I must apologize for not posting in what, the last three... four ... five? weeks.
All is well, in fact I really wish I'd been blogging during that timeframe. Several really good things have happened. Well, at least one good thing. I need to set it up for you:
We got the letter on March 3rd from SSI denying Joe's disability claim. One of the reasons was because he didn't keep going to the doctor, and another reason was because he didn't take the (crappy) pain medication they gave him. His reasons: first, the doctors wouldn't do anything for him. No continued physical therapy, no different treatments; he had nerve-deadening shots in his back a couple times but they (doctors) quit doing that when it didn't work one time. And... the drugs didn't help the pain, but it was the only medication approved by worker's comp. The drugs made him constipated, and the doctor told him to use more drugs to address that. Then he couldn't get away from the restroom, so he felt it was better to just not take any of the drugs. OK. So he copes by walking and sometimes drinking too much. :)
It was devastating. He's got a broken back with 3 fused verts and nerve damage in his back, legs, and torso, yet he can't get disability. Of course, he keeps saying he would rather work than be disabled, yet he can't do anything heavily (or even medium) physically strenuous. (his official disability rating has been rated at 42-48% disabled)
Two days later, I swear this is the hand of God in action. Joe got a phone call (woke him up from a nap) with a job offer. OUT OF THE BLUE. He's been in the electrical (power line construction) business for 35 years, and had been asked a couple of times to take a leave of absence from the company to go to work for the union. He never did it because he liked building power lines. The union called, on the 5th of March, and offered him a job - a PERFECT job for him! He's the utility business rep, and he represents all the union members that work for the electric company that serves our area (Texas Panhandle and Eastern New Mexico). Its perfect because he knows all these guys, he knows the company management, he taught a lot of these guys in apprentice school, he was on the executive board of the union local office for over 20 years. Its a perfect job for him. He has a company car, goes to every group's union meetings and meets with the company management whenever its necessary. He's got a laptop and can work from home, he has a cell phone and is always on call, and he will travel a couple days a week. He's getting paid really good money, and he is HAPPY! The union business manager also told him he should stay on the hospital board of directors and on the United Way board of directors, so he'll be able to attend those things and schedule his work around that.
Hope you can tell, I'm ecstatic. The year of poverty/living on one income has come to an end, praisethelord. We could have continued if we had to, but its sure nice to have a cushion again. And we learned a LOT during this past year, and we are even closer than before. + + + insert happy dance here + + +
So what else can be happening? Well, yesterday 3/29/09 was my 1-year sockiversary. Just one year ago I knit my very first sock. I'm pretty proud of my knitting accomplishments in the past year. I've completed 27 pairs of socks, and have 3 partially knitted single socks. (Yep, there's UFOs in knitting) My current projects are: Jigsaw Lace (the yarn is koolaid dyed by me - pretty huh?)
Kew (a leafy lace pattern) This is a different one than the one in my last post.... that one didn't work so well with the yarn. The leaves didn't show up, so I unravelled that one and found this yarn instead - I love how the leaves pop in this yarn, its called Lemongrass.
Wasp Woman (longtime UFO since October - one sock is done)
So I'm finishing these 3 pairs up as soon as I can. I hate having unfinished knitting projects. (Quilting UFOs don't affect me this way.... *grin*)
Next month's sock projects on my Ravelry group knit-a-longs: the SolidSocks group color of the month is purple. In the Sock Knitters Anonymous group, the challenge is to knit an under appreciated pattern OR knee high socks. I'm not a knee-high kinda gal, so I've been combing through the pattern library on Rav to find a project that's been worked less than 15 times. Um. Not a problem. So far I've found over 100 free "underappreciated" patterns and I'm not even halfway through the sock listings. Of course, I'm going to do a "two-fer" and knit the underappreciated pattern in purple, right?!
What else.... we had a blizzard on Friday.... and it was in the 50's Saturday and high 60's on Sunday! That's about par. We already had apricots, peaches, and roses budding out!
Next post, I'll show you the yarn I've been dyeing. I've been playing with Koolaid, Rit, Dylon, and easter egg dye! Its a blast, and I really needed another fiber addiction, right?
It's funny how the UFO's can get under your skin isn't it? I'm not so concerned with the socks as I am the shawls and big projects. The socks are small and portable and I can work on them easily in the summertime but I don't want to be working on a heavy shawl then. The socks are totally pretty and I'm sure you'll have them finished in no time at all!!
Posted by: Kim | March 31, 2009 at 01:41 PM
Wonderful Jeri and Joe!!!!! I was getting to wondering where in the sam hill you were....you were dancing on the damn thing, go figure!!!
Posted by: Vicky | March 31, 2009 at 10:29 AM
That is great! I'm happy for you and Joe. Love all the socks. Isn't it nice when you have a huge stress lifted and you feel such relief you just want to make something? :D
Posted by: tami | March 31, 2009 at 09:48 AM
I was just about to send a search party for you! Great news about Joe's job! I have had back problems in the past and I know how pervasive they are. I wish him (and you!) the best on this.
You knit your first sock only one year ago? Really?? Wow. Maybe there is hope for me yet...
Posted by: Rian | March 31, 2009 at 09:46 AM
Maybe it is true that good things come to those who wait!
Posted by: Debra Spincic | March 31, 2009 at 09:09 AM
That is fantastic news. I am happy for Joe, that he is feeling production again. I'm happy for both of you that things can be a little easier. I like the fact that when he was off, you two became closer, that's like frosting on the cake.
The socks are cool. I like the Koolaid dyed color.
Happy you are back to blogging!
Posted by: Claudia W | March 31, 2009 at 07:30 AM
Great news Jeri- It took me over a year to get my disability- This job for Joe is better-he will be useful and good at it!
I'm glad you are blogging again I missed you.
I got to guest blog yesterday on simply robin's blog. It was fun.
Posted by: Robin | March 31, 2009 at 07:20 AM
sooo happy for your good news, Jeri! what a relief. Happy dances all around...
Posted by: caroline | March 31, 2009 at 06:33 AM
Jeri, I am so happy for you!!! It stinks just who the government will give SSI to. Put it this way, previously hard working people generally have a harder time getting it.
But this is so much better. If he would have been given SSI, all it would have done is defeated him and cut off any remaining ambition. I'm happy for him.
I love the socks. I'm working on another shawl. How are your son and daughter doing with the fallout of the volcano? My daughter reported getting a little ash the other day, but not too much.
Posted by: Teri | March 31, 2009 at 03:52 AM
Congratulations on that good, good news!
Love your gorgeous leafy knitting , clever girl!
Posted by: kirsty | March 31, 2009 at 12:16 AM