Saturday what's new

Hi my OFF family:

Since I didn't work last night, I was home early ... had a beer once I got home too and something to eat, but quite frankly, it didn't sit well with me, so I went to bed early but then I couldn't sleep. My back and knees hurt, my mind won't turn off so I can sleep. I'm in so much pain physically tonight. So I got up and came back out to see if writing it all down would help.

If you didn't read my earlier post, this is it in a nutshell: I got laid off, officially it's Feb. 5. I'll get 10 weeks of severance pay and benefits, then unemployment without benefits. Yes, there's COBRA, but that's expensive and will eat up my unemployment pretty quickly. The severance gets paid in a lump sum, from what I understand. Plus, I'm still paying off a 401(k) that I used to get the new A/C and furnace in 2006; I don't know will happen with that. I sure know I still won't be able to get a decent loan coming out of bankruptcy.

I do know I am calling a realtor on Monday and getting this condo on the market, as is if I have to, and get it off my hands. I sure won't be able to afford it without a job. I was going to sell it anyway; this is just pushing me a little quicker. I'm going to ask the pain doc about disability; I have thought about it for awhile anyway because I'm in so much pain sitting at work, so maybe that's the road I take. I also came up with doing something in the way of obesity advocacy, like a newsletter or working for a bariatric center and pushing for the rights of the obese. I don't know how it would work, but I know that most obese people have to prove themselves worthy to get help, when others (alcoholics, smokers, etc.) don't.

As much as I dread the loss of the job and benefits, I fear the loss of my Press family. So often they came to my aid. They have been more than coworkers to me.  I will miss seeing them and being a daily part of their lives and the life of a daily newspaper. I gave my life to that career, and now it's kicking me in the ass.

Well, I guess I've rambled on enough. Sorry to depress everyone. Seems I do that a lot lately (oh, for the last four years, I guess). If I didn't have this forum, I guess I would have gone stark raving mad. You are my family, too. I have met some of you, but a lot of you I haven't met, yet I am so close to you in spirit.

So what are your plans for the weekend? I have to work later today (oh, that'll be fun! I really don't feel like going in at all.) and then Sunday, I have off.

Well, have a good day.

OH Eileen i can feel your hurt and disgust and pain and know how you feel to have the life that you have known and given up so much for to be over. sometimes life isnt fair , i guess we never have any guarentees that it will be ....just know that you have many friends that love you ....i have never met you but feel like i know you well. and love you well too.
just know i am here and if i can do anything , anything at all  just call me....ok? love and hugs from your OFF sister.

Eileen,

I really feel for you....I hope things calm down in a few days.  Sounds like you have other options to explore.  Good luck to you. 

I went to bed early, slept for a few hours and then woke up when DH came to bed.  I couldn't fall back to sleep, so thought I would come and check out OH and FB - lol -

Hope everyone is fast asleep like I wish I could be at 2:59 a.m. - lol - talk to you all later on today.

Debbie

 Good morning Eileen and all.   Eileen, my heart goes out to you.  I understand your hurt, but I also see you are already ready to explore other options.  That is good.  Get out and look aggressively.  Keep your eyes and ears open.  You are tough, you will land on your feet.  

Had a good time at the Stars game last night.  A 4-3 win and only 2 penalties in the whole game.  No fights (that let Mary down).  A very clean game, by two bad teams.  Neither team would make the playoffs if the season ended today.  The Stars really need to make a move.

But..... PITCHERS AND CATCHERS REPORT IN 40 DAYS!!!!!!

Hi all

Eileen... I sure feel for ya... I really do... I have been there, done that, and thought all was lost; I was wrong. Just a bump in the road sis... work through it, do whatever you need to do to get through it.

I have a busy day ahead.... Weigh****chers at 8:30... my first weigh in. I started last Saturday. This sure is an easy program to follow... very simple indeed. I find that makes it even easier when there is no confusion or massive reading or whatever.. just points and keeping track of what I eat and how much... not nearly as "inconvenient" as I thought it would be... The online Food Tracker works... uhh... Easy!!

