I'm here.  I had a great time in Portland and on the way home.  Now I'm
tired and slowly unpacking and cleaning house.

Jo

I'm here in the UK and am OK at the moment.
--
Andy

I'm here, too.  We're in the process of packing and I'm in the process of
healing from gall bladder surgery, so although I read the group every day, I
don't always take time to respond.

DeeTee
________________________________
DeeTee and Bob Taggart
http://www.marykay.com/dtaggart3
http://mysite.verizon.net/vze8fwov/
________________________________

I am here also.  Doing ok, having some problems with my left hip.  
Joined Curves and I still "hate" exercise.  Needed to do something for
flexibility and muscle cramps, which has helped.  My weight  is still
too much though.  I need to start up with Tai Chi again I believe.

My knees are great, spine is awful.

Back to teaching dog obedience and training my Aussie pup.  Dobes are
doing ok.  Gisel has Cardiomyopathy and we have bought her 9 months so
far.  Her cardiologist calls her " her miracle Doberman".   She seems
happy and feels good, still showing no symptoms.  I guess it was a good
thing she "dropped dead" on my birthday last year, may have saved her
life for a while.

The snakes are out and about.  Have a beautiful King Snake living under
my verandah.  I hope he knows he is supposed to keep the rattlers away.  
We killed a small one on our verandah about 3 weeks ago.  Gisel spotted
it and freaked out.  Ever since she was bitten by one a few years back,
she just freaks when she spots/smells a snake or Gila Monster.

Tucson is on "high bake" presently.  When will it be winter again?????

Lyn
(aussielyn that is)

I'm hear sweating in the no-ac house till later today at least! As
Harvey says fried yankee!  LOL Otherwise my health is doing sorta ok.
I've had a fever for a week and think my sinus infection that I was on
IV abx for is back. Drainage and wierd smell again. I've also been very
tired again. At first I thought it was from overdoing it with the house
before the family came for Nick's graduation. But it has been a month
now and it shouldn't have taken that long to recoup.  My joints
ironically are doing better with the AC out and I'm off Enbrel again
with the fever. Just don't know what to think about that.I've been
trying to get a new MRI of my spine but was unable to lay on the table
for it. In the one series they were able to do it looks pretty bad. I
have an rx for an MRI with sedation that I passed on last week also
because of my fever and feeling so crappy. I'm ok with the machine it's
just that my back goes into horrible spasms whenever I lay down flat or
on that table. Don't know what to do about that either. Got till Aug 1
to get it done. That's when I see the neuro again.

Nick has his first job and leaves Aug 22 for college. Lots to do till
then. Bought him a Dell laptop off QVC. Turned out to be quite a deal
and he's happy with it. I'm so jealous! One of the benefits of waking
several times a night to go to the bathroom and using the TV for light.
Ya never know what kind of bargain you might find at 1am!

Hi Janet:
Present, Ms Norman. LOL at least that is what we had to say for roll
call when I was in elementary school.

I am here- just finishing off my last week of school before the summer
vacation. My little town in southern BC which is normally semi-desert
has received more than its fair share of rain, hail, t-storms and the
like. We had a great day for primary fun day on Friday, at least the
morning was hot. By evening it was cloudy and rainy.

I am not sure what I will do with myself this summer. For the past two
I have been working on my Master's. Now that that has been completed,
I have no major projects in the works.

I went to the RD, and will be starting enbrel later this week when it
and the training CD arrive. My lab tests have improved since I stopped
arava. The Rd said he had never seen anyone who was refractory to
arava, but it is possible, and the labs confirmed it. My ESR, CRP, and
LFTs were all significantly elevated. Now that I have stopped arava,
the LFTs are in the normal range, and the inflammation markers while
still high, are much better than they were.

I am a little concerned about my mother right now. I am not sure what
is going on, but she needed to go to hospital by ambulance last night
at 2 am. She is in severe pain, but something is making her
delusional. Whether it is the meds or not, I do not know. We will see
what today will bring.

So there you go, probably more info than you wanted.

    Rose   @}>->--
    Being educated means that rather than fearing the unknown, one seeks to understand it. RB

    Please remove "Ima" to reply.

Cindy In Oklahoma,
Just helping with the gkids...Trying to fend off a flare, and get out of
this funck I am in...I have been looking for my magic "get outta the funck
button" LOL....
It is hot and have been in the pool alot...Suppose to help with FM
pain...Yeah Right!!!But I enjoy it...
Would love to play some golf...Maybe today...
Have plans to spend the 4th at the lake cabin... With all my kids and gkids
and almost everybody I know..LOL...
Should be fun, but will be paying for it next week...

Mike is still waiting on his backpay from SSDI...Then we are buying a
motorcycle and going on some trips...

This is too long..I know..
Hugs Cindy

I'm here, of course, holding down the clubhouse with a few others and
missing many.

I know Kate has houseguests, Mary Z and Duckie are recovering from their
river trip, and Aim is always busy. There are several MIAs that I'm just
plain worried about like Mama Char and Melinda.

