1.) Lily and I headed to the big city today for her chemo, and she was, of course, an angel:
All the other dogs have to act the fool, but Lily just sits there like THE ANGEL THAT SHE IS. Everything is fine, come back in six weeks was the verdict. Now we are just relaxing:
2.) Had a conference call with Watergirl, Steeplejack, and Bella for about a half hour tonight, and we are still doing the prep work before accepting bids from web designer/developers. That’s a royal we, because they are doing most of it and I just blurt out an obscenity every time they start speaking dork. At any rate, they wanted to put out a call for any wordpress designer/developers you all might recommend. No spouses, significant others, relatives, please. Please email me with any recommendations (AND INCLUDE YOUR COMMENTER NAME SO I CAN REACH OUT TO YOU).
3.) Fundraiser is still underway, thank you to everyone who donated via paypal and sent checks. For those of you still wishing to do so, the info is here (or email me for a snail mail address):
4.) BJ Calendar: I have not spoken to Beth in a few days, but the last we talked she was doing the layout, so I imagine it will not be long before that is ready.
Is there anything else I am missing. I’m tired.
zhena gogolia
Yay Lily.
John Cole
@zhena gogolia: She is a good girl.
Leto
So I know it’s been a while, but I wanted to drop a quick note and say hello to everyone! I’m out of the hospital and have been back home since 1 December. I’m also in the process of writing up something longer to express my eternal gratitude for all the well wishes and for everyone who donated to my GoFundme campaign.
I still have a very long road ahead of me, but this places continues to be my second home and must read every day. Thanks everybody ?
JPL
FYI Trump is not building a concrete wall, but instead an artistic steel slat wall. I know this because he tweeted it so. The dems should support it cuz it’s not a concrete wall, or something like that.
Yay Lily I still remember the day you brought her home. You are a lucky man for finding her.
WaterGirl
@Leto: So great to see you here and to know you are out of the hospital! And hopefully home for Christmas!
I’m pretty sure you are off the good drugs from the hospital. Are you in a lot of pain?
JPL
@John Cole: If you need a place to stay with a large fenced yard on the way home from South Beach let me know. Weather is kinda tricky this time of year so keep it mind. I’m sure there are followers all along the way.
??? Goku (aka Amerikan Baka) ??
@Leto:
Glad to hear you’re back on your feet!
JPL
@Leto: It’s been a long slog and I’m so pleased that you are finally home.
Jim, Foolish Literalist
Jim, Foolish Literalist
@Leto: good news, welcome back
NotMax
Hoping you are going to be seeking someone or some company to not just design and roll out a new version of the site but who/which also offers an ongoing maintenance contract, and can supply references to back that up..
zhena gogolia
@Leto:
So glad to see you here!
NotMax
@Leto
Huzzah!
Shrillhouse
You’re missing one of these “?”…
;)
WaterGirl
@NotMax: Yep!
Did you end up sending your recommendation to Cole? He received two previously but I don’t think people included their nyms, so we can’t connect the email recommendations to commenters.
JanieM
@Jim, Foolish Literalist: LOL. I love JK Rowling.
Also, I think 4 a.m. is well-tailored to be the perfect bedtime. I have a little wooden thingie on my desk with a carved picture of a bird and a worm and the saying, “The early worm, on the other hand, gets eaten by the bird.”
Barbara
@Leto: What a relief for you to be home. I hope you are mending well.
I see Lily has a pretty new bow.
Amir Khalid
@Leto:
Good to hear you get to have Christmas at home. May that and your healing process go easily.
NotMax
@WaterGirl
As have no idea which of his various e-mail addresses to use, no. And the contact a front pager thing doesn’t work, so no aid there.
raven
@Leto: Aw I KNOW it’s good to be home. You really moved this joint.
Mary G
A closer look at her sweet face and the new bow, which looks like it’s green with white polka dots, would be nice. If the FSM had to saddle us with the president, at least he let us keep Lily longer, which is a trade I’d take with no hesitation. Every time you take her in and come back with a good report, I haz a happy.
I will donate more to the fundraiser after New Year’s.
@Leto: Welcome home! And so many thanks to Avalune for the updates.
Steeplejack
@NotMax:
In case you do send in a recommendation, you should include your nym in the message—“Joe Blow, recommended by NotMax”—in case there are questions you can help with.
Major Major Major Major
Happy to help you evaluate potential developers.
