back to the doc....

[kath]

Ron...this may sound strange, but your notes make me smile!  Why?  Because you have the strength of a bull.  Despite every bad thing that happens to you...and you've certainly had your share, you always keep on truckin'.  Stronger men than you would be struck down with the grief you've had to deal with.  You are an inspiration!

It's snowing and blowing here in Ontario Canada too.  A good day to stay in and keep warm.

You are due for a break Ronnie...can sense one right around the corner.....Kath

[Ron22]

thanks kath..i try...i have my dark moments like we all do..but after yrs of trial and error i strive to maintain some sort of balance..i've had more than my share of bad career decisions and bad breaks..also with relationships and other personal stuff that could make u laugh..cry..or just scratch your head..i came to one certainty..nothing is assured..only today...i try to get at least a good minute..hr..or day out of it...sometimes it's a song that brings u back to a good place..or that rare moment when you are "pleased to meet me (yourself)...also a great album by the replacements.....have to savor those...anyway..got call the other day..a temp job..from one of the uncountable agencies i've been to..subbing has been slow the past few wks....the silver lining here is the other person who started the gig didn't show up....the recruiter called me and i was there in 30 min..filing and other ofice stuff in get this..one of the docs who injects me every other mth or so..talk about irony the gimpy ex hoopster and rugger hobbling thru a day full of standing and bending filing...well the good news they asked if i would come back the rest of the week..and next week..apparently they were shocked i had gotten more done in one day than the other person did in 3 days.....and answered a number of system questions for the ladies behind the reception desks...i will take it...the sad or not so sad truth is any work i get i do it like it is impt..and since it has my name on it...do my absolute best..and maybe add some skills...it helps..altho my knee is getting even..reminds me of my days on the court and the field...my birthday is monday so maybe this is a sign..plus with the temp agencies in my exp...once they ask for u...they usually will put u on the top of the list...

for all of knee geek friends..hang in there..i hope all of u get some silver lining....even small ones feel good..and thanks for always being there....

cheers

ronnie

[Ron22]

hope everyone is doing well....been somewhat down since my b-day..still at the doc's office for the next 2 wks at least..the money is so short and the physical part pretty hard.....and for the first time in a while i'm just lacking the ability to simply ignore the money probs...just to get this temp gig was hard and there's not much around ...now of course this could all change if one of these perm jobs come thru...but in the interim..well i realized i'm 43...and still looking for a job...been thru 9-11 and re-orgs..bad breaks..it happens and that's life...but my knee and hip bark from the standing all day from the bending and filing.....it's just so hard with the money woes....i'm rambling but just didn't want to post since i just feel physically and mentally flat and negative and didn't want to spread it around...an aunt of mine only 56 died late last wk....and spent all wkend and monday at the wake and funeral..very sad she had 2 daughters with a one yr old and the other one pregnant....very sudden and she was not sick...and of course with my ingrained bklyn italian guilt am starting to feel bad that for all my parents and family have done for me i have not given them much to show for it....i guess this stuff just makes u relfective and probly too much so....i'm sure i can climb out of this..just need a break...but still trying but at times seem a bit beaten down....by the end of the day i'm just beat....standing and bending all day is probly the worst thing but even temp jobs are hard to come by around here.....

sorry to be a downer...i hope everyone out there is doing well

hugs

ronnie

[LesleyR]

Hey Ronnie,

Happy belated birthday, hope it was wonderful.  I felt the same way this summer when my Grandpa died in themiddle of all my knee troubles.  But hang in there Ron, yu're a trooper.  You can get through this.

Big big hugs
Lesley

[Ron22]

thanks lesley...really means a lot...guess it's just time to kick myself in the butt again...things have to get better...the money squeeze is just another of the things to deal with as best i can.....promised myself this wkend that gotta try to fight back more...like we all do....hope u have a good wk..

thanks again..

hugs

ronnie

[Nettan]

Hey Ron !!

Hope everything's better. I've sent you a IM.
Have a nice week.

Hugs Nettan 

[Ron22]

thanks nettan..think i got it altho it predates this note...i did send u one in reply at that time...in any case thanks again...hanging in there...hope u are feeling better.....been chasing both perm and temp work very hard...money is ..well there is none..every mths's bills are a scavenger hunt and now is that time..plus taxes...no worries..i have dispensed with the panic..next wk it's 7 days of 12 hr shifts for some bucks..dr's office gig ended early last wk..and there is the chance of at least 3 days at another gig this wk..very tiring as u can see and a bit dehumumanizing at my age..but not complaining..glad that all of that networking with these agencies has reaped some work and counting my blessings that i'm off the sticks now for a mth..it helps immensely..the pain is the pain and i have accepted it....meds and shots where needed....and going to the gym more and trying to tone up....the publishing perm gig is still alive bit they are taking their time after the merger..in the meantime i still put in my time on the phones..web..dinners the usual dance....feel okay...my message of hope for my fellow knee pals is that we all try to simply make the best of the present and build for the future and painfully accept the fact that we can't change the past no matter how much it can pain us to reflect.....

u guys are an extrememly resilient and very special group of people and i really am so touched and greatful for the generosity of spirit and mind that u all give freely of at all times......it stuns me to think what this group represents and in heart and my god potential of heart. ability, and self sufficency.....we really should start a company...amazing what we could do...been a bad few wks and i apologize for being mostly absent...been too painful to write but i think of u all and keep u in my positive flow and prayers......

