Man, these past few months have been a bitch

[Quakindude]

I just need to bitch and vent. So bear with me.

-Stepfather's lung cancer has returned. He will not survive it this time. It is a slow growth type and is responding to radiation and chemo, but these treatments will not eradicate it. Just prolong the inevitable. I love my mom, so don't get me wrong when I say this, but when stepfather passes, I'll be the one having to take care of mom. I can't afford to put her in a home, she isn't that old (68) or incapable anyway, but she won't be able to afford to live on her social security. My siblings mean well, love her and us as any family does, but are not very well off financially. So I will have to adopt my mother to have health insurance for her.

-I seriously doubt I will be in the Army beyond my 20 years. I myself have been in the hospital three times in the last 6 weeks for severe headaches. I have 15 months to go to retirement, still present good military appearance, do my job very well and have the heart required. I just don't have the body. My left side is still 30% weaker than my right side and isn't improving any more. Doc's say this is permanent and probably why I have such bad headaches. My right side always trying to compensate for the weakness on the left. This seriously aggravates my back problems, three Blackhawk mishaps have caused me a small amount of back issues. I'm otherwise healthy though, so when I do retire, there won;t be any issues getting another job.

-Last month, I finally got the pool issues rolling towards a good conclusion. The pool was finished around the first of the month after a long and protracted battle with the first pool guy that ended in my talking to the Cops for a little while. No, not in a good way either.

-The pool is done, but no electricity to the pumps/lights. We are still waiting on the electrician to come hook it all up.

-Insurance company is still being difficult about final payments and such for the house and interior contents.

-The Army fired a guy at work who had a shit load of responsibility. Turns out he was a horrible supervisor and couldn't delegate tasks/stressed out/didn't do all he should have, etc. I was moved into his job. I've gone from 30 hours a week to at least 60. That's hours away from home. I'm coming home and doing work every night just trying to catch this place up.

-In my new job, we have a new tasking. Imagine if you had to train people where you work. For the last 40 years, you've had a dedicated school that teaches people how to run a forklift. Everyone at your work has worked around this equipment for years, probably used it already once or twice and are pretty comfortable with the mechanics of it simply from seeing it so much in the past. So your schooling them is easy. Now, your new tasking is turned into a dedicated job all by itself. You will only have new hires to train. None of the new hires has ever worked in ANYTHING remotely close to construction and need to learn all the common tasks associated with being a construction worker before you teach them about forklifts. That's my task. I'm having to integrate a new job into the Army with the same personnel (Instructors), equipment (Older than dirt) and budget as before, but train twice as many people who will require a hell of a lot of supervision (higher instructor to trainee ratio) and these new Soldiers will constantly break our stuff from ignorance, stupidity, carelessness or a combination of the three. That's just the nature of training new, young Soldiers. Our course is now 6 weeks long. The new course will take 12.5 weeks. My work hours will probably top 70 hours a week before the end of January 08.

-I've started having some pretty intense dreams again lately. Sleeping like shit. When I'm tired, my left side is weaker and my back hurts worse. I can't take painkillers for long due to the fact they, you guessed it, make my left side even weaker.


So overall, how am I doing? Man, better than I deserve and everyday is gravy. Things are stressful, a little uncertain and completely crazy, but overall, I'm pretty happy. We have a hell of a lot to be thankful for and no matter how bad things get, I can't get down for too long.

o Theres Service Men and Women in harms way. My worst day here is still better than their best day.

o I have a great family, a roof, my belly is full and my bills are paid. Can't bitch about too much with that.

o No matter what happens, I'm still going to die one day. No matter what, this body will be dirt one day. So why waste more than the time it took me to whine about my problems in this post worrying over these things?

I feel better.

[stinger608]

Ah man!!!!!! Keep your chin up bro, and try to make the best of things

All that ranting, about brought tears to my eyes man, I wish there was something I could do to help cheer you up man!

All the damn bullshit you have been through with the tornado in the last year, and the insurance company, I sure can see why you would be wanting to vent man...........

All I can tell you bro, is all of the great folks here at HL are with ya, and pulling for you Tom!!!!!!!!!!

[Dread]

Venting good.

Just remember to keep your feet n' knees together ;)

[Beetle Bailey]

And I thought being a Plumber was a Shitty Job?!! I feel your pain Bro! I have at least four applicants a week who say they can mustar up and work. Just to find myself doing everything plus keeping the boss happy. Hang in there man, it will get better. Bailey.

[Carl Martin]

Hang in there, brother. Keep counting your blessings, look forward to retirement and the new page in life that will open then, and never forget all the friends you have!

