What's going on in your life?

[Bertha Venation]

Good or bad.

[raccoon]

1. I feel real stressed out with my work. A new semester is about to begin--the deluge.

Also, I've had a lot of losses this year. Good friend moved away, favorite uncle had to go to nursing home,
sister did something that really hurt me, lost a cat.

But other than that, everything is coming up roses.

Seriously, I know I have it better than a lot of people. But it has been a rough year. "This too shall pass."

[Bertha Venation]

18. This too shall pass.

Cold comfort given your losses of the year. I'm sorry.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

2. Hey my dear Bertha...

You know about me already. I felt pretty lousy earlier this morning, but with a little food consumed, I do feel better. Just tired and sore.

I'm so sorry about your family situation. It's awful when our partners are suffering and there's nothing we can do to help.

[Bertha Venation]

19. Peggy

[mikeytherat]

3. Just got back from 12-hour surgery run for one of the kitties.

Weird Harold needed dental surgery, veterinarian friends who owe me favors have a great hospital, but they are 100 miles north of here. Early morning run up and back on I-95, surgery went great, somehow missed I-95's roadworks and accidents, home with groggy kitteh now.

mikey_the_rat

[Bertha Venation]

12. Wow.

You rock. Sometimes it's amazing what we will do for our pets. OTOH, not so amazing, because what else could we do but care for them?

[Throd]

4. Working a crazy amount of hours with no end in sight.

[Bertha Venation]

13. I wish you some really good rest. n/t

[Denninmi]

5. Um, yeah. Stuff.

I hate my job, and I work for the nicest guy in the world. The work never ends, and everyone wants their stuff done on the spot, doesn't matter what else has been waiting to get done. I'm just not in a place where I can make waves, so I just endure.

I haven't had anything to eat all day except for some rice cakes. And a whole lot of diet Rockstar. So I'm wired.

I voted in the Michigan Democratic Primary today. Actually, there were NO important primary contests on the Federal or State level, so I really almost wanted to do malicious crossover voting in the R primary just to fuck with them, but we have a slate of incumbent D's in our township who are doing a great job, and who are being challenged by some folks that I have doubts about. So I had to vote in that election to protect our incumbents.

I have a pretty major healthcare issue that needs attention which I am completely blowing off until I can't ignore it anymore, because the consequences of getting it treated could be very inconvenient to say the least. And, of course, because my insurance is essentially worthless, 5000 deductible, and I don't have an extra 5K sitting around.

I am the primary caretaker for my elderly mother who has moderate congestive heart failure, because hey, you know, why shouldn't they dump EVERYTHING on me? She needs to go to the doctor, I have to do it, even though when I take time off, I don't get paid for it because technically I'm only part time. Even though I've worked full time for about a year for various reasons.

Barack Obama is about to get re-elected because he is the far better choice and I don't see anything on the horizon short of some massive scandal or massive geopolitical event that can stop it. So that is a GREAT thing. Yeah Team!

It's not as hot here in Michigan as many places, and not as dry. But still hot enough and dry enough. My garden stinks this year due to the weather.

MAN-MADE climate change is about to kick Homo sapiens in the ass. And the far right will deny it to their dying day.

I have had trouble sleeping lately, so I have spent a lot of nights doing "theme nights" listening to music all night while surfing the web. Last night was Green Day night, I probably listened to at least 30 Green Day songs between 10:00 and about 4:00 this morning when I finally fell asleep.

I'm just a bundle of cheer!

[Bertha Venation]

15. Denninmi, anything I say might ring hollow, but

I sincerely hope that you find some peace amid your personal turmoil (and our collective political turmoil). I wish better health for you, and strength in caring for your mother.

And with all of this going on, you voted. If only the rest of the population were as bound by their civic duty. (My nephew, age 21, is a new resident of Michigan. I texted him yesterday to ask if he'd voted. He said "vote?" I said today was his primary day. He said "......awwwww......"

[Denninmi]

28. I don't know if it's turmoil.

I'm just stressed. Kind of like this:

There isn't much in life that I can't relate to a clip from Seinfeld!

[fizzgig]

30. you've got a lot on you right now

i wish i could do something other than hope you catch a break soon

[RebelOne]

6. Good, but boring.

I was forced into retirement in 2010 because of a layoff. So, since I was already past retirement age and collecting social security, I decided to retire. But I do not have the money to travel as I wanted to in my golden years.

[Bertha Venation]

16. I'm sorry to hear that you can't travel.

What do you do to occupy your time?

[RebelOne]

50. Watch TV, go shopping and play with my dogs.

I would rather be working, but when I watch the traffic reports on TV in the morning, I am glad I am not out in it.

[hunter]

7. We got another dog.

I posted the story in Environment & Energy

Hunter goes hunting wild animals with a rake...

[Bertha Venation]

11. That's a wonderful post, hunter

What is that good hound's name?

