The countdown is officially on.

My appointment last week was to take a series of vocational tests to see if I can read and add and there were some other weird tests that were more like a match game with open boxes that I had to fold in my head and decide what shape they took.  Before I left the lady who gave me the tests had graded the first set and told me I was so far above average.  She said that based on what she saw I am "at college level."  Nice....

Monday I had 2 doctor appointments for independent medical exams and those are to see if I need more medical help and if I really am at a category 3 disability, or if I have gotten "better."  I was very careful with the psychological exam, I tried to laugh instead of cry...I don't want anyone to say I need to stick around for the next 6 months or whatever for treatment I have  yet to receive.  I told him that I believe (and I really do) that if I was left alone to my own devices I would do much better with my life than this constant waiting for some one else to decide what I should do with my life, then I told him what my plans and goals are.  He pretty much said that I am right, there are many plus's to allowing my case to close and doing things on my own without their "help."

So now the countdown is on.  My lawyer told me that these 2 doctors had 14 days to write their reports but I forgot to ask if that was 14 days or 14 working days so I am taking into consideration that we have a holiday weekend and have put on my calendar December 12 as the final day to receive the reports, which is only a few days from the deadline I gave to myself.  Which is in 3 weeks....that means that if I am still on Workman's Comp in 3 weeks I will be moving to the next largest town from me, Vancouver, WA...40 miles from me now.  The very last thing I want to do is move twice but if I have to I will.

As far as Thanksgiving, I wouldn't do anything if I were by myself but I have a daughter here.  There were many years while they were growing up when we had next to nothing but I always tried to do something special for holiday's, and just because my kids are adults that hasn't changed.  The problem is all my pans and dishes are packed, so we are doing something different....I asked her what she would like for dinner and she chose fried chicken and potato salad so that's going to be our Thanksgiving dinner this year.  And really, who says you have to have turkey for Thanksgiving??

I hope everyone has a great holiday weekend and no matter how bad things are, there is always something to be thankful for.  I am thankful for my family, as always.  I am also thankful that my nephew came through his surgery on Monday with flying colors.  Love you, Joe :)

There's been a slight change of plans

First, I got a new computer (yippy!!)  It's an el-cheapo (Emachine) but it will work until I can afford a better model, I hope.  I also splurged for Office 2010, and I will explain why in a minute.

It seems I have 3 more doctor appointments (I didn't know about the 3rd one until this morning) I have to go to, and that means I will be here in the Pacific Northwest for at least 2 more months, one for the appointments and one waiting (it's all I seem to do anymore, wait...) for the reports the doctors are to write.  There was a few days I had to double my Prozac when I learned about this delay.  My whole point in wanting to move now was so I could (1) avoid the snow in the mountains and (2) register for the winter classes in Nevada, but it seems Workman's Comp has other ideas, again.

So I am considering a small move to Vancouver, WA.  It's a larger town than the one I live in now and just across the river from Portland, OR.  There should be more opportunity for a job, even a minimum wage job, there than here, at least until the spring thaw.   Unless we have a very warm winter with little snow in the mountains but I doubt it.  My daughter just moved up here with me to help me move and I may try it but I will have to see how bad the weather is when the time comes.

I have been crazy out of my mind, another Halloween and Christmas away from all my grand kids.  I feel like the time is slipping away from me and before I know it, I am going to miss the best part of their lives.  I know that's a bit silly, being a part of their lives, any part, is important....I just miss them terribly.  And I am sick of living out of a box.  Seriously!!  Not to mention the utter boredom.

So for the last couple of weeks, without a TV, news of any kind, radio, job, I have been making rugs.  I have made myself work for 8 hours every day and I have made 3 rugs and 2 pillows.  I haven't finished them, I will this week, but the really good news is that I have found a way to make them that isn't as expensive as the kits;  I can use my own designs and maybe sell them.  So I have found something I can do to pass the time that is constructive.  I'm also considering buying a sewing machine to make blankets to sell.

I splurged on Office 2010 because I am going to teach myself Excel and Word and PowerPoint (and whatever else is on here) just as soon as I learn this Windows 7 ( ha ha ha!!)  I know all of these programs in the very old versions (except for PowerPoint) but I need to know these things so I can put that on my resume.  Regardless of whether or not I look for a job up here or in NV I will need to know how to use them so I am going to use my time on learning all these new programs.

And I have given myself a due date.  If I am still here on December 15, I will move to Vancouver.  I also have to know these programs inside and out by then.  So this should be fun.  But for today I have some catching up to do in the election!!  I wonder, has anything changed or is it like a bad soap opera??  Let's find out!