Muriel

I don't know, but you might try Google. Muriel

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, Connie! Muriel

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, BUCKY Muriel

deputy sheriff

Generally, it's not nice to correct someone's choice of words. This is so important that I can't let it go. Especially since Patti has been picking on me. Flying a plane???????? Ya drive one of those. Patti, I think you meant psychotic background. Muriel

I started out with a BA in Sociology (U of Minnesota-Twin Cities), planning to go to grad school for an MSW. Never happened. Got married, had 3 kids, then went to grad. school (schools, really, UW-Madison, U. of Pittsburg, and Western Michigan U.) and got a Masters and most of the credits for a doctorate in Educ. Evaluation, Measurement, and Statistics. Got tired of grad school and couldn't find a dissertation topic I could live with, so I quit. Our oldest was about to start college then and it seemed like a good time to start earning money. I worked as a research analyst on an infant mental health project in Kalamazoo for about 5 years and then we moved to the Wash. DC area and I was the program evaluator for the National Geographic Society's Geography Education Program. The older I became, the less patient I was with DC area traffic and hour long commutes, so I left NGS and continued to do the same job as a consultant from my home. The geography educ. program was 12 years old and really not in need of any more evaluation, so I retired in the fall of 2000. Muriel

Guess if your kids don't know about the $2 bill someone needs to tell them! THE $2.00 BILL I TRIED TO SPEND Everyone should start carrying $2 bills! I am STILL laughing!! I think we need to quit saving our $2 bills and bring them out in public. The younger generation doesn't even know they exist. STORY On my way home from work, I stopped at Taco Bell for a quick bite to eat . In my billfold are a $50 bill and a $2 bill. I figure that with a $2 bill, I can get something to eat and not have to worry about anyone getting irritated at me for trying to break a $50 bill. Me: 'Hi, I'd like one seven-layer burrito please, to go.' Server: 'That'll be $1.04. Eat in?' Me: 'No, it's to go.' At this point, I open my billfold and hand him the $2 bill. He looks at it kind of funny. Server: 'Uh, hang on a sec, I'll be right back.' He goes to talk to his manager, who is still within my earshot. The following conversation occurs between the two of them: Server: 'Hey, you ever see a $2 bill?' Manager: 'No.. A what?' Server: 'A $2 bill. This guy just gave it to me.' Manager: 'Ask for something else. There's no such thing as a $2 bill.' Server: 'Yeah, thought so.' He comes back to me and says, 'We don't take these. Do you have anything else?' Me: 'Just this fifty. You don't take $2 bills? Why?' Server: 'I don't know.' Me: 'See here where it says legal tender?' Server: 'Yeah.' Me: 'So, why won't you take it?' Server: 'Well, hang on a sec.' He goes back to his manager, who has been watching me like I'm a shoplifter, and says to him, 'He says I have to take it.' Manager: 'Doesn't he have anything else?' Server: 'Yeah, a fifty. I'll get it and you can open the safe and get change Manager: 'I'm not opening the safe with him in here.' Server: 'What should I do?' Manager: 'Tell him to come back later when he has real money.' Server: 'I can't tell him that! You tell him.' Manager: 'Just tell him.' Server: 'No way! This is weird. I'm going in back. The manager approaches me and says, 'I'm sorry, but we don't take big bills this time of night.' Me: 'It's only seven o'clock! Well then, here's a two dollar bill.' Manager: 'We don't take those, either.' Me: 'Why not?' Manager: 'I think you know why.' Me: 'No really, tell me why.' Manager: 'Please leave before I call mall security.' Me: 'Excuse me?' Manager: 'Please leave before I call mall security.' Me: 'What on earth for?' Manager: 'Please, sir.' Me: 'Uh, go ahead, call them.' Manager: 'Would you please just leave?' Me: 'No.' Manager: 'Fine -- have it your way then.' Me: 'Hey, that's (another fast food restaurant), isn't it?' At this point, he backs away from me and calls mall security on the phone around the corner. I have two people staring at me from the dining area, and I begin laughing out loud, just for effect. A few minutes later this 45-year-oldish guy comes in. Guard: 'Yeah, Mike, what's up?' Manager (whispering): 'This guy is trying to give me some (pause) funny money.' Guard: 'No kidding! What?' Manager: 'Get this. A two dollar bill.' Guard (incredulous): 'Why would a guy fake a two dollar bill?' Manager: 'I don't know. He's kinda weird. He says the only other thing he has is a fifty.' Guard: 'Oh, so the fifty's fake!' Manager: 'No, the two dollar bill is.' Guard: 'Why would he fake a two dollar bill?' Manager: 'I don't know! Can you talk to him, and get him out of here?' Guard: 'Yeah.' Security Guard walks over to me and...... Guard: 'Mike here tells me you have some fake bills you're trying to use.' Me: 'Uh, no.' Guard: 'Lemme see 'em.' Me: 'Why?' Guard: 'Do you want me to get the cops in here?' At this point I am ready to say, ' Sure, please!' but I want to eat, so I say, 'I'm just trying to buy a burrito and pay for it with this two dollar bill. I put the bill up near his face, and he flinches like I'm taking a swing at him. He takes the bill, turns it over a few times in his hands, and he says, 'Hey, Mike, what's wrong with this bill?' Manager: 'It's fake.' Guard: 'It doesn't look fake to me.' Manager: 'But it's a two dollar bill.' Guard: 'Yeah? ' Manager: 'Well, there's no such thing, is there?' The security guard and I both look at him like he's an idiot, and it dawns on the guy that he has no clue.. So, it turns out that my burrito was free, and he threw in a small drink and some of those cinnamon thingies, too. Made me want to get a whole stack of two dollar bills just to see what happens when I try to buy stuff. If I got the right group of people, I could probably end up in jail. You get free food there, too. Just think...those two will be voting soon.