Then off to the gym, then a little shopping and I gotta organize some of these closets.. making me crazy

Still no word on a replacement for me... I have almost forgotten I was promoted and supposed to be transferred... just plugging along...

Really having a bad time with itching skin... I am guessing it is the super-dry air we have down here now.. keep using lotion and Benadryl at night... hope that is all it is... not in any one particular spot, but mostly on my upper arms and sometimes behind the knees...

Gotta go... more coffee and then a shower and then off to see the Wizard, the wonderful Wizard of Oz....

Oh Eileen, I saw your post last night just before bed and, honestly, I didn't know what to say. I'm glad you posted this morning, you sound like you're already making plans to move ahead. It will be hard, but you have us to lean on.
Sometimes things like this push us to get out of the box and try new things.  It's the reason we sold our house in CA and moved to AR. Starting fresh has been the best thing we ever did.

Not much going on for me this weekend. Work today, then the grocery store, then home to watch LOTS of football with Gary. I'm going to try that recipie for the calzone Debbie posted, I'm sure he'll llike it.

Hope everyone has a great weekend. Will check in later to see how you are, Eileen

Hi Eileen and all you other early birds,

Eileen if you are laid off , will they call you back?  Unelmployment and Disability is a good Idea.  With disabilty plan on applying for three times.  Get a lawyer.  Maybe you can get one through legal aid.

I am sorry you have to go through all of this.  I know what it feels like to lose a job that you are close with the people and will miss your routine.  Good luck in what ever you do.

I am not doing anything today.  Got some kind of flu bug and can't get warm.  Going to stay in bed under the covers today.

I hope all of you stay healthy and I know it is hard but try and smile today

Mary

Good morning, ya'll.

Eileen, I was so sorry to hear your news. This is such a terrible thing to happen as you are already struggling with so many things.  DO talk to your Dr. about disability.

I am back home from Hope Lodge and another week of radiation.  My daughter flies in tonight to be with me next week.  Found out they will be closed for MLK Day, so my final radiation is now Jan 26th.  GRRR. I am still not experiencing any side effects, other than hair thinning from the chemo drugs I still take.

My DH's surgeon FINALLY called me back yesterday.  I was shocked he actually called me himself, I was expecting a nurse.  I had left a message asking if he would give me a fill. I don't have the time to go to my 'local' Fill Center USA (a 5 hour drive away), or go to MX to see MY surgeon.  I got an unfill after my liver resection and since then I have GAINED 20 pounds!!!!  They removed 1.4 cc and I asked Dr. P to give me a 1 cc fill. My only concern is this doc never says how much saline he gives you, and he is not very pro-band.  Just as soon as I am done with the radiation and the next round of Chemo, I am headed to Mexico to have an evaluation and be looked at under fluoro.  I LOVE Dr. Ortiz!

Our son will be deploying next week. Afghanistan this time.  He has done 3 tours in Iraq.  Worry, worry, worry!  But after all this time, he seems to know how to keep his head down.  He made CWO4 in January, so I hope when he gets back, he'll get a better billet for his last 3 years in the Marines.  But if he continues to be in a helicopter or Osprey squadron, he'll be going overseas as long as we are at war.  Someone has to do it!

Gotta get my oil changed today, and get my next round of Powerball tickets.

Everyone have a fantabulous day!

Tell your son thank you from your OFF buddy.  I truely appreciate the sacrifice and service they give to the rest of us at home.  And thank you for raising such a wonderful devoted American.  Prayers for safety going up in honor of all our sevicemen.

Jan

Grammylew:

I'm glad  you're not feeling the effects of radiation yet; some people never really get a lot of bad effects. My mom just had a burning sensation where they did it and was rundown.

Hope your son does OK and can come back in one piece and alive. I know that's tough ... I know my friend Margie worried when her son Kyle's Guard unit was called up in North Dakota to go to Iraq a few years ago.