[HeiressofBickworth]

8. Not bad, not bad

I retired 3 1/2 years ago. When working I had the money but not the time, I now have the time but not the money. However, I manage to take a trip every year to California to visit my best friend. She lives in Sacramento and every year over Labor Day weekend, they have a festival, Gold Rush Days. Like many others, we go in period costumes. So, in preparation for this year's trip, I'm making a light-weight jacket to go with one of my costumes. Its the big event of my year. I used to take the train down but that got expensive (I always took a sleeper). Four years ago, I started driving down. I found that I like it -- I check out books on CD's from the library, stop at antique shops wherever I can, eat at local cafes (no fast-food), spend the night somewhere along the road and generally enjoy the scenery. It's a straight shot down I-5 from my little town to Sac. On the way back, I swing over to eastern Washington to pick up apples, peaches and apricots for canning. I'm looking forward to this year's trip.

[Bertha Venation]

20. The trip sounds lovely.

I love road trips. I'm glad you found this small luxury.

[turtlerescue1]

9. Good or bad? Dunno, someone will tell me when I need to know.

[Bertha Venation]

17. turtlerescue1

What is your av? It looks like a flying cat.

[turtlerescue1]

35. When pigs fly

because one of my favorite remarks is: "Same day it rains canned hams."

[blueknight]

10. so far, so good

Im retired, so i pretty much do what i want. my wife is in florida this week with her sister vacationing, i stayed home and im "babysitting" our german sheperd. our son is getting married in march to a beautiful, wonderful girl from hong kong. so we are going over there for the wedding and then going to spend a week in thailand.

It has been a long, dry, hot summer here in kentucky, but im not complaining, as i HATE winter.

[Bertha Venation]

21. Hi, Blueknight

What is your german shepherd's name?

[hack89]

14. Sending my eldest off to college - both happy and sad. nt

[Bertha Venation]

22. Wow

How far away is your eldest going?

[hack89]

23. 1600 miles. nt

[Bertha Venation]

24. oh, my, hack

Wow.

[hack89]

26. I give her a lot of credit

we live in a small, insular community with little diversity. Many kids never venture far from home and family and I think it stunts their growth as curious, open minded adults. I grew up in a military family so I was exposed to many places and many different people. I want the same for my kids. I want them to experience the world in all of it's wonder - and the first step is for them to leave home.

Like I said - bitter sweet.

[csziggy]

25. TWO new knees - I'm now BIONIC!

It's all done. Both knees have been replaced and all I have to do now is heal and get stronger. Left on May 15, right July 25. The second one was easier because I actually had a good leg to stand on for the recovery. Two weeks out from the surgery, the right knee hurts MUCH less than it did pre-surgery. I'm mostly just getting swelling and stiffness.

Getting the second knee done so much earlier than I expected (originally I thought it was going to be replaced in September) gives me hope I can volunteer for one of the campaigns but I am making no plans until after I finish a month of out patient therapy.

I was told yesterday that soon I would be able to dance. I resisted asking how that was possibly when I never could dance before...

[Bertha Venation]

38. Woo hoo!

Congratulations! You can dance if you want to. Just move your body and pretend no one can see you.

[csziggy]

54. I'll be able to dance!?

Cool - I never could before!

Other than the swelling and stiffness if I sit too long and a little discomfort when getting up the knees feel great!

Maybe I will take dance lessons - I saw my college roommate a while back. She had always been heavy as a young woman but now she is slender. She said it was from dancing! It's worth a try, though I've lost 24 pounds since I was weighed just before the first surgery.

[blueknight]

27. hi bertha

his name is casanova, even though he is nuetered we call him cas

[Bertha Venation]

39. I had a neutered (of course) cat named Valentino

He was very affectionate. :purr:

[LWolf]

29. I failed in my search for summer work.

Since they cut the end of the school year to save money, AGAIN, I don't have enough to see me through the first paycheck on October 1st. I'm making sure I go NOWHERE to save gas, and selling junk to try to keep me afloat until the school year begins again.

[Bertha Venation]

40. Dammit, LWolf, I am so sorry to hear it.

My fingers are crossed for you. I wish there were a way I could help.

[LWolf]

52. All good thoughts help.

Thank you.

[Wait Wut]

31. Same ol'.

Boring, stressful, lots of pain and icky.

But, I'm filling my time by looking forward to the start of Bears season, politics and my DIL's upcoming 30th bday.

Keep it light and always look for the rainbow, I guess.

[Bertha Venation]

41. "Boring, stressful, lots of pain and icky."

I'm sorry to hear it. But it sounds like you've got a good outlook.

I feel the same way about baseball season. When is the Bears' first exhibition game?

[Wait Wut]

43. I had a friend that used to call me 'fatally optimistic'.

It's a good way to be, I think.

Tonite is the Bears first preseason game against the Broncos. I can't wait!!! But, I forgot to check to make sure it will be on out here in hell. I may be very cranky in about half an hour.

