Got an e-mail this morning. He should be back next week or so...

Quote:

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Saw the responses to the Fatman thread in my email since it's marked a favorite. Can't get on XPT at the moment ... blocked access to xxx sites from the hospital.


You are correct. I'm in Florida.


Had a nice little get away to a resort in Ft Lauderdale that's part of my mom's timeshare thingie. On the way back she took a header in the parking lot at Costco : (


Waiting for her in the emergency room. Thankfully they have net access ... but, of course, "adult" sites are blocked.


I'll be back in Weehawken some time next week and should return to post-whore state sometime soon after. Feel free to pass the word ... or not ... your option!

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Hey Fatman,

Tell your mom that your degenerate friends wish her a speedy recovery.

Sucks when the elderly take a spill, recovery time is long.

Hey Fatman,

Hope that your mom recovers quickly and fully. Sorry to hear about her accident.

Hope your mom gets better soon -

i hope your mom recovers fully and awesomely...sorry to hear.

Well Fatty? What's up?

I hope Mama Fatty is ok and he rejoins us soon.

Fatman?

I miss him too, Gunker. Did he ever tell you about when he worked in Labor?

I haven't heard from him since June. Here's hoping he checks the gdclyde e-mail account and sees people posting in this thread.

I saw 138 unread posts, in this forum, when I checked in, and I must be honest that I hoped for the best. Instead of a whole lot of fatty we have a whole lot of stupid.

Well, hopefully, some of this may be alleviated, albeit temporarily. CLICKY


Although I've always suspected this was another Monkey "LOCG" alt.

I remain mostly in hiding.

Thx for all the well wishes. Hopefully once the election is over I will be returning.

I've been at a heightened anxiety since late May. There are a variety of factors:

**It started with the changing of doctors, groups, treatment and drugs [due to changes in my healthcare].

**I struggle with the polarization of this election and the depths of bitterness it creates. It's likely the main reason I've taken a "vacation" from the board and the net in general.

**My continued disability [It's been 4 years now. I had so fervently hoped to be better and working by now]

**Plus all the other nonsense - like wanting to beat the shit out of my stepfather for his behavior during and after my Mom's unfortunate fall and the daily drama of my battling neighbors [which happily doesn't involve me].

I stopped going out much and so stopped my walks. Thus I've gained about 20-25 lbs. My knees are killing me.

In all honesty, I've mostly been off the net .... except to download the occasional Lexi Belle, Marie McCray or Brynn Tyler scene [or ANYTHING from Amateur Allure - LOVE that site. I also like XXXProposal, but more on that later ...]. And, I look for new Casey Parker stuff, but there doesn't seem to be any.



I'm coming out of it a bit. The comedy that is Sarah Palin helps. Her "fruit fly" shit on Friday was classic!! I guess once you deny evolution, the entire science of Biology has no relevance.

Interesting article on that ...
http://slate.com/id/2203120


Though, I have to admit, the erosion of McCain's image pains me greatly. It's like an epic Greek tragedy. I really liked and respected this man. I gave him money in 2000. I would have voted for him and what he stood for THEN. And, no matter what happens, I will strive to retain that image of the original John McCain. The one who would have chosen Lieberman or Charlie Crist as his running mate. Not, I repeat, NOT this pathetic figure who sold his soul to the rural white right rump* called "the base" [I assume for representing the most lowest, most depraved elements of what is otherwise a noble party which at times I agree with and others I do not].


I'm slowly returning to my ways.

I just spent 2 weeks in FL. One week was at a resort right on the ocean. I enjoyed that greatly.


Yesterday I had a rough flight home with a connection in Richmond. Is that "real" or "fake" Virginia???


Be well.






* - paraphrasing conservative David Frum's take on the problems of his own party - though it is fair to note that he's a foreign-born Jew from a major city and thus not a "real American" to the rump. You may have seen him on "Colbert". He gets the credit for the term "Axis of Evil" when he was working for "W".

Sorry to hear that things haven't been great, hopefully they'll begin to look up soon. It's good to hear from you though, I was beginning to get concerned.

How's your Mom doing?

She's doing OK.

The election has her excited.

Mom's going to the rally today in Broward County near the Sawgrass Outlet Mall.

