Party room- a place for fun, pity, commiserating, or any other thing you come up with

[Mark N]

Lee, I am here fending off the cat that is acting crazy playing so much this morning. Some times I think I am just one of his play toys but he does come up and sleep on my lap. I hope you are in the middle of a good visit with your granddaughter. Yes teenagers aren't easy to deal with as I think it is a psycholgical condition that could be recognized. It was nice that she came back and told you she was sorry for how she responded to you before. Most would go on like nothing happened not realizing how much it helps to say your sorry once in a while.

I think men cook so much in some families because the woman enjoys the time off. I know I have done it because I enjoy it but Penny claims it is because I am a better cook. I know that isn't true but I could deal better with the kids not liking something I made that she could.

We are having a warm day today so I am going to get outside as much as I can. The yard could use some work so I guess I will be out there doing yard work.

[Mark N]

Well the weekend isn't off to a very good start as far as my pain levels go. My thoracic spine is still killing me and this flare is lasting longer than I had hoped it would. I k new better than to lift the table saw onto the table I had made for it to sit down in. Of course stubborn me had to go ahead and keep working to get it secured down before I stopped to give my spine a break. All the bending and twisting to get under the saw table and bring up the bolting straps didn't help matters either. Other than that it has been a decent day to start the weekend. It is supposed to be 20 degrees cooler today so I don't think I will be out in the yard like I was earlier. I was able to get the front yard mowed [about 5 minutes work] as the grass is really thick and growing fast. It is the part of the yard that I dug up all the grass and weeds, 2 yrs ago, and replanted seed to get a lawn started without all the weeds in it. Now it looks great but needs to be mowed frequently. I did the edging earlier in the week so I trimmed a few of our small hedges to keep them in control. Now I hope to go to sleep soon and wake up feeling much better - at least I can dream big dreams.

[Mark N]

I hope the mothers here had a good Mother's Day. We went to the kids house and helped them put in their new laminated hardwood flooring. Penny spent a lot of time with the two granddaughters and I overdid it helping with the floor. Getting up and down off the floor just took it out of me especially since I didn't sleep last night. It was a good time being with them and seeing how much the house is being improved and how the granddaughters are growing. Audyn is starting to scoot across the floor and you can tell she wants to crawl but can't quite figure it out yet. Emery was over her 24 hr illness and was going back and forth between grandma and Audyn or out with mom, dad, and grandpa working on the floor. It was a nice day out today but it was too cool. Tyrel said his unit is on schedule to rotate out in Dec and right now it looks like they would replace the unit in Kandahar but they are concerned about being sent into Syria. I have had enough of our troops in combat and hope they all come home soon. We have no business sending our men and women to Syria to die and we have been in Afghanistan too long. I know it doesn't worry Tyrel as it is the reason he went into the Airborne unit.
All in all it was a good day today and I am paying a price for the work but through exhaustion not increased pain.

[Mark N]

It turns out that Emery's 24 hour bug was Strep throat so they now have her on antibiotics trying to rid her of the bug. At least Emery isn't acting ill so the only concern is that it doesn't get worse. Audyn got her first tooth in and I thought Emery would be excited but Megan says she denies that Audyn has a tooth as she is "to little". She better figure out her sister is growing up and won't be a little baby any more. I overdid it today as I spent the evening making a bed frame to go along with the headboard I am making from an old door. I have a lot of work to do on the door but at least the frame is put together. It sure did wear me out and having my left side pain back [cervical down through my shoulder and my arm] didn't help. I am getting a massage tomorrow and I hope it helps as much as it did the last time I had this pain.

