Message Forum

Lugar~ Miss ya! Hope all is well on the work front. I can only imagine the pressure that is being put on the various employment specialties with all that is going on in the economy. If you ever want to become a nurse, I can hook you up. I don't know if Jefferson College of Health Sciences could handle you, but the male patients would think they had died and gone to heaven if you walked in!! Of course, you would have to leave the hooker boots and chunky sweaters at home. It's royal blue scrubs, white tennis shoes, and only stud earrings. But you would never wonder if you are going to be unemployed!!! Hugs~

02/06/09 08:18 AM	#1918
Greg Terry OK What's up with the change in order on the message forum?

02/06/09 02:20 PM

#1919

Greg --- I had the same question, but it looks like things are back to normal now. :)

02/06/09 03:49 PM

#1920

I noticed earlier that all posts from this week were gone, emailed Jolee about it and she said that "ClassCreator" was having some issues...looks like it is all resolved now.

Off to Bunco tonite...Everyone have a good weekend.

02/07/09 10:56 AM

#1921

Susan Jones (Badger)

Just wanted to say hello to everyone!!! Hope all is well. Things are good here. Tim got a new awesome job. It's the one he's wanted for a year now. So he's getting ready to deploy again. Yes back to Iraq but here's there 4 months comes home for 30 days. So it's better than 18 monhts at a time. It will open some great doors for him and it's what he wants to do!!

IT's not looking like I will be able to move home this summer. The housing market sucks and nothing is moving. But Im not giving up. I will move home eventually. If the economy gets better..plus across from my neighborhood they are building a huge golf resort where Tiger Woods and the big dogs are scheduled to play in the fall. So they will help the value of my home even more. I will keep you posted.

Hope all is well with everyone..going to tutor work and grade papers.

Happy Saturday!

02/07/09 03:31 PM

#1922

Susie~ Good things will happen when you least expect it. I'm happy for Tim and the new job. I'm assuming it's with the military? I hope all soldiers will be home soon and there will be some sort of peace in Iraq. I have been reading a great deal about the soldiers who are coming back from Iraq with disabilities, injuries, PTSD, and are merely swept under the rug. President Obama has put a female war veteran in a wonderful position to help these returning soldiers. I have so much respect for our military and the idea that any of them are suffering, comitting suicide, etc., after protecting MY freedom is alarming and motivates me to do something, I just dont know what.

02/07/09 10:38 PM

#1923

Carla Boyd (McCabe)

Jolee...you are so sweet to be so thoughtful of what the troops go through. It's more difficult than most folks realize, mostly because a lot of them try to leave it there and not talk about it. Matt has told me "some" stuff...and it would make your skin crawl! He actually had one female under his command who commited suicide while they were there. Shot herself in the head in one of the humvees...that is sad...but now think about the folks who had to clean that up. You don't forget something like that. It is heartwarming to realize that there are people who truly appreciate the sacrifices our military and their families make. To end this on a better note...it would also make your skin crawl (with goose bumps)to see the pictures of Mason when his Daddy showed up at his school when he got home. That was the end of a very difficult year for Mason.
Just know it does not go unoticed how many of you have said such supportive things about the military...things like that are what get those families through hard moments. Thank you.
Am I right Susie? Tim sounds like a great guy. I'm thinking of you and your Dad often.

02/08/09 02:19 PM

#1924

Carla~ I think I, like so many others, are either in a state of denial that these things go on, or if you are like me...I was truly oblivious to this. Actually, a while back, Dr. Phil did a show on PTSD and soldiers returning and comitting suicide, etc. It moved me beyond words. But once again, I say, I don't know how I could help. I am a nurse, but I would love to do something for this group of Americans. One of my good friends did a paper recently on nurses who return from combat in Iraq and their obstacles. It was really good, but at this point, there is not enough research being done. Hmmmm...may be a good thesis topic....if I ever get accepted to Vanderbilt. Still waiting....

02/08/09 11:18 PM

#1925

Susan Jones (Badger)

Jolee..actually Tim got a job with the Triple Canopy which is a defense contractor for the military. But it's just the same just better pay. There is really nothing we can do but pray for them, support them,and send letters or care packages if you can. It's appreciated more than we will ever know.
Carla is right we have NO idea what they go through. like Matt, Tim has told me some stuff too. Like about seeing his roommate's humvee blow up in front of him. He has flashbacks, but even when he was here sometimes when driving he would back off or slow down because of a flashback. Tim showed signs of PTSD but he doesn't have it. Who wouldn't seeing just that? There is more that he shared in counseling but not with me. I don't push him to tell me but I do tell him to talk to his dr so he can work through it.