Alternative Fax, a hip hop artist from Idaho
@Leto: How great to see you post! Glad you’re home and my wish for you is a restful and comfortable holiday.
japa21
@Leto: Fantastic news. There is no place like home. We are all pulling for you as you manage the long road back. Your wife was fantastic.
Leto
I apologize upfront as I haz no fold in which to hide all this:
@WaterGirl: ty! I’m still on a few pain drugs to manage general pain and nerve pain. The accident did a good bit of nerve damage so that’s another part of the healing process. You haven’t lived until you think you’re pee’ing down your leg only to discover that it’s your nerves “waking up” and firing off. ;)
@??? Goku (aka Amerikan Baka) ??: ty! Technically I’m not back on them quite yet, but that’s the goal. :)
@JPL: ty!
@Jim, Foolish Literalist: ty!
@zhena gogolia: don’t call it a comeback, I’ve been here for years… sorry, couldn’t resist :)
@NotMax: huzzah! I said that a good bit in the hospital whenever I was transferred from bed to bed for xrays, tests, etc. Always got a few laughs from the nurses :)
@Barbara: I’m doing well. Most of the physical stuff has healed, it’s just a matter of making things work again. Eventually they will, just gotta keep working and taking it a day at a time :)
@Amir Khalid: ty!
@raven: damn straight it’s nice to be home! Just so you know, I have my first VA appointment tomorrow. I’m sure they’ll be happy to take on this hot mess ;)
@Mary G: ty! I’ll pass on the thanks to Ava. :)
geg6
@Leto:
Great news! Heal well and have a lovely Christmas at home. And tell Avalune the same. You two deserve it.
Major Major Major Major
@Leto: woohoo!
Ben Cisco
@Leto: Glad you’re back among the jackalteriat!
WaterGirl
@NotMax: I use jgriffincole at the google mail place.
WaterGirl
@Ben Cisco: Hey, I saw that you landed a job after only a month in your new location. Go, you!
Lapassionara
@Leto: Way to go. We are glad to hear from you.
Ohio Mom
@Leto: Welcome home!
NotMax
@Steeplejack
Wanna contact the company first to ascertain if it is a project they are willing to bid on, as their plate may be full right now, having just opened an adjunct teaching facility for businesses and people looking for tailored computer instruction, able to handle up to 12 people. If they’re amenbale, send it in where? All I ever see if Mr. Cole saying “e-mail me” but no indication of what the preferred address is. Again, the contact a front pager link, to be brutally blunt, is total garbage and less than useless.
zhena gogolia
@NotMax:
See Watergirl #30
NotMax
@WaterGirl
TYVM. Writing that down.
sgrAstar
@Leto. So glad you’re on the comeback trail. ❤️
JR
@Jim, Foolish Literalist: per that tweet: my son is going to run the world, then
Avalune
Lily! I just come here for Lily. And Steve. And anyone else’s animals if I’m honest.
Thanks guys. I’ve been lurking and waiting for him to update for himself.
Back to the shadows!
Ruviana
@NotMax: You can check Comment Number 30 but by now you probably have. :)
?BillinGlendaleCA
@Leto: Great to hear from you, glad you’re healing up.
Steeplejack
@NotMax:
Address above.
WaterGirl
@NotMax: I left you an address in #30.
P.S. You will be happy to know that contact a front pager is on the list to be
gutted and changedfixed.Ben Cisco
@WaterGirl: Thank you! Now I just need to fix my personal life – that road is a bit bumpier at present…
WaterGirl
@Avalune: Don’t go back to the shadows! We love you both.
NotMax
@Steeplejack et al.
Got it. That comment was not yet there while I was typing out what turned out to be #34.
Ella in New Mexico
I love that Lily likes to assume a regular position on the table there. it’s just too freaking cute. :-) <3
P.S. I am so broke from this damn NP program and not being able to work that I need to wait until my husband’s payday to donate but I promise I will.
WaterGirl
@Ben Cisco: I have been biting my tongue, trying not to ask about the person you were “exploring possibilities” with. But you did open the door to the question, so consider this me asking. :-)
NotMax
@WaterGirl
Please, please, with three great big juicy cherries on top, tell me the re-institution of Recent Comments is on the list.
Aleta
@Leto: Glad you’re home. Sorry for what you’ve been through. Best wishes for your recovery time.
Ruckus
@Leto:
Good to hear you are home and on the mend. Take your time and listen to the docs. They usually know what they are doing.
Nerve pain? Is it just sensation coming back or actual pain?
BTW you don’t have to be injured to have that pain. Take my word for it. But it is fun isn’t it?