Hawaii to pick up Ned and his Golden Retriever. I do hope that dogs and a cow are allowed on this trip because several are already here. The identity of the driver remains a problem. Please, please don't let Patti drive this big thing. When we arrive in Hawaii, we'll spend some time sightseeing. Our first stop will be . . .

When I was dx'd, we lived in northern VA. My surgeon (for both surgeries) was highly respected, but really unlikeable. The pulmonary specialist was ok. I thought the Onc was great. However, it would have been helpful if he had told us he was watching something in the upper lobe of my left lung. A month and a half before we were planning to move to central FL - and after selling our Fairfax home and buying one here - I had my last CT before moving. Within 3 weeks I had surgery and the move went on as planned. Difficult, tho. Now I'm on my 3rd Onc and 3rd pulmonologist here. The first just strung us along without any answers re: chemo. I did finally start chemo with him and 6 weeks later was looking for a new Onc. Went to one my friend here recommended. She had really liked him. We soon started calling him "Dr. Gloom and Doom." After 15 months or so, he was concerned about a PET scan with a SUV of <2. Ordered a CT scan and then was very, very slow to give me the results. While waiting I realized that if it had returned, I couldn't do chemo with that group. So, I got the results, gave him a bad time about waiting so long to tell me and said good-bye. Three people in this group did/do go to my current Onc at MDACC-Orlando (Judy in KW, WendyR's husband, and Laban's husband). I agree with Judy's description of her. I'm confident that she is very knowledgeable, ethical, etc. so I feel ok about seeing her. With each Onc change, I also got a new pulmonologist. The one in VA was ok. Hated the first one here. The 2nd one I liked, but he moved to the far side of the other side of town. People this far east of Orlando just don't go that far southwest. I like the one at MDACC. I asked my PCP how close I was to running out of Onc.s here and he said there are still a few groups that he could recommend if needed. Muriel

Mostly dogs, a few cats Kitty, black kitty (3), Samantha, - not too creative with the cat names. Sara - English Springer Spaniel Cass - Golden Retriever Jenna - Chocolate Labrador Abby - Black Labrador Bailey - Golden Retriever

The Godfather - all three of them.

a pub that serves free drinks, snacks, and choc. donuts. My second wish was . . .

Marianne, I think you've made a good decision to call the Onc. As you said, if this doesn't help you, or if you don't like the meds, you can always quit. If the first drug prescribed doesn't work (and some take a while), call the Onc and ask if you should be trying a different med. As for the counseling, of course it's a good idea. I did want you to think out what your expectations were for it. You've done that - probably long ago - and I think counseling could help you. I'm certainly not an expert on it tho. Do remember that if the first counselor isn't helpful, you should keep looking. It's like picking a doctor. You aren't sure the one you've selected is the best one for you and if he/she isn't you move on to another one. Good luck. Let us know how things are going. I think Connie B is wonderful. Send her your phone number in a PM. Muriel

My coping strategy includes an anti-depression med. It's very effective and I'm not in a daze, too sleepy, or anything else. I'm certainly not against counseling, but what is it that you think counseling can do for you? Muriel

Obviously, I'm a time person. I lived in the Wash. DC area for 18 years and miles don't mean anything there Muriel

I guess Kalamazoo is bigger than Paw Paw, but funny as the name is, I find Paw Paw even funnier. (Sure hope we don't have anyone here from either city/town). In reality, Kal. isn't very big. It's not an Orlando, for example. Muriel

We lived in Kalamazoo for 8 years. The city has/had four colleges (Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo College, Kalamazoo Valley Community College, and Nazareth). Nazareth may have closed. It has an airport with direct flights only to Chicago and Detroit. Upjohn Parmaceuticals (the maker of Characoal D, and Advil) was founded there long,long ago and finally sold to Pro (something or other). The city gets a number of traveling musicals/plays and there is good local theater. There are two major hospitals (Bronson and Borgess), one of which is a regional trauma center and one (maybe the same) a regional heart center. It's located on I 94, about half-way between Chicago and Detroit. The U. of Michigan is less than 2 hours from Kalamazoo; Michigan State U. is an hour and a half. It's about 45 min. east of Lake Michigan. It's not a really big city, but big enough for this game. Muriel

Sorry, but in my time zone and Joel's, I have missed it. HAPPY BIRTHDAY, JOEL

Quebec City (sp?) (Now am I in the good graces of the Canadians???????)

Grand Rapids

Welcome to the site, Maggie. I'm sorry for the loss of your husband. I hope we can offer some support for you. We love Shelli and her wonderful sense of humor. I'm hoping that you will join us when you feel up to it. Muriel

Dallas

Bruce, what are we going to do about you? That's not a cow. Guess you didn't learn the "Old McDonald" song from a book with pictures Patti's solace is coming from a bottle, picked up in La Crosse (the town). Soon Patti will be picked up and charged with DUI. (She should have stayed at the Rehab facility). Meanwhile, the group has a discussion about . . .

Shelli becomes hysterical. She doesn't really know her fellow travelers. Which ones are dangerous? How crazy are the crazies? How many are convicted felons? Are any of them not chemically dependent? Poor Shelli, back in Wisconsin - next to God's Country - they just don't have these kinds of people. What shall Shelli do?

(((((Patti)))))