She went to high school with Lou Gossett. She did some paper with him on "Brown v. Board of Ed" or something back "in the day". I think she had the hots for him and Obama is like some kind of "Lou Gosset/JFK had a Lovechild" to her. He represents two men she looked up to in the past. So, she was an easy convert from Hillary.

In fact, she's election overboard. She'll be working the phones the rest of the way, and I think a couple of "imported" Obama GOTV volunteers may be staying at her house now that I'm back up north. She has 2 covertable sofas and an airbed and loves chatty young liberal people [my stepdad is LOVING that ... NOT! - but, he gets no say].

She was talking about seeing FDR at a rally when she was a kid during WWII and they seemed genuinely interested in her anecdotes [I get my long-winded story-telling from her].

And, I must report, that she was overjoyed to see me fall completely to Obama the moment McCain rashly picked Shtunkie for his running mate. All my faith in my boy John left that day ....

Glad to hear she's better.

Quote:

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I think a couple of "imported" Obama GOTV volunteers may be staying at her house now that I'm back up north.

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This happens throughout New Hampshire during primary season. I stayed at some State Senator's house campaigning for Gore in 2000.

For those who have sent me mail, I will be getting to those on Saturday.

Turns out that the rally Mom attended yesterday turned into the ending piece for the Obama-mercial.

I had a brief chat with her while she waited for traffic to move out of the parking lot after the event.

They didn't see the infomercial there. Just alot of speeches and waiting around.

She got there around 3 to get a good seat for the 4:30 'opening'. There was a small plane with a McCain banner that circled overhead.

She says she wasn't too far away from him, but she wasn't on the floor. She was somewhat behind him but could see a bit of his profile from the side.

No one could bring anything into the event. They even told women to leave their bags at home. Any signs, flags, etc., you saw were distributed by staff inside the arena prior to the cut in.

The invocation was given by a rabbi. The girl who did the 'Star Spangled Banner' was so off-key that crowd groaned at each bad note.

She said that the area behind Obama was empty and specially reserved. Those who were so placed were directed/trained as to what to do when the cameras rolled. [not that such things are unusual]


According to her, Obama spoke to the group for quite some time prior to getting set for the "cut in" but left soon after. [I guess in order to get to 'Bubba' in time for the 11PM event they did outside Orlando later].

Christ, Fatty, you're a mess. What's kept you from falling on your sword? What motivates you to get out of bed in the morning? I'm genuinely interested.

Do you know of anything that could bring you out of your funk, if not permanently, then for a long stretch? I mean, if you had all the options in the world, and could feasibly accomplish any one of them, is there something that you KNOW could help you out?

Wish I did. Right now what would help would be the ability to afford to get well. And, that might just start happening next month.

Money worries overwhelm me ... even when there isn't really a problem.

That - and I have to learn how not to let conflict eat me alive. I just can't deal with conflict without lashing out or shutting down.

I keep trying stuff. I'm just coming through a very hopeless phase and staring to see a glimmer of hope again.

I've suffered with this crap since I was about 14. When I was younger and in shape it was easier to use physical strength to force my way though the malaise.

I had a good long run from 1988 to 1996. I used to live on 4-6 hours of sleep without being tired. But in 1995 the office turned to total conflict and by 1997 I was fried.

I came back for a while in 1998, but sadly the drugs I thought were working for me actually made me sicker [turns out anti-depressants actually make undiagnosed bi-polar people cycle faster and deepens depression].

But, by the end of 1999 I was back but I feel into a deep depression in 2001 [9/11 + the end of the internet boom] and by June 2002 I was hiding in my apartment again.

The next year I started my own business, but in less than I year I turned a great 1st 6 months into a complete disaster - for both myself and my clients - made worse when another attempt at medication made me sicker.

In 2005, I found a great doctor who diagnosed me as bi-polar and put me on a path to stabilizing medication wise. But, he went independent and I can't afford him even at the generous discount rate he offered. And, I've had problems finding a psychoparm of his abilities who I connect with since.

I start on Medicare Part C on Saturday.

I am hopeful that I will find a good solution at St. Vincents - which participates in my new PPO plan. Plus, I go from paying more than $600 a month for health insurance to less than $150 for much MORE coverage and less out of pockets.

