Remember me? Kind of long......

It's been a long time and I've been so crazy busy. I'm not running my
very political website anymore, as I've invested all of my time into my
photography. And, believe me, I mean all my spare time. That's not to
say that politics don't interest me. They do now, more than ever, but
I'm not going to turn this into a political rant. For those of you who
know me, you already know where I stand. :-)

I'm still the working stiff that I was the last time I posted, though I
am finding it harder and harder to cope, and I so much look forward to
retirement. My coping mechanisms, or lack thereof, have nothing to do
with my arthritis. Instead, it's just that I'm sick of working like a
dog for 40 long hours a week. My job is stressful, and I tend to run
from like hell from stress. And, I have this lazy streak......

Speaking of my health, I'm doing really well. I'm still taking Enbrel
to calm the misery of inflammation. It just works so well for me.
Without telling my RD, I stopped taking it a few months ago, just
because I'm just sick of it, but after a few weeks, my hip pain started
screaming back. Not good. Enbrel enables me to experience mere
twinges, but that's all. It continues to be my miracle drug. I'm not
on MTX or pred anymore. The Enbrel holds me fine. I think that it's
really because, based on your experiences here, I really only have a
mild case of PS. I'm doing pretty well.

What has been getting me crazy, though, is my knees, and particularly my
left knee. It's been a problem for a long time, and now my RD is going
to do the Hyalgen therapy on my knees. I'm scared like you wouldn't
believe. I had xrays which show my knees to be really in OK shape, just
mild-mod OA, which makes me a prime candidate for Hyalgen. But, 5
injections in each knee over 5 weeks seems like a grueling regimen.
I'll be strong. My biggest problem with my knees is going up and down
stairs, particularly down. On even ground, I'm OK. But, I live in an
upstairs apartment now, and when I have to go anywhere, ie work, I just
stand at the top of the stairs, and just want to jump. Instead though,
I just grimace my way down. Once down, I'm fine.

Maybe in my next post, I'll update you some more. Maybe even I'll stick
around for a while. I certainly need the support as I go through the
Hyalgen stuff. Have any of you gone through it? It used to be a series
of 3 injections, but they upped it to 5, after finding that those extra
two can actually double the benefit length. So, I guess it's worth it.

Peace all, and it's sure is comforting seeing some of you ol' timers
here. A few names seem conspicuously absent, but I'll get filled in as
I read along.
--
Di
zinkadoodle at gmail dot com
www.dustydogdigital.com

Sooo, glad you checked in. I was starting to worry about you. Be well, do
well and enjoy life.
Harv
"Di" <zinkydi@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:MPG.22d1c6e188dd800a98973e@news.optonline.net ...
> It's been a long time and I've been so crazy busy. I'm not running my
> very political website anymore, as I've invested all of my time into my
> photography. And, believe me, I mean all my spare time. That's not to
> say that politics don't interest me. They do now, more than ever, but
> I'm not going to turn this into a political rant. For those of you who
> know me, you already know where I stand. :-)
>
> I'm still the working stiff that I was the last time I posted, though I
> am finding it harder and harder to cope, and I so much look forward to
> retirement. My coping mechanisms, or lack thereof, have nothing to do
> with my arthritis. Instead, it's just that I'm sick of working like a
> dog for 40 long hours a week. My job is stressful, and I tend to run
> from like hell from stress. And, I have this lazy streak......
>
> Speaking of my health, I'm doing really well. I'm still taking Enbrel
> to calm the misery of inflammation. It just works so well for me.
> Without telling my RD, I stopped taking it a few months ago, just
> because I'm just sick of it, but after a few weeks, my hip pain started
> screaming back. Not good. Enbrel enables me to experience mere
> twinges, but that's all. It continues to be my miracle drug. I'm not
> on MTX or pred anymore. The Enbrel holds me fine. I think that it's
> really because, based on your experiences here, I really only have a
> mild case of PS. I'm doing pretty well.
>
> What has been getting me crazy, though, is my knees, and particularly my
> left knee. It's been a problem for a long time, and now my RD is going
> to do the Hyalgen therapy on my knees. I'm scared like you wouldn't
> believe. I had xrays which show my knees to be really in OK shape, just
> mild-mod OA, which makes me a prime candidate for Hyalgen. But, 5
> injections in each knee over 5 weeks seems like a grueling regimen.
> I'll be strong. My biggest problem with my knees is going up and down
> stairs, particularly down. On even ground, I'm OK. But, I live in an
> upstairs apartment now, and when I have to go anywhere, ie work, I just
> stand at the top of the stairs, and just want to jump. Instead though,
> I just grimace my way down. Once down, I'm fine.
>
> Maybe in my next post, I'll update you some more. Maybe even I'll stick
> around for a while. I certainly need the support as I go through the
> Hyalgen stuff. Have any of you gone through it? It used to be a series
> of 3 injections, but they upped it to 5, after finding that those extra
> two can actually double the benefit length. So, I guess it's worth it.
>
> Peace all, and it's sure is comforting seeing some of you ol' timers
> here. A few names seem conspicuously absent, but I'll get filled in as
> I read along.
> --
> Di
> zinkadoodle at gmail dot com
> www.dustydogdigital.com

Hello Di, how nice to see you on here again. And glad to see you are still
ejoying your photography. Please show us some of your wonderful pictures
again.

