Morning Leo - I am sorry that Mr. Leo is so upset and that he got you upset too. I agree with the others that you are in good shape financially compared to the rest of the population these days. Everything is so expensive now. I've cut back a lot and it frustrates me no end not to have much to show for it. You are not alone and can rant here as much as you like. We've got you.

Well, we finally had the talk about the raccoon damage in the attic - speaking of money. It's not a bad as I thought but it would be if my partner didn't do the needed work. I wanted to change out the insulation over the master bedroom to a better R factor that also cuts down on noise before this happened. I think that can happen and still come in under 1K. I'm less panicked now but it will still have to be done in increments. He is going put plywood down throughout the attic as well. Right now, it is only in the storage area. The chimney damage is the outstanding item which he believes will have to be done from the outside. He thinks that the chimney will have to be completely taken apart and rebuilt. We both think that whoever did it, did a sketchy job at best. That would be an insurance claim. I'm still noodling that and we just won't use the fireplace.

I'm on my Kindle so I can't reply to everyone. I hope that all of you have a decent day. Keep your chins up and don't lose hope. Group hug!

I saw on the news today that Bali has put up a red warning because of the volcanic activity in the area. There is already a large ash plume impeding air traffic in the area. Blue This may impede or change your travel plans in the area.

I'm still very, very tired from being out of town. Debating attempting to bag some leaves for an hour or so. Most of them are done but I need my garden beds cleaned out. It is going to be in the fifties here tomorrow. I have my helper coming to put my roses to bed and do some yard work. I hope that it will all be done this week.

My friend who was in the car accident is home. She hit the back of an SUV going about 50mph. She is pretty banged up but will be OK. She is very restricted activity wise for the foreseeable future but that is understandable. I'm just grateful that she is still alive. Her car is totaled. She has Sjogrens and had a bad nose bleed while driving which made her eyes tear up too. Fumbling for Kleenex and didn't see the SUV until it was too late.

I have a good start on Christmas shopping. I do most, if not all of it online. I can't walk for very long so shopping in stores is out unless I'm getting a specific item and can be in and out. I'm going to start wrapping as things arrive. I'm staying on budget too.

I see the foot surgeon today for a check up. They are not swelling quite as much. But, the right one can get pretty achy. I'm taking one Tylenol twice a day which helps. But, it gives me IBS problems. Can't win for trying. I am going to ask for another ultrasound treatment which helped a lot.

Somehow my post got out of order...lol

In so much pain, thought i was going to be sick from it while in the shower. I am still at my parents house so did not have my shower chair. I can barely stand much less walking which is just horrible. I do not know whats wrong :( . I get blood work in about an hour then we are going to lunch then i see the doctor. Cant type much im just overwhelmed with pain right now. Mom didnt want me to go home till we know whats wrong.

Angela, I hope it all turns out ok and Im sorry you had to take a rough shower w/o your chair. I hope your pain lowers, I know my leg pain is up so much worse with the weather change.

Fantod, I have a feeling everything your experiencing is normal but please let us know what the surgeon says. I hope it's healing according to how he thought and you get a full recovery soon. Hugs and chocolate showers coming your way. And I need to do leaves really bad, I'm hoping my husband will just get out there and do some but he still didn't do our lights outside.

Aloha.

Leo, I'm sorry your husband is putting unnecessary guilt and stress on you about income... and about your snoring when all you're trying to do is sleep. I say record him when he snores! I don't know why some spouses who work and their other halves don't, they act like the stay at home spouse isn't doing their best. You can be making SSDI income and it wouldn't matter to them one bit. I'm here to tell you... I contribute about 40% of the income here (but am responsible for paying most of our cost of living) from disability income but I have to hear his callous comments all the time: "..... because I worked all day and you didn't, that's why." Really? Apparently we do nothing and are a burden?

I don't see the harm in applying for SSDI anyway, and fill out everything in your records that's wrong with you. Even if they do laugh at you, at least you can tell yourself (and hubby) you tried. When I fill out VA claims for things like IBS and others, 9x out of 10 it comes back denied saying they have no record of it (the VAs way of laughing at me) even though I've been receiving treatment for IBS for over a decade, so obviously there are records. But I know I have to keep trying because daily life is h*ll thanks to IBS. My point is, if you suffer enough from your condition(s) that you can't work, then you shouldn't give up trying.

I think it's cool that you got your mom a tree and decorations.

About Bali..... hubby and I were up late at night trying to figure out a plan B for that part of our travel. The problem is, there are only 2 airports in Indonesia that fly OUT of the country and Bali is one of them so we went that route (Jakarta is the other, but is super congested). Now we're scrambling to find any possible alternate route, in trying to avoid Jakarta. The volcano isn't just spewing ash, they say lava is going / about to come flowing down the side! Yikes. And the airport is closed though next week (or longer).

I am a major stress ball today..... in addition to rearranging the whole Bali part of our travels, I have 2 big bills to hash out with the VA, the one $600 mammogram bill, and the $3k colonoscopy & endoscopy bill. I don't know why they are suddenly billing me for everything.

Hate to ask it, Blue, it may be obvious but... Boat to another island with an open airport? I was watching about the Bali volcano and it's a darn ash-yuck chimney. I saw lahars have occurred right on the slopes, too. EEEK! I hope it works out for you somehow!

Jeez Leo, I'm sorry your anxiety is through the roof and hubby isn't being any help. I'm really hoping that he will just do what he needs to get some sleep tonight and lay off the grouch. Financial security is such a perspective thing and his seems to be a perspective of comparison rather than a reality check of being better off than a great deal of America and the world. I hope this evening and tomorrow are better and that darn rib would just stay in place.

