Dedicated Dad: Check Your Email

[308Mike]

DD, check your email ASAP. If you haven't found work yet, I sent something your way that might be right up your alley to get you back on your feet financially.

[Dedicated_Dad]

Thanks for the heads-up, but I'm not yet able to WALK, thus also not able to work...

Still, I'll check mail and reply ASAP...

I'm actually working on a seriously ugly rig that I may be able to wear and walk without pain. Yesterday's experiment was very promising, I spent today on "V2" but have some problems to work out tomorrow... Still, very promising.

The older gent who gave me this idea also posited if I get it working and can go show it to the Docs, perhaps that will help them find what is wrong so they can FIX IT!!

At this point I'm afraid to jeopardize my disability, until I'm sure I'm able to handle going back full-time.

THANKS SO MUCH, though...

DD

[Netpackrat]

Please forgive me...

The bartender was washing his glasses, and an elderly Irishman came in and with great difficulty, hoisted his bad leg over the barstool, pulled himself up painfully, asked for a sip of Irish whiskey.
The Irishman looked down the bar and said, “Is that Jesus down there?” The bartender nodded and the Irishman told him to give Jesus an Irish whiskey also.
The next patron was an ailing Italian with a hunched back and slowness of movement. He shuffled up to the barstool and asked for a glass of Chianti. He also looked down the bar and asked if that was Jesus sitting down there. The bartender nodded and the Italian said to give Him a glass of Chianti, also.
The third patron, a democrat, swaggered in dragging his knuckles on the floor and hollered. “Barkeep, set me up a cold one. Hey, is that God’s Boy down there?” The barkeep nodded, and the redneck told him to give Jesus a cold one too.
As Jesus got up to leave, he walked over to the Irishman and touched him and said, “For your kindness, you are healed!” The Irishman felt the strength come back to his leg, and he got up and danced a jig to the door.
Jesus touched the Italian and said, “For your kindness you are healed!” The Italian felt his back straighten and he raised his hands above his head and did a flip out the door.
Jesus walked toward the democrat, and the democrat jumped back and exclaimed, “Don’t touch me, I’m drawin’ disability!”

[Dub_James]

Forgiveness? Think that actually happened...

[308Mike]

Forgiveness? Think that actually happened...

Of course the problem occurs when you have certain financial obligations and others are dependent on your support and ability to bring in income - and yet all the while you're fighting other people and organizations who are NOT following through on their stated obligations to either provide adequate medical care and/or disability income UNTIL YOU CAN GET BACK ON YOUR FEET.

If you've been following DD's situation, you'd understand he's been getting screwed all the way around while trying to get treated so he can GO BACK TO WORK.

It's a LOT different than those who sit at home drawing disability while sucking down a Bud and watching a taped game or watching soap operas.

If I had thought for a second that DD was milking the situation, I wouldn't be helping him or providing whatever assistance I could (within my meager means). The history of his situation is available for the reading, if anyone decides to take the energy and find out.

Read the history of what he's been going through and if YOU are then willing and able to go through the same crap he's been for the last year, perhaps you have standing to criticize - otherwise save the cheap comments for those who aren't willing to work for a living or trying to get back on their feet.

Otherwise, I suggest keeping the negative comments to yourself until you find a worthy candidate.

I have NO PROBLEM dissing those who aren't willing to go out and work even though they are able - having knee problems of my own puts me in a position to better understand what he's going through and the constant pain associated with the problems (particularly if it hasn't gotten any better). You really start to envy those you see getting out of their cars and WALKING NORMALLY into the store.

I don't know about DD, but there have been MANY times I wanted to stick a .45 against my knee and blow the damn thing off. So yea, I understand being a little sensitive about pointing fingers at those who WANT to work but maybe can't.

Sorry, my knee is killing me right now and the only thing I can do is ice it, take medications, and use a cane - and that's a FAR cry from when I used to be a triathlete. I NEVER thought I'd need a Disabled plate before I was 50.

There but for the grace of God.................

[Dub_James]

Er... I thought it was pretty clear I was commenting on NPR's joke...

You really think I was taking a shot at DD..?????

[Ben S]

I never read any of those comments as making light of DD's terrible situation.

As someone who worked for the Social Security Administration for a couple years during college, I can say from experience that when people are genuinely disabled, and want to be working, it's really a horrific thing.
Some people malinger. Sure. There'll always be dead weight in society. But some people really do try their best to be employed, and for one reason or another cannot. It is a blow not only to one's confidence, but to one's ego as well. It's pretty common for people to develop pretty serious depression during periods of disability.

308MIke- you were a triathlete? No way! As a runner and cyclist I really admire that. Last year I was actually training with a former Ironman competitor (competed in the early 2000's) who went to school with me. Now that was a humbling experience!!! Almost like when I went trail running with a Marine Corps sniper. I had previously thought I was a good trail runner. Guess again...

[Denis]

I also didn't read James' comment as having a go at DD - the difficulty of whose situation we all appreciate - or at anyone other than real malingerers. Perhaps a combination of Mike's own knee pain and a righteous dislike of scroungers made him a bit testy?

Now if you want to see real malingerers, here's what they look like.

[Termite]

Now if you want to see real malingerers, here's what they look like.

That's like people who are so morbidly obese that they get a "handicapped" plate for their car. And they park in the handicapped spots at the Chinese resturant with the all-you-can-eat buffet, while they're inside gorging themselves. My heart DOES NOT go out to them.

And I swear, Louisiana issues more handicapped plates than any other state that I know of.

[JohnOC]

Er... I thought it was pretty clear I was commenting on NPR's joke...

It would have been better to quote the 'forgive me' part of NPR's post, making it totally clear you were continuing the joking tone. It is not always enough that your post immediately follows the one you are commenting on.. sometimes another post will sneak in while you are composing your reply and the thread can be lost.