Sorry about your knees. Surely hope the Hyalgen treatments will work well
and you'll be so glad you took those shots. And I really do hope you will
stick around.
Gwen

************************************************** ******************************
I would rather live my life as if there is a God and die to find out there
isn't, than live my life as if there isn't and die to find out there is.

"Di" <zinkydi@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:MPG.22d1c6e188dd800a98973e@news.optonline.net ...
It's been a long time and I've been so crazy busy. I'm not running my
very political website anymore, as I've invested all of my time into my
photography. And, believe me, I mean all my spare time. That's not to
say that politics don't interest me. They do now, more than ever, but
I'm not going to turn this into a political rant. For those of you who
know me, you already know where I stand. :-)

I'm still the working stiff that I was the last time I posted, though I
am finding it harder and harder to cope, and I so much look forward to
retirement. My coping mechanisms, or lack thereof, have nothing to do
with my arthritis. Instead, it's just that I'm sick of working like a
dog for 40 long hours a week. My job is stressful, and I tend to run
from like hell from stress. And, I have this lazy streak......

Speaking of my health, I'm doing really well. I'm still taking Enbrel
to calm the misery of inflammation. It just works so well for me.
Without telling my RD, I stopped taking it a few months ago, just
because I'm just sick of it, but after a few weeks, my hip pain started
screaming back. Not good. Enbrel enables me to experience mere
twinges, but that's all. It continues to be my miracle drug. I'm not
on MTX or pred anymore. The Enbrel holds me fine. I think that it's
really because, based on your experiences here, I really only have a
mild case of PS. I'm doing pretty well.

What has been getting me crazy, though, is my knees, and particularly my
left knee. It's been a problem for a long time, and now my RD is going
to do the Hyalgen therapy on my knees. I'm scared like you wouldn't
believe. I had xrays which show my knees to be really in OK shape, just
mild-mod OA, which makes me a prime candidate for Hyalgen. But, 5
injections in each knee over 5 weeks seems like a grueling regimen.
I'll be strong. My biggest problem with my knees is going up and down
stairs, particularly down. On even ground, I'm OK. But, I live in an
upstairs apartment now, and when I have to go anywhere, ie work, I just
stand at the top of the stairs, and just want to jump. Instead though,
I just grimace my way down. Once down, I'm fine.

Maybe in my next post, I'll update you some more. Maybe even I'll stick
around for a while. I certainly need the support as I go through the
Hyalgen stuff. Have any of you gone through it? It used to be a series
of 3 injections, but they upped it to 5, after finding that those extra
two can actually double the benefit length. So, I guess it's worth it.

Peace all, and it's sure is comforting seeing some of you ol' timers
here. A few names seem conspicuously absent, but I'll get filled in as
I read along.
--
Di
zinkadoodle at gmail dot com
www.dustydogdigital.com

In article <12768$4867feb6$45491df5$16941@KNOLOGY.NET>,
sweetpickleNO@SPAMknology.net says...
> Hello Di, how nice to see you on here again. And glad to see you are still
> ejoying your photography. Please show us some of your wonderful pictures
> again.
>
> Sorry about your knees. Surely hope the Hyalgen treatments will work well
> and you'll be so glad you took those shots. And I really do hope you will
> stick around.
> Gwen
>
>
Thanks, Gwen. And, thanks so much for keeping me on your mailing list.
I do get all you email, the latest being the Happy 4th of July email.
As for my photos, I've upgraded to a pro site, www.dustydogdigital.com .
One day, I was trying to come up with a name for my site, when Zuki came
in from under the porch. I hated that she went under there, as it made
her a mess, but she loved it, and it was like a den for her. Anyway,
she came in, I reached over to pet her, and a cloud of dust came off
her. My website has been Dusty Dog Digital ever since. :-) I miss
that dog so, so much. She totally redefined my life. But, now she's
gone, and maybe some day I'll get another dog, but not now. I'm just
not ready.

Di
www.dustydogdigital.com

Oh, my gosh, Di, how wonderful to see you name on the board!!!

Soooooo glad you checked in.

Am so sorry to hear that you lost your beloved Zuki though!
Heartbreaking!!! Do you have any pets at the moment?

I think the last time you checked in, weren't you still living in the
house?

Glad to hear the enbrel is working so well for you as you really had a
time there for awhile with your hips and your back and such.

I just found out about a month ago that I need a knee replacement in my
left knee, but until that can be arranged and such, the doctor wants to
try the synvisc shots to try to ease some of the pain. Like you, I am a
bit hesitant about it and hope it won't be as bad as I am thinking it
will be!!! I'll say a prayer that your series of injections goes well
and does the trick for you!!!

Glad to hear you are still so active with your photography, as you are
so talented in that area!!! Any time you are ready to share pictures,
just let us know as we are always ready to take a look. You do such
beautiful work!!!

Hope you'll stick around and at least pop in from time to time to let us
all know how you are doing!!!

Great to get the update from you and know you are still around!!!


Hugs,

..
..
..
..

Donna
..
..
..
..
1.) ANGELS EXIST, but some times, since they don't all have wings, we
call them FRIENDS......


2.) J.K.M.A.

2.) J.K.M.A.