[Mark N]

I sure had a full three day weekend and still I am feeling it now. It was a nice visit with my mom and for the rest of the family to go to visit Penny's family. I wanted to go with them but the 7 hour trip was too much for me so they dropped me off to my mom's house. The girls were very good during the trip and once they got to Aunt's house. They were also very good at my mom's house and you couldn't want kids that young to do any better for that long trip. When we got back we called the kids to see how they were doing as they needed to do the chores for getting ready to go to work the next day. Emery was acting up because she needed more attention and a place to run off a lot of energy. Penny and I took her to the park to play and run around until I had to get back to my chair. When we got in the house Tyrel called and it was good to hear his voice. I found out that Penny had the wrong name of where his unit will be going in Dec; they are going to Qatar. After the end of the phone call Penny took Emery to the City Hall park to run around and Emery was ready to get to sleep by the time she got back here. Over all it was a good weekend and I hope all of you had a good weekend and remember the people that sacrificed their lives for our liberties and freedom.

[Jo6]

Happy Fathers Day Mark. To all other guys out here too.

I don't know if I have posted this or not , but l have been in the hospital. I went in on May 16 and got home May 20 th,late afternoon. When I w hen I feel ,. better I'll post with all the gory details.

Take all, Julia. s

[Leeaelle]

A belated Happy Fathers Day to Mark! I hope it was a great one!

And Jo ~ I'm so sorry you were in the hospital! I wondered where you were. I'm glad to "see" you, and I hope you're healing well. Will look forward to hearing about your visit! I hope it wasn't TOO awful.

I've been fighting with a "bum" arm - not sure what it is, whether it's bursitis or carpal tunnel. Doc doesn't know WHAT to do with me. I'm gonna try to get into a Neurosurgeon and see what he thinks. NUTS.

Hope everyone is doing well ! It's trying to warm up here in Michigan. Doing a pretty good job at it too. Take care all & God bless. Hugs, Lee

[Mark N]

Thanks for the Father's Day wishes Jo and Lee. I missed checking in here so I just now saw your post. The granddaughters came over today and like usual it was a treat. I grilled burgers and hot dogs after Penny and their family got back from the lake. The older one was exhausted from the lake but the younger one, Audyn had a nap in before coming over and was full of spunk. She just has so much joy that it seems to just pop out of her. She sits on the floor, when she isn't making me hold her [she really has to twist my arm I tell you] , and laughs and then crawls over sits and laughs clapping her hands. It is such a joy when they come over.

I have finished painting the bathroom after getting the new vanity in it, sure is much lighter now. I have been busy with making the headboard for our downstairs bedroom and making the vanity out of a old chest and vessel sink. The pain and discomfort is the same as always but it is like a part of me that I have had all my life. I hope evferyone has had a good couple of weeks and I look forward to seeing you posting.

[Mark N]

I thought I would stop in and wish everyone a Happy 4th of July. I have always seen it as an important celebration but with our son now in the Army it has even more significance for our family. I hope to spend some time with the granddaughters this week end as the kids are working on finishing up the flooring by doing the kitchen this weekend. Penny and I watch the girls and play with them so mom and dad can work uninterrupted. The weather report looks like a good one with moderate temperatures and only chance of scattered rain showers. I got the yard mowed and edged so I don't have to deal with it this weekend. I have finished up all the major work in the basement so it only leaves some touch up paint work along with some trim that needs to be applied. Next year I will have to find some projects to do as the yard and house will be finished, except for two bigger projects we would like to do. Of course the way things have been going I will have to work at just getting enough sleep and waking up enough to have some kind of life with my wife.

Happy 4th everyone.

[newcervie]

Happy 4th of July to everyone! Mark - That's nice that you and Penny watch the grandkids allowing your kids to work. Kids are doing well. My daughter developed an allergy to an antibiotic and developed a rash all over her body. It looked like she was sunburned. She recovered without additional intervention and is doing well. She was a trooper.

[Mark N]

Newcervie, Happy 4th to you. It is good to hear your daughter got over the rash from antibiotic without any more reaction that the rash. I hope it is only the one antibiotic she is allergic too.

