WOOHOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I DROVE TODAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
ok, it was like a 4 minute drive to my friends house for dinner, but still it is a start. I was also able to walk up her steps with considerably less pain then normal, and I was able to help her get stuff onto the table. I did not have to sit, and do nothing, it was great!
Oh, here is a pic of some of the H kids, cause I know it has been a while since y'all have seen any.
F OUT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Here we go again

Hello friends,
Just a short update on my life.
*so far, no job, but I am ever hopeful, and I have faith in Hashem, so I know something will turn up.
* I was denied unemployment benefits, but am, even now, drafting an appeal.
*I have the BEST friends in the world. In particular SMH who puts up with an insane amout of kvetching from me. Also of note lately is A who took the time to call me and leave a really nice, uplifting voice mail when I needed it the most.
*I started a new arthritis/psorisis treatment today. This was a VERY long process. The drug is called Remicade and it is (in concert with the Methetrexate) supposed to alleviate most of my symptoms. I sat in a recliner for 3 hours while the IV was administered. I did not have any negative reactions which is really good, and after just 1 treatment, I have already experienced some relief. I thought the nurse was nuts when she said I might feel better today. I go back in 2 weeks then a month after that, then 6 weeks after that, and so on, and so forth.
That is pretty much it from here. Have a good night all.
F OUT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Mazal Tov!

I went to New Jersey today (I know, I know, poor me). My first cousin had a baby boy, and those are rare in my family, so this was a BIG deal. Anyway, the Bris was today at 1 pm. My dad came and picked me up this morning, and off we went. It was certainly the most interesting Bris I have ever been to. Anyway, feast your eyes on Joseph Nathan Lindenbaum (Yosef Natan) the newest memeber of the covenant of Avraham Avinu, and his big sister Beth, who is just too cute!
F OUT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Nachamu Nachamu Ami

So the 3 weeks, 9 days, Tisha B'Av are all over. B"H we can have some happiness now. I don't know if it is my unemployment, or my current medical condition, or the situation in the Holy Land, or what, but I certainly had NO problem being sad during the 3 weeks. Hopefully now that we are done some good things will happen.
I wanted to post what is a reproduction of my absolute favorite picture here. The original picture is from after the Israeli's have claimed the Kotel, and I think about it on Yom Yerushalayim every year. Anyway, hope everyone has a good week, here is hoping we all have Soros Tovos!
F OUT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Good Shabbos

It is 2:55 am here. I just wanted to post these pictures. Every time I see pictures like this I want to cry. Please step up your Tehilim and your Tefilos, keep these people in your hearts. Hashem Yishmor!
If I do not have another chance to get here before Shabbos then Good Shabbos to you all. In all fairness I stole these pics from Mrs. Druyan, but I am sure she would not mind.
F OUT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

.................

I am sure that most of you have heard by now. I am job hunting again. If anyone has any bright ideas please let me know.
F OUT!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hiya

Today is Tuesday. Nothing exciting is going on. Currently the American League is losing the All-Star game, but I do not care so much since I have taken half a percoset. I am eligible for a new phone, and there are some really cute ones I could get.
I got to leave work a little bit early today because there was a black out, and clearly nothing I can do in that situation. I took the opportunity to go visit the H's which I have not done in a LONG time. I really really miss going there. :-(
My friend J came to visit this weekend, and we had a really nice time. We did a grand total of NOTHING since I am broken, but it was so nice to see him, and I am glad that he is doing well in his new job in Philly.
D, thanks for the Susan Kates files, I am loving it.
R, Sorry to hear about Syd. Let me know if you hear anymore.
That is all from here.
F OUT!

No interesting title.

I had a lovely visit from the P's yesterday. I have not seen them since October. That fact is really sad considering that they live in Silver Spring, which is clearly not the other end of the world. Anyway, we had a lovely visit, and I got to see baby A, who is not such a baby anymore. She is really getting big, KE"H. She will be a year old at the end of the month. She is so cute, and she crawls EVERYWHERE!!!!
F OUT!!!!!!!!!!!!

update....

I have not posted in a while. I still have nothing exciting to say. Certainly not as much as my friend over at www.druyan.blogspot.com , in any case, I just thought I would sort of post something so y'all knew I was alive.
My sister came to visit on Tuesday. We went out to dinner with Carrie, which was nice. We hung out a little then went to sleep since I had to go to work Wed. That was it. I guess I will see her again when she swings by in 6 months or so for Thanksgiving.
So that is all from here. I hope other people are having a more exciting life than me.
F OUT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Waving

I am waving at all the millions of people who read this..... There, I am done..... Those 2 adorable boys to your left are MMH and my honorary nephew Meish. Are they not super cute? Check out the giggle on MM's face! I really have nothing new to ad. I am still not getting better. I do not appear to be getting much worse either, so that is somthing. Anyway, I am going to go to bed. I have been zonked out and feeling weird for hours (pain pills and ambien) but cannot seem to find a comfy position in my new comfy bed! GRRRRRRRRRRRRR.....................................
F OUT

hello world

I have not posted in a while, and that is pretty much cause I have nothing new to say. I went to the Doctor on Wednesday, and he told me that it had not been enough time for the meds to work, so I guess it will be a while longer.
I spent Shabbos with the Efrex family, at the H's, and it was really nice. I am sure it would have been nicer, had I not been gorked out on pain meds, but in general it was nice. I met baby efrex, who I had only seen in pics before. He is super cute, and appears to be quite fond of his "doda Faye" which is nice. I am including some pics of baby efrex, and of me and his mommy.
Thank you to all of my friends who have been calling and visiting and generally being concerned. I appeciate all of your well wishes.
F OUT!!!!!!!!!!!!!