Yea!!!!! I was thinking about you heavily two days ago. Of course my
own personal reality would be very happy to have you post regularly.
I am very interested in how the hyalgen injections work for you.
Heard from Johnie lately?

m

Hi Di!!!!!!! It's good to see you. not only are you remembered, but you are
thought about with reasonable regularity! I really kept thinking about you
this ast spring when I had to buy a new digital camera when the one I had was
declared unrepairable just 6 weeks before our vacation to Paris. Trying to
decide which ultra-zoom was preferable from the middle of nowhere was a
chore! And why do so many of them have those proprietary battery packs now?
rechargeable is nice, but that gets complicated when traveling oveseas. so
much for my camera rant - except that I left the booklet home by accident
which left me using up my AA batteries, trying to figure out how to do
things! LOL

It's just wondeful that Enbrel is holding you so well. You realize of course
that I'm going to chew you out for trying to stop it for a while, don't you?
After all you went through with the Kineret, be glad Enbrel is so much kinder
and remember that needle is your friend.

I love the name of your new photography site and the story makes it even
better. So very sorry to hear about Zuki though. I know she truly was a
trusted companion. Another pet will find you when the time is right. that's
something I've come to believe since our cat totally captured the hearts of 2
lifelong dog people.

No advice for you about the Hylagen, but I'll send tons of positive thoughts
and prayers that it works. I recall living in walk-ups when feet or knees
were killing me and i took so much courage just to get down the stairs. We
need to get that easier on you!

Stick around if you can. The group isn't as verbose as it was in the days
before AOL dropped newsgroups but that does make it easier to keep up -
though we miss many friends we lost at that time.

--
Nann
remove the Gator cheer to email me
Change everything. Love & forgive.

"Di" <zinkydi@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:MPG.22d1c6e188dd800a98973e@news.optonline.net ...
> It's been a long time and I've been so crazy busy. I'm not running my
> very political website anymore, as I've invested all of my time into my
> photography. And, believe me, I mean all my spare time. That's not to
> say that politics don't interest me. They do now, more than ever, but
> I'm not going to turn this into a political rant. For those of you who
> know me, you already know where I stand. :-)
>
> I'm still the working stiff that I was the last time I posted, though I
> am finding it harder and harder to cope, and I so much look forward to
> retirement. My coping mechanisms, or lack thereof, have nothing to do
> with my arthritis. Instead, it's just that I'm sick of working like a
> dog for 40 long hours a week. My job is stressful, and I tend to run
> from like hell from stress. And, I have this lazy streak......
>
> Speaking of my health, I'm doing really well. I'm still taking Enbrel
> to calm the misery of inflammation. It just works so well for me.
> Without telling my RD, I stopped taking it a few months ago, just
> because I'm just sick of it, but after a few weeks, my hip pain started
> screaming back. Not good. Enbrel enables me to experience mere
> twinges, but that's all. It continues to be my miracle drug. I'm not
> on MTX or pred anymore. The Enbrel holds me fine. I think that it's
> really because, based on your experiences here, I really only have a
> mild case of PS. I'm doing pretty well.
>
> What has been getting me crazy, though, is my knees, and particularly my
> left knee. It's been a problem for a long time, and now my RD is going
> to do the Hyalgen therapy on my knees. I'm scared like you wouldn't
> believe. I had xrays which show my knees to be really in OK shape, just
> mild-mod OA, which makes me a prime candidate for Hyalgen. But, 5
> injections in each knee over 5 weeks seems like a grueling regimen.
> I'll be strong. My biggest problem with my knees is going up and down
> stairs, particularly down. On even ground, I'm OK. But, I live in an
> upstairs apartment now, and when I have to go anywhere, ie work, I just
> stand at the top of the stairs, and just want to jump. Instead though,
> I just grimace my way down. Once down, I'm fine.
>
> Maybe in my next post, I'll update you some more. Maybe even I'll stick
> around for a while. I certainly need the support as I go through the
> Hyalgen stuff. Have any of you gone through it? It used to be a series
> of 3 injections, but they upped it to 5, after finding that those extra
> two can actually double the benefit length. So, I guess it's worth it.
>
> Peace all, and it's sure is comforting seeing some of you ol' timers
> here. A few names seem conspicuously absent, but I'll get filled in as
> I read along.
> --
> Di
> zinkadoodle at gmail dot com
> www.dustydogdigital.com

Hi Di!

Good to hear from you!

>
> I'm still the working stiff that I was the last time I posted, though I
> am finding it harder and harder to cope, and I so much look forward to
> retirement. My coping mechanisms, or lack thereof, have nothing to do
> with my arthritis. Instead, it's just that I'm sick of working like a
> dog for 40 long hours a week. My job is stressful, and I tend to run
> from like hell from stress. And, I have this lazy streak......

Have to say I know exactly how you feel about working. The closer I get to
the end, the more I want
the end to come. Perhaps it's just age and having done for so long that we
desperately need change.
The state is hurting big-time and may offer early outs. I'll be gently
jumping at it if they do. Can't leap anymore you know. They're also
"threatening" to reopen the Constitution and if that happens I'm out before
they can screw us out of what has been promised in the past.

>
> Speaking of my health, I'm doing really well. I'm still taking Enbrel
> to calm the misery of inflammation. It just works so well for me.
> Without telling my RD, I stopped taking it a few months ago, just
> because I'm just sick of it, but after a few weeks, my hip pain started
> screaming back. Not good. Enbrel enables me to experience mere
> twinges, but that's all. It continues to be my miracle drug. I'm not
> on MTX or pred anymore. The Enbrel holds me fine. I think that it's
> really because, based on your experiences here, I really only have a
> mild case of PS. I'm doing pretty well.

It is always cause for major celebration around here to hear of someone
managing thier pain.
I'll have one in your honor tonight after the board meeting of the Lodge. I
take this celebratory responsibility seriously you know. There is always
much cause for celebration and I try to do my part!!

