We're back, safe and sound in our little piece of paradise. I spent 2 weeks with my sister and mother. I spent 4 days with my son (#2 son) which I let fill me up as I don't know when it will happen again. Then hubby and I reunited and ventured north.

We did the tourist type stuff in PA (Gettysburg and Hershey) then visited his daughters and their families. We did have lunch at my cousin's house. It's quite convenient for her to live near my step-children.

The migraine situation is still there. I wasn't expecting it to leave; I just thought I'd mention it. I am grateful to have medications to address it. I have accepted my disability. I will always have the pain. I feel better knowing the ER isn't my only option.

The Daily Show is coming on. Time to go. Bye for now.

Yeah I know, long time, no see. I haven't been in the mood to post lately. \

We have a big trip planned. My husband is going to a class out of state for 2 weeks and I am going to spend that time at my sister's house. My mom lives with her and she is going to have a mastectomy on Friday. This will allow me to help out a bit during her recovery. There's a definite possibility that my younger son will be able to fly down and spend some time with us while I am there.

After those 2 weeks, hubby and I will drive up to NY to visit his family. We plan on spending Memorial Day weekend with them. Then, it's that long, long trip back to the tropics.

The kitty cats are going to stay home. I have an appointment to meet with a pet sitter tomorrow. This is less expensive than boarding and will be much more comfortable for the cats.

My migraine situation is about the same. I have pain every day. I have horrid pain a few times a week. I also seem to get an extremely sleepy time in the afternoon. It is all I can do to avoid giving into it.

Actually, the pain is about a 5 right now. It is on the move up unfortunately. Hubby is on-call so maybe I don't have to concern myself with dinner tonight. That's the only good thing about this on-call duty.

That's all for now. Who knows if I'll be back with any regularity. I hope so. I think getting things out there is good for me. I'm just not a consistent person.

Happy New Year! I got a call from my mother. She had called my former mother-in-law (who lives near my kids) and reported having seen them over the holidays. They're still alive. Sad to say, that's all I know about my kids. Their cell phones are not in service. Their phones and their father's phone. I suspect the contracts were up and they've gotten new ones.

That was my last connection to them. Actually, my last connection is the postal service. I don't know their addresses but I can send them to my ex MIL.

Is this what my life has come to?

My head hurts. My husband is home. I am going to make spaghetti sauce.

Happy New Year (yeah, I know, I already said that)

With permission from Teri Robert, I present the following.



Dec 16, 2006
An Open Challenge To DEA Officials
To all DEA officials:

Do you recognize the image to the left? It was the cover image of a document issued by the FDA in August of 2004, Prescription Pain Medications: Frequently Asked Questions and Answers for Health Care Professionals, and Law Enforcement Personnel.

The FAQ was also very abruptly withdrawn without any comment. Then in November of 2004, there was a statement in the Federal Register that said, in part, "...chronic pain is a serious problem for many Americans..." and, "...DEA plans to address the subject of dispensing controlled substances for the treatment of pain in a future Federal Register document..."

Here's a reminder for you people at the DEA. It's been more than two years, and you have yet to address the subject in another issue of the Federal Register. You have yet to address the epidemic of people who are in pain, many of whom can't get adequate care because doctors are in fear of persecution and prosecution.

Shame on you! You are supposed to serve the American people. Instead, you are doing us a great disservice. It's far beyond time for the DEA to get it together and replace this FAQ, and I challenge you to do so.

Merry Christmas! Yeah, I know, I am a bit early. It's just that I don't seem to post much anymore. I am afraid my next entry will be in 2007.

My tree is up. The cats are behaving around it, for the most part. They're taking shifts snoozing on the skirt. It's like a big burgundy flat stuffed animal with the holiday cat hair adornment.

Sleep has been a real challenge for me lately. I think it is mostly due to an increased consumption of my pain meds. While these meds would knock a horse out, they negate the sleep chemicals found naturally and unnaturally in my body. Oh well.

It's gloomy today. The sky is overcast. I don't think the space shuttle is going to launch tonight. Nothing guarantees a cruddy weather report than a scheduled space shuttle launch.

TTFN

Wonderful news today....my younger son got his GED! I was not sure this was ever going to happen. Sadly, I don't put a lot of faith in his word. I am so glad I was wrong this time. I love him so much. I want him to succeed in life. He needs a job, now. Then, dare I even think it? Maybe he could go to school.

Now onto the next phase. I'd be perfectly happy if he could earn enough to support himself. Then, someday, marry a wonderful girl and have 2.3 children....but only if that is what he wants.

Congratulations, son. I hope this is the turning point in your life.

I got a call from my son (#2). He was waiting for a bus to go back home. He had been upstate taking a course for his GED. He said he took the test, yesterday. He won't know the results for a couple of months.

He was very chatty and congenial. This is not like him usually. He told me some things that have happened in his past. They're not the things one wants to hear about one's child. He jumped from topic to topic.

He asked how I was, how my husband was and how his grandmother was. He inquired about my two cats and about the sports car my husband used to have. Then as quickly and as suddenly as the call started, he said he had to go.

He told me he loves me. I, of course, told him the same. It will probably be a very long time before I hear from him or speak to him again.