I plan to have a monthly psychopharm, weekly group and individual sessions. Those 9 visits will cost me $90 a month. Under my own insurance, I couldn't have more than 20 mental health visits a year which, until Timothy's Law kicked in last year, cost me $25 per visit.

Fatman, good news on your monthly budget for insurance and med bills waning. This will help greatly.

Hang in there Fatty...

(Elabo, ask Loop to sticky this again. Thanks.)

As discussed, Mom is being very active in this election.

The interesting news is that after Sunday she will no longer be working/volunteering for the Obama campaign. Instead she will be an election inspector for Palm Beach County. [her term - I would call it "poll worker"].

On Monday she will be trained to how to properly determine whether a person is eligible to vote, etc. Training is on Monday for 4 hours. She will work 8 or so hours on election day. I believe she gets $165.

Mom's a strict interpreter of rules. She was a tax collector and auditor for the state of NY. She even got Trump angry when she decided against him in a real estate tax issue [her view was upheld in the end].

So this could be interesting. The Obama people complaining about an Obama-volunteer-turned-election-official blocking Obama voters access to the polls.



Pure comedy is possible.

Good God, let it happen. Joe the plumber. The B/8 psycho. Mrs. Fatman. I'd be laughing at this even if I was sober.

Fatman, I too am bitterly disappointed at the lack of new stuff from Casey Parker. Lexi keeps making dodgy Japanese porn, and that keeps me endlessly entertained.

Mom and close to 50 others will be working the polls in an elementary school in Palm Beach County. They are expecting more than 2000 voters over the 12 hours they are scheduled to be open.

Today she learned to construct a voting booth. They reviewed how to deal with persons with handicaps such as hearing or eye sight. And, to refer all persons whose IDs don't match to the election clerk for final examination.

Voters can wear any campaign stuff they want to the site.

They vote by paper with special pens in Palm Beach County. Since this means people might make mistakes, each voter can have up to 3 attempts at completing a ballot.

She'll be at the polls by 6am. They open at 7am and stay open until 7pm. They were told to be prepared to be open longer, as they are expecting Gov. Christ to extend the voting hours if there are problems.



On Saturday she met Danny DeVito & Rhea Perlman at Obama Headquarters in Delray Beach. Mom sold Obama pins.


On Sunday she did shopping for the campaign, and surprised them with the price she got for a case of spring water. I guess they haven't dealt with too many older Jewish women.




She and my stepdad delivered 9 cases of water and garbage bags - which turned out to be a size too small for the cans they had.

Hey fatman I'm very glad to read your posts again. I'll look forward to catching up with you soon.

Mom's day at the Palm Beach County poll was boring.

There were 3 people waiting to vote at 6AM when she arrived [they open at 7AM]. One said he had been there since 4AM since he was afraid of the line, had to be at work by 8AM was was afraid he might miss the polls since he didn't get out until 6PM. [Polls close at 7PM]

There was no reason to worry. After that the line was never more than 2 deep and rarely that. Only about 600 turned out [they had expected upwards of 2000].

There was not one contested voter. All matched their IDs. I had hoped that there would have been some Obama-drama, but, alas, NONE.






The only issue was some guy who voted for 4 Presidential candidates on his paper ballot.

Off to the emergency room ....

This morning in an effort to save less than a dollar on some groceries, I decided to walk to the bodega that opens at ~6am instead of waiting until the one directly across the street from me opens. In addition to getting the items early than usual and a longer walk, I save a whole 8 cents per item and get to say "Feliz Navidad" ... which is an inside joke for me.****

So, at about 5:40, I determine that there is a break in the precipitation. So, I leave the warmth of my Weehawken "womb", decend the 5 sets of stairs and make my way west.

I didn't get too far. The shoveled sidewalks were pure ice. So, I decided to try the middle of street. The street is a slight uphill going west until Palisades Ave. But, I barely went 100 feet when I determined that I wasn't going to make it. For the road was black ice.

In short, on the way back, I fell while ascending a small snow bank. I had hoped that the snow would provide more traction than the half shoveled path from street to icy sidewalk. But, it was glazed with ice and it's odd shape aided in compromising my balance.

