Saturday, May 3, 2008 -- 10:50 AM   I woke up this morning to a lot of pain throughout my body. Both of my legs and my left hip felt as if they were on fire. Most of my pain has been decreasing during the week, but something sure went wrong during the night. I took the pain medication almost as soon as I woke up, and I can already feel the difference.   After receiving the application for the Freedom Service Dogs, I have decided not to pursue trying to get a dog. I did see in their materials that if I did not have the full $1500, there were ways in which that could be decreased to $500. That left the questions of how to get the dog outside to do its bodily functions, as well as how I could take the dog outside during the winter in a lot of snow. The agency also requires a videotape showing the inside of my apartment and the outside areas. (It is much more complicated than it seems here.)   My computer seems to be working again -- at least for the time being. It started working just ten minutes before the beginning of the online jazz concert that I wanted to see.   I have just gotten off the phone after talking with my sister for more than one hour. I have a sneaky suspicion that her daughter told her I was depressed because of the dog situation. She asked me how things were going and I said not very well. I told her that I had run into some obstacles that I felt were insurmountable, and that I was giving up on the whole idea. She did not like that. She said there were solutions to everything, and that I needed to take it one step at a time, rather than to find an answer to everything all at once.   My sister also wanted me to join a writing class, which is being held at some of the local bookstores. I realize that she is trying to get me out with other people, but I would prefer that she try not to make choices for me. I realize that her intentions are very good.   Quotes for Success:   “No one can change another person’s beliefs. But you can be accepting of his beliefs and then slowly build an influence for the other person to change himself.”   Anonymous