Melissa is in houseselling mode and Amy is in the last weeks of pregnancy
and both could use prayers, I'm sure. Diane C is in the process of selling a
house and so is her boyfriend, plus she's on a trip right now, IIRC, which
is doubtful.

Where's Mary Z.'s amazing memory when you need it?

Kelly C.

Is this for us new guys too?
--
Jeff

I'm still here, grumpier than ever. In an email DonnaH made me promise
to post here before I went in for the transplant or if it looked like
things were going to go badly quickly. I miss her.

Ari

I am around and occasionally checking messages only mainly hitting all read.
My son gets married end of July and my mom and I are doing the 4 bridesmaids
dresses (only we have done 6 - long story), mom is doing the brides gown and
the flower girls dresses and I just have to do the silk ribbon embroidery on
the flower girls dresses and the brides gown.  Will do that this week at her
place.  On top of this 2 weeks later we have a 90th birthday at my house for
my mother in law.  Needless to say in between flares I am gardening like
crazy (yup crazy that would say it.)

Off to Vancouver for a week today.  Lousy cold and ear infection but there
is a schedule to meet.

Take care everyone!

Kelly in Victoria, B.C.

I am here now . will be leaving in the morning for myrtle beach for a week.
hope to have computer access.
still have lots of pain in feet and legs. Hi to all of you!!!!
janice

  I'm lurking. It'll be the beginning of August when I find out the results
of all the teting done by the new Rheumy.

Hugs from Rosie

--
"If you wanna get it done, you gotta fight for yourself." -- Meat Loaf, Bat
Outta Hell II

I'm here, I posted an update under another thread or two, I forget.
Maybe at least now I can blame fibro for my horrible memory. I register
for classes tonight, but I feel as if I have no idea what I'm doing
with my life. I want to not be in school and just work, or something,
but school is the only way for me to have health insurance, seeing as
there is no way I can hold down a 40-hr week job w/ benefits. I'm going
to take all online courses which should be helpful.

*sigh*

--Ashley
=========
~~AC.
http://ashleyc.livejournal.com

Present. And sort of accounted for.

Let's see - went to the funeral for Doug's uncle on Saturday and stayed back
at his aunt's house most of the day. Yesterday, did a little sightseeing as
a family (Doug, me, the kids and Doug's mom). Doug's mom had a fainting
episode from the heat and we were in the ER for a few hours. Today, Ian has
a temp and is throwing up and I'm nauseated w/mega headache. (I was helping
in his classroom last Monday... I love being with the kids, but get sick
almost every time.)

Always exciting around here. Wishing everyone all good things!

Adelle

Hi all
I'm here mostly lurking.  Hope all are doing as well as they can.  My
tracheostomy has been giving me a bit of trouble, had a round of sciatica
(because I tried to have a tub bath instead of shower and had a h*ll of a
time getting out of the tub.  I'll learn.
Lorrie F
Janet N wrote in message ...

Checking in for roll call. Doing ok here back is acting up. I keep wondering
if my doc can give me RX for a message so I can bill the insurance
co..lolol... I am terrible. Other than that I am doing pretty good. my hands
have been doing real well..yeah!!!!! I have started walking on the 10000
step a day program and it is hard to get that many steps in. I did pretty
good over the weekend but found myself sore and tired this AM. I think it
might work to get rid of the prednisone pounds. That is if I can stay away
from cheetos and hot fudge sundaes.
I am so happy for those who got to go to gimpfest. One day I might try to
make it. Sounds like a good time. It is good to see others who have posted
who haven't posted for awhile..nice to see you again.
OK see you guys around,
RhondaM

I'm here!

I am here too.

Now that I've been approved for SSDI, I am trying to figure out what to
do with whatever time I have left on this planet.  I've always loved
photography and writing. I'd like to do some of both, but I don't know
what to write about. And I have bills to catch up on before I can go out
shooting as I've photographed everything around here, so I have to find
new places to shoot.

I'm also working on Duckie's website (Duckie is saying "Finally!!" :-)

Since I got my letter the stress factor has been lowered considerably.
Now I just have to make it through to the end of September as the first
month I'll receive benefits for is August, but I don't get the money
until September 28th :(  So I'm still trying to figure out how to
survive until then as the money I get on 9/28 will have to pay October's
rent.

Carole

I'm here in tropical Minnesota. My arthur doesn't like high dew
points so it's difficult posting.

GramPaHugs,
Alex,

--

 Any information is included for informational
 or entertainment purposes only, is based on my
 personal experiences & is an expression of my opinion.

****************************************************
* Love radiating from 45.10n x 93.30w   M/SP Mn
* <a href="http://home.mn.rr.com/apbiii">AOL Click</a>
* <a href="http://grampahugs.ath.cx/">AOL Click</a>
****************************************************

I've been busy this past month. I've posted about my dad going into a
retirement center and my daughter haveing a wheelchair accident.  They
are both doing well now.

I read but don't always post.  I'm so glad for this thread.  It's nice
to just read and catch up on everyone and how they are doing.  I hope
everyone's summer goes well.