>
> What has been getting me crazy, though, is my knees, and particularly my
> left knee. It's been a problem for a long time, and now my RD is going
> to do the Hyalgen therapy on my knees. I'm scared like you wouldn't
> believe. I had xrays which show my knees to be really in OK shape, just
> mild-mod OA, which makes me a prime candidate for Hyalgen. But, 5
> injections in each knee over 5 weeks seems like a grueling regimen.
> I'll be strong. My biggest problem with my knees is going up and down
> stairs, particularly down. On even ground, I'm OK. But, I live in an
> upstairs apartment now, and when I have to go anywhere, ie work, I just
> stand at the top of the stairs, and just want to jump. Instead though,
> I just grimace my way down. Once down, I'm fine.
>
> Maybe in my next post, I'll update you some more. Maybe even I'll stick
> around for a while. I certainly need the support as I go through the
> Hyalgen stuff. Have any of you gone through it? It used to be a series
> of 3 injections, but they upped it to 5, after finding that those extra
> two can actually double the benefit length. So, I guess it's worth it.

I've not had injections, but am interested in following your experience.
Left knee is not so good here and may wind up in your footsteps. Still a
golfing fool and the weather has finally been co-operating lately.
Best wishes,

GaryZ



>
> Peace all, and it's sure is comforting seeing some of you ol' timers
> here. A few names seem conspicuously absent, but I'll get filled in as
> I read along.
> --
> Di
> zinkadoodle at gmail dot com
> www.dustydogdigital.com

On Jun 29, 3:21*pm, Di <zink...@gmail.com> wrote:
> It's been a long time and I've been so crazy busy. *I'm not running my
> very political website anymore, as I've invested all of my time into my
> photography. *And, believe me, I mean all my spare time. *That's not to
> say that politics don't interest me. *They do now, more than ever, but
> I'm not going to turn this into a political rant. *For those of you who
> know me, you already know where I stand. *:-)
>
> I'm still the working stiff that I was the last time I posted, though I
> am finding it harder and harder to cope, and I so much look forward to
> retirement. *My coping mechanisms, or lack thereof, have nothing to do
> with my arthritis. *Instead, it's just that I'm sick of working like a
> dog for 40 long hours a week. *My job is stressful, and I tend to run
> from like hell from stress. *And, I have this lazy streak......
>
> Speaking of my health, I'm doing really well. *I'm still taking Enbrel
> to calm the misery of inflammation. *It just works so well for me. *
> Without telling my RD, I stopped taking it a few months ago, just
> because I'm just sick of it, but after a few weeks, my hip pain started
> screaming back. *Not good. *Enbrel enables me to experience mere
> twinges, but that's all. *It continues to be my miracle drug. *I'm not
> on MTX or pred anymore. *The Enbrel holds me fine. *I think that it's
> really because, based on your experiences here, I really only have a
> mild case of PS. *I'm doing pretty well.
>
> What has been getting me crazy, though, is my knees, and particularly my
> left knee. *It's been a problem for a long time, and now my RD is going
> to do the Hyalgen therapy on my knees. *I'm scared like you wouldn't
> believe. *I had xrays which show my knees to be really in OK shape, just
> mild-mod OA, which makes me a prime candidate for Hyalgen. *But, 5
> injections in each knee over 5 weeks seems like a grueling regimen. *
> I'll be strong. *My biggest problem with my knees is going up and down
> stairs, particularly down. *On even ground, I'm OK. *But, I live in an
> upstairs apartment now, and when I have to go anywhere, ie work, I just
> stand at the top of the stairs, and just want to jump. *Instead though,
> I just grimace my way down. *Once down, I'm fine.
>
> Maybe in my next post, I'll update you some more. *Maybe even I'll stick
> around for a while. *I certainly need the support as I go through the
> Hyalgen stuff. *Have any of you gone through it? *It used to be a series
> of 3 injections, but they upped it to 5, after finding that those extra
> two can actually double the benefit length. *So, I guess it's worth it.
>
> Peace all, and it's sure is comforting seeing some of you ol' timers
> here. *A few names seem conspicuously absent, but I'll get filled in as
> I read along.
> --
> Di
> zinkadoodle at gmail dot comwww.dustydogdigital.com

hi di good to see you Kate

In article <2184-48683CA1-591@storefull-3113.bay.webtv.net>,
DKGBeeker@webtv.net says...
>
>
>
>
> Oh, my gosh, Di, how wonderful to see you name on the board!!!
>
> Soooooo glad you checked in.

Hi Donna. Wow, good to be back here. I somehow feel so connected, even after all this time
>
> Am so sorry to hear that you lost your beloved Zuki though!
> Heartbreaking!!! Do you have any pets at the moment?

Yeah, losing Zuki was one of the toughest things ever. After surgery to
repair a herniated lumbar disk that resulted in nerve impingement, she
was doing so well. Then six weeks later, she went down again. Totally
down. After another MRI, turned out she had a condition called
fibrocartilagenous embolism in her cervical spine. It rendered her a
quaduplegic. A 110 lbs wolfdog quad was just awful. I had to have her
euthanized. I miss her so much.

I have two cats; the same two cats I had when with Zuki. A friend asked
me if the cats seemed to miss her. I dunno. They're cats. :-)
>
> I think the last time you checked in, weren't you still living in the
> house?