[Mark N]

I had a pretty good weekend despite the pain. Saturday the kids and grandkids came over. I grilled steaks and chicken then the kids took Emery to a movie [Turbo] while Penny and I kept Audyn. Audyn has so much joy inside her it just bubbles out all the time. I love it that she always reaches for me to hold her when they come through the door. It doesn't take long before she wants down so she can go crawling off to explore. The kids and Emery said the movie was good.

Today Penny and I took Emery to the park so she could go down the slide and swing for a while. The kids were repainting the bathroom so they were busy just taking care of Audyn while painting so Emery was feeling a bit lonely. She had a good time at the park then we took her to the corner root beer stand for some ice cream. She then wanted to come to our house so we brought her over for a while. Penny drew pictures with crayons while Emery did her own drawings [they were using Mr Potato as their model]. After some time in my chair to let my back calm down I went back upstairs to give Penny a break [she was feeling sleepy]. Emery wanted me to read a book to her so I read the new one that came in the mail Reading to Tiger after that it was Wee Little Piggy. Emery likes it when I use different voices for the characters.

I hope everyone had a good weekend. Lee got some bad news about her health; I pray that her pain will be controlled and they find a cure for her.

[Mark N]

Someone with less persistence would shut down the room as it doesn't seem as if anyone is visiting any more. I am doggedly going to keep it open for a while at least the hope people will want to stop in and visit now and then.

Lee, I am praying for a cure for your spinal cancer. Even though you haven't communicated over the computer I hope you are still talking to others to help take some of the load off your shoulders. I was devastated by your news and hoping you can find a miracle.


I was over at the kids house building a new frame for their front door so it is more secure today. Despite doing too much and suffering the resulting pain it was nice to be needed. The benefit was I got to see the grand daughters for a few minutes when they got home. I need to get back and put up the trim tomorrow if I can get up. I am looking forward to a reunion with our state championship football team in August but dreading the trip [ 6 hours on the road] there and back.

[Melanie]

I'm embarrassed to discover it's been well over a year since I popped in here! I'm almost sure Mark will remember me....I hope anyway! I have the now no longer active Marine (Semper Fi!) I see Emery has a new sibling now, I bet that's fun ;) They grow up too fast that's for sure! My desktop computer died awhile back so we only have a laptop, it mostly hates me so I'm not on every day anymore, but I will try and check in more often. This place gave so much to me, and others, I just hate to see it go away. I'm currently not doing so great, another reason I'm not on much, but I'm still here!
M
PS. Tell Guido I have a new bikini

[Mark N]

Melanie, it is great to see you again especially in a new bikini,now Guido will be a handful once again. Like you I am not doing very well and have had to decline a trip back North [7 hr drive] for our State Championship team. The two grand daughters are such a treat and good kids that like to come over to our house or have us over. The youngest one always crawls over in a hurry for me to pick her up and then cries in a heartbroken way when I have to put her down and leave. It feels nice to have her love me so much but it is so hard to leave her. The older one always wants to come over to the house with us and it is hard to tell her she has to wait until her parents come over. We do have her over by herself but not as often as she wants to be.

Gad to hear your Marine made it through his service safe and sound. Our son is now in the 82nd Airborne because the Marines didn't have any openings for too long. He is enjoying his time but would like to see our troops home and keep our noses out of other countries business. He is in for 6 years so we have a while to be concerned about where he will be stationed. Right now he is at Fort Bragg but is scheduled to be rotated out in Dec although now that is up in the air. If they do go to Qatar as scheduled then he will go out to LA or CA for intensive training in October.


Are your son and DIL making any plans to make you a grandma? Grandkids are such a joy as we see them under good conditions and when they are fussing they go home with their parents. I am sorry to hear you are doing worse but I guess based on my getting worse it is expected. My mother is now dealing with spinal issues and starting to get an idea of what I have been going through for so many years. She has been supportive but still was concerned about my medication but now she is learning why we need the pain medication. It is sad she is dealing with it now as she has been in such good health until she turned 73.

I am thinking we may be the last two here on the Pain board and Spinal board but I will hang on hoping some new people show up. Please keep coming around as it is good to have someone to talk to.