I miss Donna H., too!

debbie m.

Hi all!  Long-time lurker here.  Enjoying reading all posts while I
recover from latest surgery.  Had both feet worked on last year, this
year we're rebuilding thumbs.  One week post-op, still wearing big foam
"cheese" to sleep.  Typing lefty isn't easy, so i really like to read!  lol

Anybody want to talk about basal joint sling arthroplasty?  Or the joys
of prescription narcotics?  ;-)

Beth

I think I'm here; still running the White Queen's race ("you have to run
as fast as you can in order to stay in one place, you have to run faster
if you want to get anywhere").

i'm sort of here. i'm in san diego for the last week attending my best
friend's wedding. will post pixes on my blog when i get home. catch a
plane in a couple of hours, then off to raleigh to close on our house
tomorrow. whew! meanwhile, my house has been on the market six whole
days and hasn't sold yet, so i'm freaking out.

hugs to all. haven't been able to read posts.

diane

Can I say here, too?

Navy1
The only question I have is how did I mangage
to do all this and still work 10 hours?
Throw that FISH back in and put in an S
to email me.

I'm here, again.  Still catching up on rest.  We were gone from Sunday
afternoon til midday Wed. for a "clergy getaway" at the diosecan camp.  This
place is truly at the northeast corner of the lower peninsula, around Presque
Isle.  Gorgeous setting.  Mike and I chose to stay in our tent rather than
the cabins, preferring the full fresh air effect.

As of last Saturday, I was still so tired from recent events and from a
stomach bug, that I thought seriously about staying home.  But by Sunday I'd
revived enough that I figured the R&R there would be good for me.  Hah!

Monday morn Mike and I took a canoe out on the lake.  Coming back in, a
failure to communicate on my part caused us to topple over in shallow water.  
We were both soaked.  Fortunately, once the adrenaline wore off and he calmed
down a bit, MIke started speaking to me again.   He even went out with me
again Tuesday morn after I solemnly vowed to communicate!

So, we got past all of that and dried out some and did a few more things for
fun.  Then we were dozing off for naps when the thunder started.  We got up
to make sure things were all battened down under the canopy - to no avail.  
The storm was a doozy.  Lost one corner pole on the canopy.  Then we lost the
center pole - the noise from the wind and the luffing canopy was so loud I
had to wait for calm moments to tell Mike what was going on!  Dropped the
center pole, then Mike was holding down the corner and I was holding the
center edge to keep the canopy top from ripping.  There was no hope of
dropping the whole canopy at that point as the wind was so high.  Of course
by now we were both drenched to the bone, again.  Then we lost another corner
- in fact the wind completely tore that gromment out of the canopy, tearing
through the reinforcing cord along the edge.  Mike ran to the woodpile and
got some heavy pieces so we could start weighing down the already loose
corners.  Then we managed to drop the other corners as the wind calmed a tad.
At this point the bishop's wife appeared from their cabin to see if she
could help (they've had a lot of camping experience also).  She helped Mike
get more wood as I held the canopy down.  Then we retreated to the overhang
of the dining hall.  Finally the storm blew itself out and we put the canopy
back up and started drying stuff out.  The bishop's family invited us to
dinner so we wouldn't have to cook, thank goodness.

Now Tuesday was fairly relaxing as the threatened storm blew over and we were
even able to get afternoon naps in.  But we both were still worn out when we
got home yesterday.  We've been resting and recovering from our little R&R
trip!  I'm supposed to be planting the irises we got from a friend last week,
but we're under a severe weather watch and I just feel safer staying indoors
for now.  Hopefully the irises will make it another day.

I suppose I should check in also.  I've been watching the newsgroup, but
 sometimes severals days between checking in.  My wife had carpal
tunnel surgery on the 28th and I've been playing Nurse Ratchit for her.
 She has also found out she has some OA in her wrists so now she's one
of us even though she won't get on the computer.
Still working for the railroad here in Kansas and it's been a busy
summer.  My daughter is coming in from Houston tomorrow and I'm really
looking forward to it.
I'll try to be a little more active, but sometimes life happens.
Cooly

I'm here, on and off. Running quite an active life. MTX still holding pretty
strong, other than the occasional flare.

don't pray for me, Argentina... Til I need it!  :o)

On or about 6/27/2005 12:51 AM, Janet N posted the following:

Present (lurking mode)

JDShine

"Janet N" <northerndancer@canadacanada.com> Roll Call?
<vBLve.103052$El.11021@pd7tw1no>

Present...sort of.

-- Lyn   (filethirteen@shaw.ca)  
     
        remember..."ASA" in subject line    

http://members.shaw.ca/Lynuplate/

We got back from a nice trip to the USA on Thursday, spent the morning in
the airport in London without hearing abouth the terrible events before we
came back to Norway  (We flew into the same terminal we had to fly out off
and passed security just as the bombs went off, so that is probably why we
did't know. ) Trying to read 1300+ posts in here today. Glad to be back in
hot (80 F believe it or not) Norway, without the humidity we  had in NYC
before we left.

Aina
the lurker in Norway