Ida I'm glad to hear you are ahead of the game this year and shouldn't have any last minute shopping stress. I haven't started baking or holiday cards yet either.

Wonder I'm glad to hear that all is well and packed and that hubby got himself back in check before sleeping in the garage! LOL. Also glad to hear that Thanksgiving was relaxing for you. I hope that you are able to find a house and that the process goes smoothly especially with the holidays squished in there too.

Kel sorry to hear you're paying for doing too much but hey Hawaii isn't a bad way to recover! Hopefully your next couple of weeks till then goes smoothly so you can set sails worry free (okay, we're never worry free but you know what I mean.)

Twin I'm glad you made it safely to work as well! I hear you on the feeling like you're going to fall asleep. I hope the PT goes well and can actually provide some kind of relief for you.

Zombie I'm glad you had a good Thanksgiving at least. I have flipped my lid yelling at Maggie before and felt like the worst puppy mom in the world after and then broke down crying too. The look on her face was so horrible to see. I have issues with most BC but found that the Depoprovera (likely not spelt correctly) injections seem to work well for me. They control both the emotions and the endo.

Fantod, maybe the leaves can wait till tomorrow till you have some help and a little more rest after being out of town? Also, what do you mean by ultrasound therapy? For IBS? I have horrible IBS that I basically gave up on after even the docs at Penn basically said "you have IBS, we gave you meds that didn't work, you're on your own." SUPER helpful!

Angela I hope the blood work and doctor are able to reveal what's going on and get you some help. Sorry to hear you're in so much pain.

Blue, it makes no sense to me why the VA is billing you. But then a good majority of the things the VA does do not make any sense to me. As for Bali is there a ferry you can take like Leo said? That is a lot of craziness to avoid.

As for me Thanksgiving with the in-laws and BIL went better than planned. I did alright with self-care till Friday where I got a big fat F. Then Sunday all of the sudden I hit a major wall of depression that I couldn't shake for the life of me. Those who say the only thing you can control is yourself have clearly never had fibro/ibs/ptsd/anxiety/any other lovely out of your control ailment you can think of please insert here. I feel like we could really tell them a thing or two.

Despite feeling exhausted and the IBS making my entire abdomen feel like it's on fire I'm going to try to go for a run. I'm hoping the mental benefit will be huge and have a positive effect on the physical. I'm just feeling lost and can't stop dreaming of my mother again... I am so done with this therapy that brings up all the crap I was trying (and admittedly failing) to push very far down. Here's to running and hoping it helps!

Ferrying would be pointless.... all airports channel you back to Jakarta or Bali to exit you out of the country (and right now Bali is closed). I'm trying to find a way and see if any of the local airports possibly fly you out through Singapore or Malaysia.

The thing is... there are many airports that fly you locally, meaning only between other cities there.... but only 2 are international airports, Bali being one, Jakarta being the other -but is super congested. I'm going to keep looking. There's a solution somewhere and I will find it.

Maynard - The ultrasound therapy is done on my feet to reduce the swelling. I got a good report from the surgeon. He is very pleased with the toe flexibility, healing and the current position of the worst hammer toe that he fixed. It is still very swollen with an internal suture line holding it straight. When the suture line dissolves, the toe will drop into place.

Blue - My cousin lives in New Guinea - above ground geologist. His wife is hoping to fly stateside tomorrow but with the current volcano conditions, I don't think that she will be going anywhere. I sure hope that you can find a way to make your plans work.

I've done more laundry, used the Roomba and generally cleaned up. My partner got the snow blowing attachment on the tractor and chains on the tires. He just needs to drop the cab cover over the frame and we are in business. Now, I will pray for no snow again this winter....lol.

Planning on reheating some pizza for dinner and just relaxing. Back to reality tomorrow with a normal work day and so on. Everyone have a good evening.

Fan, big hugs.
Blue, they're reporting that people are stranded for up to another two weeks, for wht that's worth (source: Reuters and BBC). Which is'nt much! All I could think was... Next nerest is what, Singapore? Or Australia? And no guarantee where flights will be okayed, given volcano. I will pray for you to find a good solution!

Tried to take a walk, but two cats following made it more like "step-step-pet-pet-almost-trip, repeat". LilMiss *and* SHadow. Great. Neither is my cat, for pity's sake,b ut they know who'll love them, I guess.

I found one! Just vented about it in my journal because, like I said, I'm a huge ball of stress today and can't calm down.

I've also been on the phone all morning with the VA about those hideous medical bills. The are willing to look into the colonoscopy bill since they have a record of a GI referral. But the mammogram bill, they say no record for that referral so they told me "not our problem, go call someone else" (condensed version). I found a women's veterans hotline online and explained my situation... at 1st they were like that's not what we do, but when I told them I've gotten the run-around for 2 weeks now and have called every single cotton pickin number listed under the VA yet NOTHING, someone has to help me!! So she assigned me to a patient advocate who will look into the problem. Finally! It's a start!!!

Btw, I was supposed to run a bunch of errands today to get a list of things before the trip, but it's been storming all day.

I'm sorry if I'm not responding to everyone.... I hope you understand. Sending hugs out to you all.

Awe Blue, after all of that stress of planning the trip and now this?? I'm so sorry mother nature is working against you, along with the paperwork pushers over at the VA. I'd toss my hands up and find the quickest shot of Tequila and call it a day!
Glad you got an advocate to help you now. Be persistent, and contact your congressman if necessary. They are the ones who pass the coverage anyways.

Ssdi sometime goes by the total household income and what money they made in their life. There are ssdi lawyers that fight for you and appeal if you are denied.