[fizzgig]

32. things are better than they've been in a long time

we moved out of the miserable shithole cracker box we'd been living in for two years and it feels incredible. the old place was tiny, dingy and dark, my husband was absolutely miserable and i felt like i was holding our marriage together with duct tape and my bare hands.

now my husband's mood has made almost a 180 and i feel like i actually have a husband again rather than an ogre.

hugs to you and mrs. v

[Bertha Venation]

44. Good for you! I am very happy for you!

I hope you've had a chance by now to relax and "detox," getting rid of all the stress of living in a cracker box and holding your marriage together.

[tjwmason]

33. Good, but challenging

About to leave my job to retrain as part of 'following my dream'...spending the next few years living on pretty much no cash at all.

[Bertha Venation]

45. What is your dream?

Unless your dream is living on pretty much no cash . . . or is it?

[DryHump]

34. Just had my third...

successful sex change operation. Doing great!

[Bertha Venation]

46. Congratulations!

May I ask which-to-which? Or is asking impolite? I don't know...

[ROFF]

36. My wife and I just

completed a 4500 km trip on our Can-am Spyder through the Rocky Mountains to Vancouver Island. This was our first major trip on the motorcycle.

Next year, Halifax.

[Bertha Venation]

47. Sounds like fun!!

[greatauntoftriplets]

37. I'm home on sick leave recovering from a serious illness.

I hate that it takes me so long to do anything.

[Bertha Venation]

48. Oh, no...

I am so sorry to hear it. Is your recovery progressing well?

[greatauntoftriplets]

51. It's progressing well, but slowly.

I know that you and Mrs. V. are going through a difficult time, too.

[RFKHumphreyObama]

59. I'm so glad to hear that you are out of hospital

We were worried about you.

I know how frustrating it is during the time it takes to recover from an illness. Hope you're doing OK and all the best for an as speedy as possible and a comprehensive recovery. Will keep you in my thoughts loveya:

[greatauntoftriplets]

62. Thanks very much.

I am happy that mopinko was able to track me down and let DU know what had happened to me since I just disappeared suddenly.

[Broken_Hero]

42. Mostly good

Financially we are doing better than I ever imagined. I'm down 54lbs, and doing strong in that regard....everyone is alive, and doing well for the most part. My wife is also down with her MBA, which is fantastic, she finally gets her weekends back....

Its going to well actually....hmm, knock on wood.

[Bertha Venation]

49. Sounds good, Hero

Don't be afraid to trust the good times. Just enjoy them.

Congrats on the weight loss!

[nolabear]

53. I'm checking in from a beach.

On vacation and having a wonderful time. And really I can't complain in general. I won't go into lots of plans but I got 'em!

[Bertha Venation]

56. Nice!

Which beach?

[Chan790]

55. New job of sorts.

Not getting paid as the organization is somewhere between broke and about to be well-off as soon as a project we're working on completes and I won't start getting paid until the revenues from that come in. Other than that, it's kind of a dream job as it's both what I enjoy and a fast-track to an Executive Director job before I'm 40 possibly even back home in NYC; it presents an opportunity to work with people I like, doing something I like doing and turn around an organization that is incredible but never really got its' legs under it.

[Bertha Venation]

57. Sounds great, Chan!

What field are you in, if I may ask?

[Chan790]

61. NPOs

This is a community arts-space. I mostly do the public-facing work (outreach, PR, publicity, community relations) with some development in the mix.

[Auggie]

58. I'm meeting with a winery this morning

to help them decide the best way to create a relief map of their vineyards. After that I'll be grinding out 2013 promotional concepts for a second winery. Tonight I'll have a ... beer?

I'm a (currently) busy freelancer. That's good.

[Hula Popper]

60. good times or bum times

Morning Bertha,
As always it is one or the other. I'm trying to forget the bad.......live today. The Art Of Living seems to have helped the most!

[av8rdave]

63. I've recently moved (Ohio resident now), and in a relationship

I guess that's enough new stuff.

[glinda]

64. Since January my mom died, my uncle died, put my dad into

Assisted Living since he also ended up in a hospital for two strokes and a heart attack, found out my cat and my dog have cancer and a friend is dying. Kitty is not well at all today. Having to make long distance trips every week to help empty my dad's house out because my lazy ass brother hopes it doesn't sell because he is behind in his house payments and may have no where to live.
Blech*

[Burma Jones]

65. We are off to Yosemite for awhile starting next week

My tomato harvest is staggering
The first batch of Raspberries and Blackberries were pretty good
The corn is about 7 feet high
My job is interesting but I am ready to move on

My Wife is opening a Yoga Studio

My son starts High School in a few weeks

My 12 yo daughter is now sailing around Puget Sound with her best friend who moved there last year. Her friend's Dad is a Captain for NOAA and is running the ship and he's a good man - so I am thoroughly at ease.

My 5 yo daughter is starting 1st Grade this year. Her latest interesting quote: "I want a Fairy to bring me pixie dust......and a Gun"

I bought a VW EOS convertible