I was living in a house. But, when Zuki died, I knew that I just didn't
need all that yard, all that house, all that aggravation, so I moved
into an apartment close to work. It's so easy living here. And, what a
great move, given that the price of oil has skyrocketed (mission
accomplished), and now I don't have to pay $thousands$ to fill a tank of
oil. Heat is included in my rent. Honestly, I don't know how people
are going to get by this coming winter. It's so sad, really. But then
again, so many don't have houses anymore to heat. So, ........ I know,
can't stay away from the politics.

>
> Glad to hear the enbrel is working so well for you as you really had a
> time there for awhile with your hips and your back and such.
>
> I just found out about a month ago that I need a knee replacement in my
> left knee, but until that can be arranged and such, the doctor wants to
> try the synvisc shots to try to ease some of the pain. Like you, I am a
> bit hesitant about it and hope it won't be as bad as I am thinking it
> will be!!! I'll say a prayer that your series of injections goes well
> and does the trick for you!!!

Thanks for the prayers. I'll keep you posted. And, of course, good
luck with your knee. Sucks, but you'll do fine, I'm sure.
>
> Glad to hear you are still so active with your photography, as you are
> so talented in that area!!! Any time you are ready to share pictures,
> just let us know as we are always ready to take a look. You do such
> beautiful work!!!

I'm always ready to share pictures. Go to my website,
www.dustydogdigital.com . Let me know what you think.
>
> Hope you'll stick around and at least pop in from time to time to let us
> all know how you are doing!!!
>
> Great to get the update from you and know you are still around!!!
>
>
> Hugs,
>
> .
Hugs back at ya!
--
Di
zinkadoodle at gmail dot com
www.dustydogdigital.com

In article <ccbbb867-e112-42d0-9c05-3adb1e143f71
@l28g2000prd.googlegroups.com>, shenmei9wise@gmail.com says...
> 2.) J.K.M.A.
>
> Yea!!!!! I was thinking about you heavily two days ago. Of course my
> own personal reality would be very happy to have you post regularly.
> I am very interested in how the hyalgen injections work for you.
> Heard from Johnie lately?
>
> m
>
Thinking about me? Two days ago? Wow! Of course, I'm also very
interested in how the hyalgen works. :-) I'll keep you posted.

I was hoping that you could share some news about Johnie. I haven't
heard anything from him in forever. I sure hope he's OK. And, I bet
Kitty is still a mystery. She left the group forever. Has anyone ever
heard definitively what happened to her? I always loved that woman.
Loved her knife-like wit.
--
Di
zinkadoodle at gmail dot com
www.dustydogdigital.com

In article <b643d862-c191-4b6c-a07b-
80f151eb933e@f36g2000hsa.googlegroups.com>, Kropos@aol.com says...
>
>
> hi di good to see you Kate
>
Hi Kate! Hi GaryZ! Hi all!
--
Di
zinkadoodle at gmail dot com
www.dustydogdigital.com

In article <0001HW.C48DC8840158F1EDF0284550@news.east.earthli nk.net>,
hanbellGOGATORS@earthlink.net says...
> Hi Di!!!!!!! It's good to see you. not only are you remembered, but you are
> thought about with reasonable regularity! I really kept thinking about you
> this ast spring when I had to buy a new digital camera when the one I had was
> declared unrepairable just 6 weeks before our vacation to Paris. Trying to
> decide which ultra-zoom was preferable from the middle of nowhere was a
> chore! And why do so many of them have those proprietary battery packs now?
> rechargeable is nice, but that gets complicated when traveling oveseas. so
> much for my camera rant - except that I left the booklet home by accident
> which left me using up my AA batteries, trying to figure out how to do
> things! LOL

So, do tell. What camera did you end up with? Curious minds want to
know. Sorry I wasn't able to help. I was too busy with..... errrr.....
cameras. :-)
>
> It's just wondeful that Enbrel is holding you so well. You realize of course
> that I'm going to chew you out for trying to stop it for a while, don't you?
> After all you went through with the Kineret, be glad Enbrel is so much kinder
> and remember that needle is your friend.

You don't need to chew me out. My RD already did. Yeah, Kineret was a
nightmare. Enbrel is a Godsend.
>
> I love the name of your new photography site and the story makes it even
> better. So very sorry to hear about Zuki though. I know she truly was a
> trusted companion. Another pet will find you when the time is right. that's
> something I've come to believe since our cat totally captured the hearts of 2
> lifelong dog people.

Zuki was only 7 years old when I had to put her down. I feel so
cheated. But, even though I adamently abhor the cross breeding of
wolves and dogs, I feel honored to have spent five years of my life with
one. She was mostly wolf, the only thing shepherd about her was her
ears. The reason I got her was because she'd gone through 3 owners
before me who couldn't handle her at all. We indeed rescued eachother.
It's been almost a year and I still cry. I love my cats, but it's just
not the same.

>
> No advice for you about the Hylagen, but I'll send tons of positive thoughts
> and prayers that it works. I recall living in walk-ups when feet or knees
> were killing me and i took so much courage just to get down the stairs. We
> need to get that easier on you!
>
> Stick around if you can. The group isn't as verbose as it was in the days
> before AOL dropped newsgroups but that does make it easier to keep up -
> though we miss many friends we lost at that time.
>
>
Good to be back. I think I'll stick around for a while. I wish
rustbucket fell by the wayside, along with others. Too bad some of the
good folks had to leave. All we can do is hope they're doing well and
maybe they too will come back.
--
Di
zinkadoodle at gmail dot com
www.dustydogdigital.com

Di,


How are your ankles doing? Weren't you having some trouble with your
ankles and your back the last time you posted? I think both problems
stemmed from falls you had taken while out with Zuki or maybe one of
them was on a boat ride with your boss or something? My memory is a
bit foggy, so I may be way off base here.