I love our military so much and the military life isn't so bad. We should do more for them..what I am not sure.

02/09/09 04:52 PM

#1926

Susie -- we should be paying our soldiers, police officers, firemen/women, doctors, nurses, and school teachers a WHOLE lot more. Forget the bail out for the banking world and forget paying these "athletes" the millions of dollars that they really don't deserve. It's pathetic that we don't pay the people who are protecting and saving our lives very much, but this society will happily throw millions of dollars towards people who can hit, kick, or catch a freakin' ball. Sorry, can you tell how fired up I get over this stuff? If you disagree with me, that is fine. But, I would highly recommend anyone who disagrees with me to walk into a NICU or PICU and watch these incredible people at work, trying to save the lives of innocent babies and children. Talk to a soldier, to a police officer, or to a firefighter, and ask them what it is like to go work on some of these horrific scenes. Don't get me wrong, they chose these professions. And I am so very thankful that they did. I couldn't handle a lot of what they witness. And I can't say enough about our teachers. It seems like our society is starting to take the role that it is the teachers responsiblity to teach our kids about respect and behaving correctly. How sad is that!

Other than that spill (YIKES, I am turning into Faye!!!) how is everyone else?

02/09/09 06:43 PM

#1927

Faye Sowers (Crute)

Well no offense taken there Kristen.......if you will notice I have politely been curbing my rants recently so you go for it. I hear it is a great stress relief! I still love you even though I think you may have just insulted me but I am a duck............:)

I do agree with you on those issues and I think people can step up and make a difference.

02/10/09 01:08 PM

#1928

Faye --- by no means was it an insult. More like a compliment. I tend to keep my opinion to myself and not post it, so I kinda got the "feel" of what it is like to let it all hang out. :) Thanks for giving me an example to follow!!!!

Well, let me tell ya'll something --- it seems like everytime Steve goes out of town for 3 days, there is something traumatic that happens here. From Carter falling on a stick that was jammed in this throat, to my kidney stone attacks, to Jake getting severe ear infections......Steve is now in Roanoke for several days, and at lunch time today, Jake (my soon to be 1 year old) ate some of Carter's PBJ sandwich and INSTANTLY went into an allergic reaction. His face swelled up almost as big as a basketball (and I'm NOT kidding), he had whelps all over his face (looked like 20 mosquitoes had bitten him) and he was turning red. I gave him Benadryl and soon after that, it seemed like he started to have labored breathing for about 3 minutes, but then it got better. Here it is an hour later, and all signs are gone except that his eyes are still swollen. UGH!!!!!!!!! I think that it is in our familys best interest that Steve never goes out of town again. And if he does, then it should be just a day trip!!!

02/10/09 01:54 PM	#1929
Amy Wilhelm (McGuirt) WOW Kristen..that's really scary! Did you already know he was allergic to peanut butter or did you just find out today??? I hope everything settles down for you :)

02/10/09 05:54 PM

#1930

Geez Kristen...sounds like fun at your house....NOT!!! Being a nurse, Johnny teases me about the "Tackle box" that he says I take with me everywhere...but I always keep liquid or dissolvable benadryl with me wherever I go. For that reason alone!! We have been out on harley rides and someone gets stung, has an allergic reaction, etc. Of course, I can also handle nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, back pain, urinary tract infection, or could pre-med someone for a bone marrow biopsy....but I've gotcha covered!!!

Hang in there!!

02/10/09 10:22 PM

#1931

Steve Jones

Hello everyone!

Jolee all that talk about vomiting, Diarrhea and constipation has made me hungry. Any lunch plans for this week?

Susie I hope everything with your dad works out. If he needs anything I will be off on layoff several weeks the next couple of months so have him call me if he needs help.

Kristen sounds like Steve needs to find a new career so he can be home more often to help with the kids.

To everyone else hope all is well. Miss you guys.Lets get together soon.

