cares?

Keep eye on teh vok-ka. Sift lemon juice & strain your nuts. Add 1 table & a spoon of sugar or somefink - whatever you can find. Greash the oven and turn on the fridge. Turn cake tin 360 degrees & try not to fall over. Don't forget to beat the turner.

Finally, throw bowl in the window, FINISH VOK-Ka from the throttle & kick the cat. Fall into bed....

CHERRY MISTMAS & WEST OF BISHES TO ALL!!

Sally

Sally, thank you so much for the laugh. That's one for passing on. You did me good.

Love to you,
Mary

Beth ellen.. i was jus asking.. cuz thats where i live.. well im from the philippines but live here in guam. anwyay..

since i've already asked my questions from mr. PM.. i'll be gone now.. bye to all whom i didnt greet..
peace out..

Dear Sally,

I always gresh the oven and turn on the fridge, and I don't even drink! It's called having a MM.
(A Millie Moment.)

Shalom and Love,

Gran Mil

Paul,
I can't seem to access your latest post. Cat?

The concert was fantastic. Grins from ear to ear.

I hope you're doing OK.

Peter

Peter, you are in good company, it seems none of us can post. Sad. glad the concert was so much fun and made you grin, I can actually picture that very well. Oh and thank you for making me crack up last week by being --what was it again?-- insulted??? by my blonde imposterization/impostering [there is no such noun, is there?] Methinks there is an implied compliment there, so thank you for that as well.

I do wonder why Paul is so bluishly pensive. I know you know this Paul, but don't forget about the flip side of the same experience that is just as much part of what you are describing. Breathing is good, releasing the negative energy and thoughts and taking in new clean energy. I wish you well and great happiness!

Sally, have you actually made the cake :-) I got this last year and laughed and again this year. Thank you!

Hey guys.

How is everyone doing? I'm working like a mad-dog and loving it. I was so tired of lying in self pity and thinking I wasn't worth anything. I must say getting my butt in school really helped. The 4.0 average thus far doesn't suck either. It invigorates me. The kids are doing well, we're putting our house up for sale in Spring. FINALLY. This is one journey I can't wait to take.

Paul, I couldn't get into your recent post. Something is locking me out. Appears from above posts I'm not the only one.
Step away from all that grim stuff man. I have dwelt in the valley of YUK for a long long time. And now I feel very alive. Never in a million years did want to do what I'm doing. However, a part of me enjoys it and I adore the money. It enables me to take tremendous care of my family and let my wife stay at home.
I'm sure you feel dejected. God knows I did for a long time. You have had some really good ups lately. Don't forget those. The school thing really pushed me right off the edge onto the launching pad...What's your launching pad Paul? You've got one. You're extremely talented, a loving husband and father, a friend to the board and to those physically close to you. I'm sure you are a great son as well. People like us don't suck wind for long.
Just think about it. Maybe it's not you absolutely want, but maybe its a springboard to the better stuff. Personally I think you could write great scripts. You certainly have the contacts for that. Australian TV, then who knows? Just an example.
I hate to hear you down, but I do wish you'd pull yourself up mate.

Love to everyone and I think Paul deserves a big group hug.

Hang in there buddy

peace and love

The Timmer

ps love to auntie mil

Hi All,

Paul, I can't post on your last comment, but thought it very true.

Sorry to hear about your problems with your leg muscle.... and more so about your c4-6 problems. I am fused c1-3 and was in a halo for 17 weeks. I have lots of pain and spasm in my trapezeus muscles (neck to shoulder) and the doctor says it is due to my c4-c6 overworking to make up for c1-3.

One thing I read a neuro-surgeon write this week is "Surgery begets surgery." Oh, how I wish I knew that my first time out!

As a child, I loved to dance around the living room to my favorite records. Living in a very rural area I could not get lessons.

Now, I have neck/back/shoulder problems plus vestibular problems.... vertigo, seeing the room is on a slant on the time, and other slightly annoying problems.

Tai Chi helps some with the muscle problems and I think you posted a long while back that you were doing that. It also relaxes the mind without over stressing the body.

Glad you considered the ballroom dance position... leaving ones options open is always good. But I agree from knowing you the little I do here, that would not be your idea of flying high in your career.

Is it warm there? Terribly cold in the central United States. I can't imagine the holidays being hot, but perhaps you can't imagine them being cold?

Have you bought something for your wife yet? I find as the years go on it gets harder. We have what we need..... I never thought I'd be content in this way, but it is nice. Actually I would love to get rid of some of the clutter in my life (books, papers, appliances seldom used) and simplify.

At Thanksgiving we went to a retreat center about an hour and a half drive away, and it was wonderful! They cooked the Turkey and fixin's and I didn't have to pretend to want to help or clean up and after there were activities for the kids and adults as well as hiking, biking, a gym, workout room, football on big screen TVs, arts and crafts, and lots of games like Monopoly to play if you wanted with your family. The rooms didn't have a TV or phone, but we didn't need one.... it was wonderful! We were with other families and it was great.

Hope again the Holidays are special for you, Paul and all on the list!

Best wishes,

Suzanne

Hi All,

Paul, I can't post on your last comment, but thought it very true.

Sorry to hear about your problems with your leg muscle.... and more so about your c4-6 problems. I am fused c1-3 and was in a halo for 17 weeks. I have lots of pain and spasm in my trapezeus muscles (neck to shoulder) and the doctor says it is due to my c4-c6 overworking to make up for c1-3.

One thing I read a neuro-surgeon write this week is "Surgery begets surgery." Oh, how I wish I knew that my first time out!

As a child, I loved to dance around the living room to my favorite records. Living in a very rural area I could not get lessons.

Now, I have neck/back/shoulder problems plus vestibular problems.... vertigo, seeing the room is on a slant on the time, and other slightly annoying problems.

Tai Chi helps some with the muscle problems and I think you posted a long while back that you were doing that. It also relaxes the mind without over stressing the body.

Glad you considered the ballroom dance position... leaving ones options open is always good. But I agree from knowing you the little I do here, that would not be your idea of flying high in your career.

Is it warm there? Terribly cold in the central United States. I can't imagine the holidays being hot, but perhaps you can't imagine them being cold?

Have you bought something for your wife yet? I find as the years go on it gets harder. We have what we need..... I never thought I'd be content in this way, but it is nice. Actually I would love to get rid of some of the clutter in my life (books, papers, appliances seldom used) and simplify.

At Thanksgiving we went to a retreat center about an hour and a half drive away, and it was wonderful! They cooked the Turkey and fixin's and I didn't have to pretend to want to help or clean up and after there were activities for the kids and adults as well as hiking, biking, a gym, workout room, football on big screen TVs, arts and crafts, and lots of games like Monopoly to play if you wanted with your family. The rooms didn't have a TV or phone, but we didn't need one.... it was wonderful! We were with other families and it was great.

Hope again the Holidays are special for you, Paul and all on the list!

Best wishes,

Suzanne

Paul, i don't know if it's just my computer playing up or the link to replying to your latest post ("I dont know what to say") is not connecting...

It's a beautiful piece that you wrote, i just don't completly understand what you are trying to communicate through it. Maybe you could explain? Sometimes i'm a little thick, sorry :P

It's almost Xmas! Ahhh so exciting. I Hope Everyone here is Blessed to have a wonderful Xmas with their family and loved ones.

Much love to you all!

Kerrie