WaterGirl
@NotMax: Yep.
guachi
Turns out the girl I had a crush on 25 years ago in high school and went to prom with is a big Balloon Juice fan. Who knew?
She’s getting a pet calendar for Christmas so it’s good to hear it’s progressing towards completion.
WaterGirl
@Leto: Not to be nosy, but do they have you on gaba pentin for the nerve pain? My little Henry (dog) had to take that after his ACL surgery and he HATED it, but I’m guessing they don’t give humans a bubble gum flavored liquid version that has to be squirted into your mouth.
My little Henry hated that so much that he broke his ankle fighting with me not to take his dose.
WaterGirl
@guachi: How fun! How did you find out?
frosty
@Leto: Glad to see you back!
Ruckus
@Leto:
You at/near a VA hospital or just a clinic?
The clinic I’ve been going to is nice but over the last two yrs the place seems to be flailing. Lots of people retired, lots have left, appointments months out.
So I’ve started just going to the hospital, which has all the clinics plus more. At the clinic, not a small one, the appointments for one clinic I have to go to, the appointments are only for Monday’s from 1pm to 4pm and the wait is 4 to 5 months. Last week I went to the hospital to make an appointment, clerk said how’s Monday. 7 days. Not 4 months.
Hope your local is better than mine.
Leto
@Ruckus: thanks! Def listening to the docs and therapists. Regarding nerve pain: both. Most of the sensation came back while I was in the hospital, but I still have some pretty good nerve damage that occurred. And yes, it is a fun game :)
Barbara
@WaterGirl: I know, poor doggy, but the vision of a little dog resisting medicine enough to break his ankle makes me laugh. And I hated Gabapentin as well and thought it was worse than the pain it was supposed to treat so I totally understand the reaction.
Leto
@WaterGirl: in fact I do take gaba! Sorry to hear that Henry had such a bad reaction to it :(
@Ruckus: it’s a clinic, but I do have a big facility about 30 mins from where we live. The clinic is, roughly, 5-10? I’ll definitely keep an eye out as to the condition of the place. For the immediate future, the clinic will preferable as its super close. As I mend more, and become more mobile, the bigger facility might become a better option. But thanks for the heads up.
WaterGirl
@Barbara: Sounds awful! Henry even broke the same ankle bone that I broke 2 weeks into his recovery. So he broke his ankle within a week of when I broke mine.
Barbara
@WaterGirl: Sympathetic bone breaks!
Yutsano
@Leto: O frabjous day calloo callay I chortled in my joy! Welcome back to the world of the living! I got some advice for you later as an old therapy veteran, but being home for holidays is awesome!
guachi
@WaterGirl: We had been FB friends for six months or a year or something and then Trump got elected. She had decided to travel from Montana to DC for the march and I drove up from Georgia. That’s how I found out she was more political than most people.
In fact, a large number of my high school FB friends went to local marches. Somehow a number of my friends from grade school onward in Montana turned out to be flaming liberals who would go march.
But it wasn’t until about two months ago when I was FB chatting with her and suggested she read BJ that she said she was already a fan. It’s a good thing she doesn’t read the comments because she was just as hot when I saw her in DC as when I went to prom.
??? Goku (aka Amerikan Baka) ??
Dozens of ‘serious’ conduct complaints against Justice Brett Kavanaugh are dismissed because he was confirmed to the Supreme Court
Just like how a sitting President can’t be indicted, it appears once you reach a certain level in the federal judiciary, you’re effectively above the law. Fuck these people.
Leto
@frosty: ty!
@Yutsano: haha, ty! I’ll take any advice, and yes, being home for the holidays is really nice. :)
zhena gogolia
Pretty good thread on the Trumps’ Christmas photo (no Barron in the picture):
https://twitter.com/davidgura/status/1075063492087025664
Platonailedit
@??? Goku (aka Amerikan Baka) ??: That’s why Obama, Biden, Hillary and dems were ‘shrilling’ supreme court, supreme court the entire 2016.
WaterGirl
@Barbara: Exactly!
WaterGirl
@guachi: Fun story.
NotMax
Mmmmmm. So-o-o close to perfecting from-the-neighborhood-bakery New York rye bread in the super duper bread machine. Loaf taken out this afternoon smelled so good that couldn’t resist cutting a sliver to try once it had cooled. Easily 98% of the way there, only needs a teensy bit more tweaking of ingredient proportions.