I'm pretty sure I cracked a rib or two. I've broken quite a few in my Life. The last was in 2005, I believe. Just "greenstick" fractures, but it hurts quite a bit to breath none the less.

But, it isn't the pain of the broken ribs that bothers me. In fact, other than teeth pain, physical pain doesn't really bother me much. This was far worse. It was the indignity of not being able to get up for what seemed forever.

So there I was .... foundering, unable to get up due to the ice, the fact I could only use 1 arm and the obvious ... I'm too fat and getting old.

I rested in between my "gallant efforts" to bring my ponderousness to my feet only to have my sneakers fail to get a grip on the frozen H20 coating the concrete. Down I went. Again and again. At least these additional falls hurt nothing ... nothing, but what little remains of my pride.

"I've fallen and I can't get up ... " It echoed mockingly in my self-abusive mind.

I tried to relax and I gazed at the dim, dark, silent, and o so beautiful outline of the city in the distance. At the inky quiet skyline poised against the restful pre-dawn light to the east. At One Penn Plaza. At the lights of 34th Street. At the great god himself, the Empire State building. I breathed slowly and tried to forget the indignity of my dismal plight.

No one was out. No one came driving by. It was me, the skyline and a striped feral cat who I think was sizing me up as a food source once I died.

Finally, I took hold of the grating of the fence and blocking out the pain in my ribs, I got myself up, slowly glided to the entrance of my apartment house while tightly gripping the iron grates of the fence along the route and struggled in and up.

After "A Christmas Carol" was over on TCM, I decided to go to the Deli across the way ... assuming that the sidewalk would be cleared now and I could easily make it across the street. No such luck. Still ice and now it was raining ice as well. But, I made it, spend $3.70 on what should have cost $3.30, and made my way back.

Much to my surprise, I was greeted by my phone blinking a missed call and message. It seems that my initial fall, while unattended, did not go unwitnessed. Some one called my super's family, and they called the landlady.

She's actually on her way here to make sure I go get x-rays on my ribs. Ugh. Personally, I just rather wrap them and sleep. Instead, I'll be spending much of this Christmas Eve in an urgent care or emergency room waiting room.




Fun, eh??




[***When I was young I heard "Felix" and I assumed that this "Felix" person was married to that "Kitten" woman].

Happy Hanukkah Fatman.

Dude, get 'em checked out and let 'em load you up with lots of fun painkillers. Should make for a somewhat merrier holiday, no?

Glad to see you've got folks watching your back.

Aw man, that sucks! Sorry to hear it Fatman, but you really should get them checked out just to be sure. It won't take too long man, and it's better than risking any long term ill effects. I hope you feel better soon bro, I'll be sending good thoughts your way.

too bad your gluttonous ass didnt die. p.s say hello to your moms for me.

Fatty, stop being so fucking cheap.

Good luck with the ribs. Try to avoid laughing.

Do you have to wear a cast if they are broken or just have to lie still for 6 weeks? Hope they are only bruised, like your ego.

Less than feared ... one cracked slightly. Not much pain. Going with ice and OTC pain pains [which means none since I don't find that those have any effect - I'm just not a drug person]. Actually it doesn't hurt that much if I don't move too much and breathe carefully.

By Monday, I won't notice it at all.

The only issue was that the assholes wanted a co-payment and I don't have to make one - I even check with my insurer - ZERO co-payment. My landlady paid the $10 to keep the peace.

There was no wait. Once I was paid for, I went right it, got examined, x-rayed, wrapped and sent home. My landlady played taxi and treated for lunch. I had a burger at the 4-Star.

All in all, it went better than expected.

YakTrax. "Chains" for your feet. Only $20.

Enabled me to be the 1 of 2 of 7 scheduled employees at work Monday (13" of snow in Portland, no one shovels their sidewalks), walk 6 blocks to buy a supplementary space heater Tuesday night, and get 4 22 0z bottles of premium high-alcohol beer today.

http://yaktrax.com/

Anyone know how he is? He's been gone for a while.

I saw him on the TV News, handing out cocoa to the survivors of flight 1549. Obama's staff invited him to join the flight crew stageside at the inauguration. So, he's probably tied up trying to find a tuxedo that fits and polishing up his resume to hand out to staffers.

You know he has some experience in Labor, don't you?