god bless all of u guys and may the spring bring good things for all of us..we deserve it....and thank u knee guru..this site is such a godsend an sanity check for us all.....


big hugs and warm thoughts...

ronnie

[Ron22]

hope everyone is doing well....went to the doc this aft for the usual needle work....unfortunately..this wk's gig altho advertised as simply helping re-hook up pc equip in a office in the midst of cube moves entails several days of then loading a tractor trailer w/ dozens of printers..hard drives and other and heavy boxes....couldn't say no as these agencies have kept me pretty bzy...so the usual swelling and increased pain..no complaints...no new injuries...and this gig ends tmrw....the beatles deal crawls on..but the good news is that the principals have cleared more stations on satellite radio and bought another episode i wrote...being able to sometimes get paid for writing and to have these amazing dinners and meets with peeps i have read about for yrs is beyond fun and certainly a blessing.....

thank god spring is here and it's so soothing to wake up to birds chirping and cool breezes and sunshine....going to play my first round of golf this season on sunday weather permitting....hit some balls last wkend..too many of course and my hip barks at me but it's standard and is balanced out by how nice it feels..maybe i'm getting way reduced expectations but i'm simply happy to be off the sticks for a month plus and thank god that the microfractures have fused enough to allow me to be almost where i was before the mishap last fall...

in any case..beth..sheri..teresa..and all of my knee geek pals...hope you are doing well and feeling okay..

big hugs

ronnie

[Ron22]

hope everyone is doing well...friday's needle work is proving a bit more painful than usual...probably my reward for loading trucks...in any case.cannot complain too much.the temp gigs have been pretty steady the past 2 mths..so paying the bills is always a good thing....still waiting on the perm gig..but that will continue to take time....i will admit that it will be a relief to not have to pony up 500 bills a mth for cobra when it does come thru....in any case just wanted to say hi and hope that everyone has a good knee week..

hugs

ronnie

[stgiles16]

OH Ron, I feel your pain with the Cobra. We have paid Cobra for 17 mnths. This is our first month with normal insurance,,,, all I can say is WHEW. that stuff is expensive. Hope your permanent job comes thru soon.
goodluck
missy

[Teresa_S]

Ron, Iagree that keeping up with the cobra payments are a big hardship. Glad that you are able to keep your head above water. Hopefully, with a new spring, and better weather, a better job opportunity will come your way. I have found that having a three year blank space on my resume for the past three years sets off an alert that seems to say to employers WAIT STOP DO NOT CALL, as I get letters of interest, and emails, UNTIL They see my job history starts THREE years ago. The weather here is making me pretty miserable, and I can barelyl walk, but I would rather see flowers than snow anytime. Glad you are feeling ok, know that the pain never goes completely away. Hope your family is beginning to give you a little more respect.You have worked very hard, and at least are supporting yourself. AT my age, I can't see anybody else wanting to foot my bills that's for sure. ALTHOUGH all my kids promise when they get jobs, to let me stay home and not work. I would much rather interact with people everyday. We all lean towards our occupations because we like them, and I miss mine. GOOD KNEE DAYS, and pleasant weather wished your way. Teresa

[Ron22]

thanks missy..t....hope you guys are having a good week....wrapping up the truck loading which is a good thing....my worse half is just about ready to give up....have to go back for more needle work tho....no big deal...just that last wk's bout was negated by this wk's loading.....plus i waited on the hip poking till i was done with this gig...good news is that i have a shot at a mid term gig (could be a few mths)...supervising a call ctr bout a half hr away..and no heavy lifitng required....it's great that spring is here....looking foward to my college reunion in early june.....

yesterday (and on monday) i spent a few hrs helping my bud who is in a whelechair..really sweet, cool guy who has outlived his life expec by over 20 yrs....as he is short on practical nurses these days..i usually pop over (he only lives about 20 min away) and lend a hand...as he can now no longer use his hands i let him use mine..help him make phone calls and watch rock dvds and sports with him..known him since hs and unfortunately many of our group have moved away and are busy with families...keeps me humble and i really do enjoy his company....still helping out my sis with the kids too..she lives about the same distance.....my bro on law is beyond non helpful..plus i love being with them anyway..maybe my life and career haven't matched my expecs..but whose really do...in this way i feel that doing these things helps others and at least fullfills some higher purpose....

it is true that if you want to forget about your own probs..help someone with theirs....i guess...hope everyone is having good weather and a good knee week...

hugs

ronnie

[Nettan]

Hey Ron !!

Really agree with you, helping others is a good thing to do to forget own problems and also a joy to life to do something for others.I try as often as I can to help other people. Maybe I can't help them so much in doing things but to be there for them and listen to them. It's great of you to help your friend in wheelchair. You are a great guy Ron.
Hope you have a great day today with lots of sunshine as I have.

hugs and tons of sunny smiles Nettan 

[Beth_T]

Ron

You're a true angel !   

Can you explain to the silly UK knee-geek what COBRA is? is it health insurance?

Hugs Beth xx

[stgiles16]

Hey Beth, I can explain Cobra. When you work for a company and have health insurance thru them, they part a part of your insurance premeium. when you leave that company but choose to continue with the insurance, it is called Cobra , but with Cobra, you have to pay the entire amount out of your own pocket. My husband was laid off and we carried Cobra for 17 mnths. It was $1000 a mnth for health insurance for my family. It is really expensive.

does that make sense??
hope that helped
missy