02/11/09 08:39 AM

#1932

Everyone --- thanks for your concern. We did not know that he had any allergies. Matter of fact, none of us have any allergies (well, Brianna developed an allergic reaction to penicillin but that's it). So, this came as a complete surprise. The doctors said that we need to get him to an allergist so they can do a thorough checkup. UGH! I am just so glad that it happened while I was here and not the babysitter. (I had a babysitter last night since I had school and Steve was out of town).

Steve J. --- I am sorry to hear about the layoff. Did that also include Chris P. and Steve C.? I will put you in my prayers. I hope that your garage door business is doing well. I really do miss you guys!

Jolee -- Steve laughs at me because I always carry my First Aid box with me whenever we go to ball games, picnics, etc... I tell him that when somebody gets hurt, you can't always wait to run out to the car to get the supplies. It is always better to have them on hand. I don't care what he thinks. There have been several times that people were soooooooo happy that I had it with me and we didn't have to waste any more time. Especially when it comes to allergic reactions to bee stings. I think that they are the worse!

Well, I know that it won't be as warm as Roanoke is, but it is suppose to get into the 60's here today. I am going to clean out (i.e. vacuum, shampoo, etc..) the van today since it needs it soooooooo bad.

02/11/09 08:41 AM

#1933

Trina Schossow (Folden)

Kristen...Goodness Girl! You have quite the in house ER thing going. Congrats on keeping your cool, I have several friends that would have freaked immediately and headed for the hospital. I am guessing by the time you get to the 4th kid, you have about seen it all.

Jolee...I too have a small tackelbox, we call it "The Gerry" after my dad. I bought it after he was working on a flip house with me and hacked into his hand with his chop saw. He thought it was fine, but the bathroom he was working on looked like an episode of CSI. A dozen or so stitches later he was back in the bathroom finishing the trim. I will have to add superglue to the box, since Steve gives it such high recommendations!! (-:

Steve...I hope the layoff won't be too bad, and you will have some extra time to enjoy your family.

Lunch Group...Friday is out for me this week. Next week any day works except Thursday (at this point).

02/11/09 10:00 AM

#1934

Steve - Sorry to hear about all your upcoming free time...been there, still there...hopefully it won't be for very long. I've actually enjoyed being home with the kids (and John considering he works from home)...currently on #15 of things I want to do before I go back to work...we won't mention how long the list actually is.

Ok, confession, I must be the absolute worse when it comes to carrying any first aid in my truck, or home for that matter. More than once I have rolled a piece of toilet paper and stuck it to the wound and placed some scotch tape over it. Redneck bandaid I call it. However after talking to Steve I have now added superglue to my glove box in the truck.

Susie, hopefully the housing market will pick up down there. New construction is being hit the hardest and there is a lack of inventory. Perhaps with the new homeowner incentives for first time buyers that you can sell it sooner than later. Hope you dad is doing ok.

02/13/09 11:36 PM	#1935
Susan Jones (Badger) Happy Valentine's Day everyone!!! Be safe!!!

02/14/09 07:42 PM

#1936

I'm assuming since we all have Facebooks that this is getting used less...Trina, get on the ball and join the rest of us will ya.

02/15/09 02:59 PM	#1937
Trina Schossow (Folden) Okay, okay...I submit. I signed up for Facebook today. See you all there.

02/15/09 04:15 PM

#1938

Vicky --- it's odd. I have a facebook account, but I hardly get on it. I like this forum soooooooooo much better. I don't know why everyone is dropping off like flies. I will still "reply" as long as there are people on here to reply to. :)

Happy Belated Valentines Day to everyone.

My baby boy turned 1 years old this morning at 11:32am. I can't believe that he is already one. My, how time flies. It almost makes me want to have another one. :) Okay, someone out there has to have a baby soon so that I can get my "fix" and then leave it at your house. :) :) :) Anyone willing to have a baby so I can get my fix?

02/15/09 06:18 PM

#1939

Kristen - Happy Birthday to your little guy...they grow so fast. Did you guys get any snow your way? I looked out the window and noticed some flurries to wake up with total ground cover this morning....can I say I am tired of cold and snow?? As for this site, I still prefer it because it's just "us" the class of 88, but I am amazed at the same time how many of our friends from VA Beach and Florida were also on Facebook...so it's been good catching up with them.

Trina - I see ya..welcome to your new addiction..

02/16/09 07:30 AM

#1940