I am so thrilled for you that the enbrel is doing so well. I did very
well on the enbrel too, but just got way too many infections with it, so
am now doing rituxan with mtx and imuran. That seems to do well for me
thus far.

So much has taken place since you were last here. Duckie and hubby
moved from boston to california and duckie is now a grandmother! She's
loving every minute of it too!!! Diane W. passed away and that was such
a big loss. I still think of her so often. Last time any of us heard
from Johnie, he was not doing so well at all. I wish someone would hear
something from him just so we know he is still around. We've lost
contact with a number of other regulars from moves or from aol and other
servers dropping news groups.

How are things now at work for you? Do you now have a boss that is
treating you well after all you went throuh there for a while?

..
..
..
..

Donna
..
..
..
..
1.) ANGELS EXIST, but some times, since they don't all have wings, we
call them FRIENDS......


2.) J.K.M.A.

In article <778-4869C7B5-194@storefull-3112.bay.webtv.net>,
DKGBeeker@webtv.net says...
>
>
>
>
> Di,
>
>
> How are your ankles doing? Weren't you having some trouble with your
> ankles and your back the last time you posted? I think both problems
> stemmed from falls you had taken while out with Zuki or maybe one of
> them was on a boat ride with your boss or something? My memory is a
> bit foggy, so I may be way off base here.
>
Your memory is quite good, really. I was having a miserable time with
my back, resulting from a boat accident that caused one of my vertebra
to fracture. I call it a boat accident for lack of a better term. Our
little boat hit a large ferry wake, causing lil ol' me who was sitting
on a box in the bow of the boat to bounce up, then back down, causing
the compression fracture. It took a long time, over six months to fully
heal. I have no back problems at all any more.

My ankle were, and always are issues. The incident you're referring to
is when I was playing with Zuki two summers ago. She ran at me, I
dodged her, turned my ankle, she ran into me, I went down having been
tackled by a 110 lbs dog, thereby fracturing my talus bone. That took a
long time to heal, but it's fine now. In fact, knocking on wood, that
was my last ankle injury. My ankles are so unstable, that injuries
happnen alot. But, I'm good for now.

> I am so thrilled for you that the enbrel is doing so well. I did very
> well on the enbrel too, but just got way too many infections with it, so
> am now doing rituxan with mtx and imuran. That seems to do well for me
> thus far.
>
Thanks. I'm doing well. I'm very glad you are also.

> So much has taken place since you were last here. Duckie and hubby
> moved from boston to california and duckie is now a grandmother! She's
> loving every minute of it too!!! Diane W. passed away and that was such
> a big loss. I still think of her so often. Last time any of us heard
> from Johnie, he was not doing so well at all. I wish someone would hear
> something from him just so we know he is still around. We've lost
> contact with a number of other regulars from moves or from aol and other
> servers dropping news groups.

I knew that Duckie and hubby moved to CA. But, a grandma! Congrats, Duckie and John! That's fabulous news.

I knew that Diane W passed away. In fact, I still have a photo of her
on my "In Memorium" gallery,
http://www.dustydogdigital.com/galle...38378988_4QuaS ,
from my trip to Orlando when I met her.

Also in that gallery is my memorium to Paul Rad. Remember him? I got
an email from his sister a few months ago. She was doing a google
search on his name, and came across my site. She was amazed at how many
internet connections and friends he had. She misses him terribly. I
responded with a long email about how I met him, and how it was he who
convinced me to buy my first digital camera. I never heard back from
her. That's OK.

And, of course, other memorable losses, including Zuki.
>
> How are things now at work for you? Do you now have a boss that is
> treating you well after all you went throuh there for a while?
>
Work has been very good, but very stressful and very busy. Every day is
a crazy busy day, with no let up. The superintendent, my new, though
acting boss, has agreed to make an emergency hire to get someone to help
me dig out of my horrific pile of work and filing and paper. He's OK,
and he is doing OK for the park. We're waiting on word of a new
superintendent now, as our past, and great superintendent was promoted
to be the Deputy Regional Director of the Northeast Region of the
National Park Service. We all miss him, but we also all know that he
deserved this promotion. He's a good man. The porno dirtbag is still at
the park, but I have next to no dealings with him. I still hate him to
the core. I have trouble sitting in the same room with him. He should
have been fired, but instead I got suspended. You all know the history.
It wasn't pretty. But, work goes on, and on, and on.........

Speaking of work, gotta get going. I smell that the coffee is finished,
and a shower is calling. Another day. Another dollar.

> .
>
--
Di
zinkadoodle at gmail dot com
www.dustydogdigital.com

Di,

I am glad you are doing somewhat better and that the Enbrel is really
working for you. I feel for you with the knees. Mine have been acting up for
about two weeks now so I feel for anyone with that issue.

I hope you get a break from work. Do you have vacation time coming that
maybe you could take to get a rest and break from it all.

I need your new addy so if you could email me with it and your old one too
so I can remember to delete the old one out I would appreciate it. I still
am sending out cards as I can.

I am so sorry to hear of your loss of Zuki. I feel for you and my heart goes
out to you big time. Take care sweetie and know we are all here for you.