Sab
@zhena gogolia: @zhena gogolia: Why is no one bitching about those red trees as a war on Xmas? So Melania decided to keep Barron out of the battle?
WaterGirl
@NotMax: Does it have caraway seeds? The bakery that made the best rye bread here closed, and I am very sad.
Ben Cisco
@WaterGirl: We’ve been friends forever, even when out of touch for x decades. Reconnected two years ago. We care about each other very much, but we’ve both been through a lot. I’m ready to see if we can go further; the idea scares her and she doesn’t want to disappoint me. That was two weeks ago…
Miss her but I know I need to be still. I can’t fix this…
NotMax
@WaterGirl
But of course.
zhena gogolia
@Sab:
Please note that the red trees are not in the official picture. People are calling them “the tampon trees.”
NotMax
Forgot to mention something puzzling seen while was in town last week. Walking from the parked car to Costco’s entrance, passed an empty parking space with not one, not two, but three home pregnancy test sticks on the pavement. (No, didn’t stop to check them.)
There’s a tale to be told, no doubt.
Sab
@zhena gogolia: I did note that. Aren’t they in a connecting hall somewhere? I still think they are weirdly unXmasy.
zhena gogolia
@NotMax:
See, Joan Blondell, Ann Dvorak, and Bette Davis all got together and . . .
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0023590/
debbie
@Leto:
Great news!
Ruckus
@Leto:
I have no idea if this is specific to this location or if a lot of the clinics are having the same issues. Seems strange that the VA got significantly better after 2009 and has developed a lot of the prior issues since Jan 2017. Just haven’t the foggiest notion what could be causing it, other than total ineptitude and ability of the person at the top. That and actually trying to fuck up the VA.
Ben Cisco
@Ruckus: I finally registered and have my first appointment later this month. I’ll keep my eyes peeled.
Sab
@Leto: @Avalune: Leto: So glad you are home. How long has it been? Seems like months?
Avelune: I will be sorry to see you re-lurk, but we will know that you are out there, which is nice and something we didn’t know before.
Yarrow
@Leto: Very late to the thread, but so glad to hear you’re home and doing so well. Thanks for the updates, Avalune!
TomatoQueen
Lily! Leto! Avalune! Now it feels like Xmas.
Miss Bianca
@Leto: Yay, you’re back among the jackal pack! Welcome! Gkad to hear you are doing better.
Miss Bianca
@Miss Bianca: err, glad, not “gkad”. Time for bed.
Avalune
@Sab: @WaterGirl Says I can’t lurk.
@TomatoQueen: ❤️
Yarrow
Forgot to say it’s so wonderful to see Lily! She’s such an angel. The bestest doggie. So glad she continues to get excellent reports.
@Avalune: Please stick around. Have enjoyed your comments.
Ruckus
@Ben Cisco:
Just read a bit on TPM about the Veterans Choice program. Started as a temp thing under President Obama for vets that live outside a certain distance to a clinic/hospital because of long waits they tried to allow some vets to be seen by private docs. And because there is no federal bureaucracy for such a thing, they hired outside companies. The cost to send a vet to a private doc is staggering. And of course the current maladministration wants to make it far bigger. So expect your care to get worse at the VA, money has to be spent on the private sector don’t ya know…… Fuck those vets. Dumb shits signed up expecting the government to actually do what they contracted with vets to do.
Ben Cisco
@Ruckus: Wow. Understood, and thanks.
2liberal
is there a form to fill out so those of us who tossed in some dollars can issue a list of required features? //
WaterGirl
@Ben Cisco: There’s a lot of wisdom in your last two sentences. Seems like your patience will be rewarded one way or another, either by keeping an old friendship or possibly things going the way you want. Hang in there.
WaterGirl
@NotMax: It’s just not rye bread without caraway seeds. Now I am missing the good bread from Mirabelle.
WaterGirl
@2liberal: Nothing formal, but if you listed them in this thread, I’m sure they would get read. :-)
2liberal
@WaterGirl: that was supposed to be sarcasm font but since you’re listening i’d like a better pie filter where it just blacks them out instead of inserting pie related text. Thank you for your time
Mel
@Leto: So very glad that you are home. Just being in comfortable, familiar surroundings is such a relief. Take extra good care of yourself – you’ll heal at your own pace; just be sure to listen to your body and be gentle with yourself. Hugs to you and to your wife.
seaninclt
@John Cole: holy fuck your rats nest of cables is triggering my ocd the fuhkkk out. Dear god, man. Have you not heard of zip ties?