Carl

[azianai]

you definately need a hug from schermann. I'll arrange it =p

[RepliCarter]

Venting is a wonderful thing, it really helps relieve stress(I either rant to myself, my parents, in a journal, or to anyone who will listen).

I wish you the best of luck and will keep you in my prayers, but it's great that you're still happy despite all the craziness around you. :)

[tiredoldman]

Originally Posted by Quakindude

I just need to bitch and vent. So bear with me.

-Stepfather's lung cancer has returned. He will not survive it this time. It is a slow growth type and is responding to radiation and chemo, but these treatments will not eradicate it. Just prolong the inevitable. I love my mom, so don't get me wrong when I say this, but when stepfather passes, I'll be the one having to take care of mom. I can't afford to put her in a home, she isn't that old (68) or incapable anyway, but she won't be able to afford to live on her social security. My siblings mean well, love her and us as any family does, but are not very well off financially. So I will have to adopt my mother to have health insurance for her.

-I seriously doubt I will be in the Army beyond my 20 years. I myself have been in the hospital three times in the last 6 weeks for severe headaches. I have 15 months to go to retirement, still present good military appearance, do my job very well and have the heart required. I just don't have the body. My left side is still 30% weaker than my right side and isn't improving any more. Doc's say this is permanent and probably why I have such bad headaches. My right side always trying to compensate for the weakness on the left. This seriously aggravates my back problems, three Blackhawk mishaps have caused me a small amount of back issues. I'm otherwise healthy though, so when I do retire, there won;t be any issues getting another job.

-Last month, I finally got the pool issues rolling towards a good conclusion. The pool was finished around the first of the month after a long and protracted battle with the first pool guy that ended in my talking to the Cops for a little while. No, not in a good way either.

-The pool is done, but no electricity to the pumps/lights. We are still waiting on the electrician to come hook it all up.

-Insurance company is still being difficult about final payments and such for the house and interior contents.

-The Army fired a guy at work who had a shit load of responsibility. Turns out he was a horrible supervisor and couldn't delegate tasks/stressed out/didn't do all he should have, etc. I was moved into his job. I've gone from 30 hours a week to at least 60. That's hours away from home. I'm coming home and doing work every night just trying to catch this place up.

-In my new job, we have a new tasking. Imagine if you had to train people where you work. For the last 40 years, you've had a dedicated school that teaches people how to run a forklift. Everyone at your work has worked around this equipment for years, probably used it already once or twice and are pretty comfortable with the mechanics of it simply from seeing it so much in the past. So your schooling them is easy. Now, your new tasking is turned into a dedicated job all by itself. You will only have new hires to train. None of the new hires has ever worked in ANYTHING remotely close to construction and need to learn all the common tasks associated with being a construction worker before you teach them about forklifts. That's my task. I'm having to integrate a new job into the Army with the same personnel (Instructors), equipment (Older than dirt) and budget as before, but train twice as many people who will require a hell of a lot of supervision (higher instructor to trainee ratio) and these new Soldiers will constantly break our stuff from ignorance, stupidity, carelessness or a combination of the three. That's just the nature of training new, young Soldiers. Our course is now 6 weeks long. The new course will take 12.5 weeks. My work hours will probably top 70 hours a week before the end of January 08.

-I've started having some pretty intense dreams again lately. Sleeping like shit. When I'm tired, my left side is weaker and my back hurts worse. I can't take painkillers for long due to the fact they, you guessed it, make my left side even weaker.


So overall, how am I doing? Man, better than I deserve and everyday is gravy. Things are stressful, a little uncertain and completely crazy, but overall, I'm pretty happy. We have a hell of a lot to be thankful for and no matter how bad things get, I can't get down for too long.

o Theres Service Men and Women in harms way. My worst day here is still better than their best day.

o I have a great family, a roof, my belly is full and my bills are paid. Can't bitch about too much with that.

o No matter what happens, I'm still going to die one day. No matter what, this body will be dirt one day. So why waste more than the time it took me to whine about my problems in this post worrying over these things?

I feel better.

Hey Bro, Go for it ! You need to vent every now and then. Keeps you from going postal! Trust me, I know.
As you know, my cancer is still killing me,and the brain surgery they just did to take out those 3 golf ball sized tumors didn't do me no favors. After the bullet in the head oversea's,and the surgery, hell, I'm more brainless now than I ever was !!!!
It's okay Bro! Its a part of life, ya play with the cards dealt you, Play or fold. That simple. Lol.
As for USAA , you know I called them and canceled ALL of our dealings with them, Banking,Credit Cards, and Insurance coverages, auto and home.
They are a rip off and a lousy company to do anything for our millitary !or anyone else for that matter.
Good luck with the whole mess . Glad most things are working out for you and the family. God bless you all,and protect all of you.