--
Love and Hugs to all
Jo the squirrely one
I am nuts about you.

> It's been a long time and I've been so crazy busy. I'm not running my
> very political website anymore, as I've invested all of my time into my
> photography. And, believe me, I mean all my spare time. That's not to
> say that politics don't interest me. They do now, more than ever, but
> I'm not going to turn this into a political rant. For those of you who
> know me, you already know where I stand. :-)
>
> I'm still the working stiff that I was the last time I posted, though I
> am finding it harder and harder to cope, and I so much look forward to
> retirement. My coping mechanisms, or lack thereof, have nothing to do
> with my arthritis. Instead, it's just that I'm sick of working like a
> dog for 40 long hours a week. My job is stressful, and I tend to run
> from like hell from stress. And, I have this lazy streak......
>
> Speaking of my health, I'm doing really well. I'm still taking Enbrel
> to calm the misery of inflammation. It just works so well for me.
> Without telling my RD, I stopped taking it a few months ago, just
> because I'm just sick of it, but after a few weeks, my hip pain started
> screaming back. Not good. Enbrel enables me to experience mere
> twinges, but that's all. It continues to be my miracle drug. I'm not
> on MTX or pred anymore. The Enbrel holds me fine. I think that it's
> really because, based on your experiences here, I really only have a
> mild case of PS. I'm doing pretty well.
>
> What has been getting me crazy, though, is my knees, and particularly my
> left knee. It's been a problem for a long time, and now my RD is going
> to do the Hyalgen therapy on my knees. I'm scared like you wouldn't
> believe. I had xrays which show my knees to be really in OK shape, just
> mild-mod OA, which makes me a prime candidate for Hyalgen. But, 5
> injections in each knee over 5 weeks seems like a grueling regimen.
> I'll be strong. My biggest problem with my knees is going up and down
> stairs, particularly down. On even ground, I'm OK. But, I live in an
> upstairs apartment now, and when I have to go anywhere, ie work, I just
> stand at the top of the stairs, and just want to jump. Instead though,
> I just grimace my way down. Once down, I'm fine.
>
> Maybe in my next post, I'll update you some more. Maybe even I'll stick
> around for a while. I certainly need the support as I go through the
> Hyalgen stuff. Have any of you gone through it? It used to be a series
> of 3 injections, but they upped it to 5, after finding that those extra
> two can actually double the benefit length. So, I guess it's worth it.
>
> Peace all, and it's sure is comforting seeing some of you ol' timers
> here. A few names seem conspicuously absent, but I'll get filled in as
> I read along.
> --
> Di
> zinkadoodle at gmail dot com
> www.dustydogdigital.com

Hello Di,
I'm glad to see you back again and I love your pictures. I remember the
pictures of Zuki and the cats and your house.
It's sad that you lost Zuki. She was a special dog and you two did well
together.
Kitty was here briefly around an election time if I remember correctly,
and irritated one or two folks, but gave better than she took and then
left again. Like you, I always got a chuckle from her posts and hope
that she will return.
Glad to hear the job is going well but that jerk should not still be
where you have to see his face!
Ann

On Mon, 30 Jun 2008 6:09:10 -0400, GaryZ wrote
(in message <g4abc3$ln$1@registered.motzarella.org>):

> Have to say I know exactly how you feel about working. The closer I get to
> the end, the more I want
> the end to come. Perhaps it's just age and having done for so long that we
> desperately need change.
> The state is hurting big-time and may offer early outs. I'll be gently
> jumping at it if they do. Can't leap anymore you know. They're also
> "threatening" to reopen the Constitution and if that happens I'm out before
> they can screw us out of what has been promised in the past.

hmmmm, we know some folks in Chicago who taught/are teaching at Harold
Washington. Mike, who is in an email group with them, says they've been
sounding off about threatened cutbacks in their pension income. Frankly,
some of them - with Masters degrees - are maing more in retirement than the
two of us ever made collectively in any year of employment, so we aren't as
sympathetic as we could be. But I'm sure there are people on the lower end
of thepension scales who would be significantly hurt by the pension holiday.

--
Nann
remove the Gator cheer to email me
Change everything. Love & forgive.

On Mon, 30 Jun 2008 21:38:37 -0400, Di wrote
(in message <MPG.22d354a76b9b8144989741@news.optonline.net>) :

> fibrocartilagenous embolism in her cervical spine. It rendered her a
> quaduplegic. A 110 lbs wolfdog quad was just awful. I had to have her
> euthanized. I miss her so much.

Oh, how awful for both of you. My sister's last cat had a stroke when they
and I were all visiting Mother. Basically, she lost some movements of her
back half - we even wondered if she'd broken her back or a hip until Jean
took her to the vet. Anyway, even though she'd worked out a few tricks, that
pleading "help me" look in her eyes was heartbreaking.
>
> I have two cats; the same two cats I had when with Zuki. A friend asked
> me if the cats seemed to miss her. I dunno. They're cats. :-)

heh. the cat who adopted us a little over 2 years ago seems to think he is
part dog. He's a very emotional, very social guy.

>>
>> I think the last time you checked in, weren't you still living in the
>> house?
>
> Honestly, I don't know how people
> are going to get by this coming winter. It's so sad, really.

This past winter, the food pantry our church operates saw a 400+% increase in
usage. Folks can only come once/month, so going from 8 family units monthly
to 32-40 units was big. We put a lot of it down to the costs of gas and
heating fuel. i think the real heartbreker was the fellow who hadn't made it
in for two months despite great need because he couldn't afford the gas to
drive in from his farm. I gave him 2 months worth of stuff.