All Hail Broadway!

Something I actually miss about New York. The theater. Tonight the Tony Awards are on, and I am enjoying them immensely. I want to see so many of the plays, but I know it will not happen. I did happen to think the bits with the knights from Spam-a-lot was a riot.
Have a good night.
F OUT!!!!!!!!!!

hi

Ok that is clearly me on the left there....... My friend is quite the photog. Managed to make even me look good. Last night he took me and another friend to see a movie. The movie was good (I thought), but it was tough to sit through. I cannot wait for the day when I can sit through a 2 hour movie without pain, and when I can park the car in the parking lot and walk into the theater like a normal person. Unfortunately I do no tthink that is happening anytime soon.
On the plus side my good friends from Washington Heights are supposed to be coming for Shabbos, so that will be nice. I have never met their son, so that will be super cool. That is all for now. The Orioles play at 2 pm, so I will watch them later. Feel free to call!
Happy Sunday y'all
F OUT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

GRRRRRRRRRRRr

Just a quick medical update for the 4 of you that read this. I went to the podiatrst last night cause I am still in pain, and he decided that my orthotics need to be fixed. So I am still having pain from the arthritis in my feet, as well as pain from the orthotics, which are hopefully going to be better when they come back. Yesterday i woke up and I could not hear out of 1 ear. Today I went to the ENT who looked in my ear, and promptly invited me to go to the room with the giant microscope in it. He attached said microscope to my ear, then probed around with a long point thing (which HURT) then he administered drops, then he sucked up the whole thing with a vaccuum. The process was repeated like 5 times, which took close to an hour. The culprit? you may ask? PSORIASIS. I mean really people, in my inner ear! Is there no part of my body this stupid disorder will not mess with. In any case, he added 2 more meds to my regime, which brings my total to something like 8. ICK.
That is all for now. B"H I can hear again. I am going to bed now.
Layla Tov y'all!
F OUT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Shavous

Chag Sameach y'all! Happy Cheesecake!!!!!!!!!!

Holy Lack of Sleep Batman!

To all my friends who have kids,
I apologize! I know that you think that there is no reason that someone who does not have kids should not get great sleep every night. I am here to tell you, you are wrong! I just have been not sleeping well the last few nights (weeks). Hopefully it will get better, but currently it is just resulting in me being tired, and in pain when I wake up, which just makes me grumpy.
I may have the day off tomorrow, which would make me happy, but I will not know until later which is frustrating. Not that that is not the usual state of being with my job, but for once it would be nice to know in advance.
I went out last night with my friend, and discovered, that while sneakers impede my feet cause of the arthritis, sandals are even worse. I finally hobbled myself home around 3 am, tried to sleep, and failed miserably.
That is about where things stand here. I know, my life is so not exciting. Spartacus, thanks for taking care of me Thursday night. I hope to not have that particular reaction when I take the meds ever again, but hey it gave you something to talk to X about!
Have a great Sunday everyone!
F OUT!!!!!!!!!!!

Meh!

Not progressing as I would like. I am in much too much pain for the amount of meds I am on............. (title stolen from Spartacus)

Finally.....

Firstly, I hope everyone had a good Shabbos, or a fun weekend so far. Secondly, I want to apologize for my lack of blogging lately. I know some of you still read this, and I apologize. Most of you know that work has not been going so well lately, and that I have been in a lot of pain. As far as work goes, hopefully it will work itself out. As far as the pain goes, I got my first glimpse of hope in a long time this week. I went to see a rheumatologist (an appt. I made 3 weeks ago, but apparently the guy is hard to pin down) on Thursday. I was having a lot of trouble just walking, as I have been for a few months now. I finally shuffled my way into his office, and he said I looked like I was in a lot of pain. He spent a lot of time with me, both before and after the exam, and came to the conclusion that I have severe psoriatic arthritis. In short, he put me on lots of drugs, including a steroid to reduce the swelling in my feet, and so far B"EH it seems to be working. The treatment for the psoriatic arthritis will take a bit longer to show itself. Between 4-6 weeks to be exact. There are some nasty side effects, but we discussed them, and it appears that this is the more advantageous way to go. The particular treatment that I am on is said to be effective in about 80% of cases, so here is hoping! Anyway, I am going to go put heat on my hip (I have bursitis too) and watch the Orioles lose. Have a great night y'all!
F OUT!!!!!!

Hello World

Just a quick post to say Good Shabbos to everyone. I hope that everyone has had a successful week. As for me, I just glad that Shabbos is here. I have nothing of real import to say here, but I will say that I am currently highly amused by the musings of my friend Mrs D, who is blogging about her brand new, adorable (KE"H) daughter SR. She is a trip. I miss you M!
F OUT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Thanks!

Friends,
Thank you! I know I have been whiny for weeks now, and complainly for weeks as well. I just wanted to say thank you for hanging in there with me. I know that I will get better, and that this will not be forever. R, thanks for listening to me. I know that you will make the right decisions, and I see a bright future for you! A, thanks for reminding me to think positive, so far it is helping. SM, thanks for everything, as always! Don't worry, your family (and his) will stop driving you crazy, eventually. S, I hope you had success as Kohls. Thanks for listening to me, I miss you!
Ok people, as you know, I am sleep deprived, so I am going to try to sleep nowish, since I am almost finished icing my foot.
F OUT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!