But then
> again, so many don't have houses anymore to heat. So, ........ I know,
> can't stay away from the politics.

It's hard, but we are all trying to be good as this election heats up. I do
wish they'd ALL stick to debating serious issues & conserns and all the
spreading of lies by supporters on both sides would stop. Wouldn't it be
refreshing to have an infusion of courtesy into politics?

--
Nann
remove the Gator cheer to email me
Change everything. Love & forgive.

On Mon, 30 Jun 2008 21:49:06 -0400, Di wrote
(in message <MPG.22d3571a61b78170989743@news.optonline.net>) :
> So, do tell. What camera did you end up with? Curious minds want to
> know. Sorry I wasn't able to help. I was too busy with..... errrr.....
> cameras. :-)

well, my brother and another friend helped. Unfortunately, through the help
of those two I ended up with serious camera lust issues.! Jim had me drooling
over some $900-1200 cameras but Mike wasn't agreeeing to that kind of outlay.

So, weighing thrift & foreign-traveling-gimp friendly features, I ended up
with the Canon Powershot S5 IS. It's been great thus far. My one complaint
is that the lens cap comes off WAY too easily. It has enough settings that I
can choose to manually shift around for me to pretty well satisfy me. I
still get nostalgic for my negelcted Canon 35mm, but I don't seem to be
drifting back to film.

I've nosed around on your site some and you really have taken some
spectacular shots. Looks like a good way to spend you spare time to me!

> You don't need to chew me out. My RD already did. Yeah, Kineret was a
> nightmare. Enbrel is a Godsend.

appreciate it and don't neglect it - my body reacted oddly to Enbrel, having
a phalanx of specialists scratching their heads.... but it all turned out to
be enbrel. And my RD reported me to the FDA. I was DMARDless for a while
and now am back on Arava, hoping it will actually hold me this time. (and it
might - I'm scared to say it, but even my fibro sympoms have been much better
since the arava kicked in this time. Makes no sense as I've been on arava
before, but I'll take it and hope that it lasts!)

> We indeed rescued each other.
> It's been almost a year and I still cry. I love my cats, but it's just
> not the same.

I think you and Zuki were meant to find each other.

> Good to be back. I think I'll stick around for a while.

Good!

--
Nann
remove the Gator cheer to email me
Change everything. Love & forgive.

In article <0001HW.C491893301810667F0284550@news.east.earthli nk.net>,
hanbellGOGATORS@earthlink.net says...
> On Mon, 30 Jun 2008 21:49:06 -0400, Di wrote
> (in message <MPG.22d3571a61b78170989743@news.optonline.net>) :
> > So, do tell. What camera did you end up with? Curious minds want to
> > know. Sorry I wasn't able to help. I was too busy with..... errrr.....
> > cameras. :-)
>
> well, my brother and another friend helped. Unfortunately, through the help
> of those two I ended up with serious camera lust issues.! Jim had me drooling
> over some $900-1200 cameras but Mike wasn't agreeeing to that kind of outlay.
>
> So, weighing thrift & foreign-traveling-gimp friendly features, I ended up
> with the Canon Powershot S5 IS. It's been great thus far. My one complaint
> is that the lens cap comes off WAY too easily. It has enough settings that I
> can choose to manually shift around for me to pretty well satisfy me. I
> still get nostalgic for my negelcted Canon 35mm, but I don't seem to be
> drifting back to film.

The Canon Powershot S5 IS is a fine camera. Great resolution, great
zoom, I may have recommended that camera to you.

>
> I've nosed around on your site some and you really have taken some
> spectacular shots. Looks like a good way to spend you spare time to me!

Thanks
>
>
> appreciate it and don't neglect it - my body reacted oddly to Enbrel, having
> a phalanx of specialists scratching their heads.... but it all turned out to
> be enbrel. And my RD reported me to the FDA. I was DMARDless for a while
> and now am back on Arava, hoping it will actually hold me this time. (and it
> might - I'm scared to say it, but even my fibro sympoms have been much better
> since the arava kicked in this time. Makes no sense as I've been on arava
> before, but I'll take it and hope that it lasts!)

My fingers are crossed for you.
>
> > We indeed rescued each other.
> > It's been almost a year and I still cry. I love my cats, but it's just
> > not the same.
>
> I think you and Zuki were meant to find each other.

We most definitely were. My daughter actually offered (kidding of
course) to swap her two dogs for my one dog. She knew what a great dog
Zuki was. Yeah, dream on, I said. I need a chihuahua like a hole in
the head. Zuki and I walked miles and miles together, and I always had
my camera hanging around my neck. The whole neighborhood waved as we
went by; they stopped to say hello; we talked; I took photos of their
gardens, dogs and horses. Zuki and I became a neighborhood instituion
in no time. Now, where I'm living it's so more secluded and separated,
even though I live in an apartment complex. Zuki got me out, which is
one reason I got her in the first place. We needed eachother. I mourn
her with my entire heart and soul. When I was hurting, she was my
crutch. When I was walking on ice, she was my banister. When I needed
a laugh, she was my personal comedianne. When I needed protection, she
was my guardian. Someday, I hope to have another like her. Someday, I
will.
>
> > Good to be back. I think I'll stick around for a while.
>
> Good!
>
>
Thanks, again.
--
Di
zinkadoodle at gmail dot com
www.dustydogdigital.com