Still here

[greatbear]

Yes, I am still here, though my time using LJ is pretty much limited to about once a week, a far cry from days gone by when I would check entries several times a day, leave many comments, and write on a fairly regular basis. For me, it's not just LJ being neglected, but all forms of social media. Recent events have turned many a friends feed into disgusting political diatribes, link farms of massive acreage, and every other imaginable method of getting a point across. I have gotten beyond fatigued from this, even from those posting along the lines of my own ideologies. Interestingly, here in LJ Land, things are rather quiet. I'd normally move my focus here, but, well, I feel like I am in a large but empty warehouse, shouting into the reverberating space where few, if any, even take notice. This space invites me to write in my wordy style, and spend a lot more time crafting an entry, but the end result seems lost in the emptiness. Being that most, if not nearly everyone I would interact with here has moved to that noisy back alley party known as Facebook, I ending up posting there for maximum effect. The very nature of that site prevents me from posting anything substantial, so my entries hold little interest to people that Facebook deems worthy to actually see the posts in the first place. A conundrum it is.

Since it has been over two months since I wrote anything, here is a quick summary. State of the Mayhem, as it were.

-I've been mostly unencumbered by pain, already well into late Fall, which is a first in nearly six years. Normally I seemed to fall apart around September, then be completely housebound for months as I undergo treatments or surgeries that would not turn me around for the better until mid-Spring or early summer. I was able to see the leave change in real time, as well as cleaning them up. This alone, while sounding more like a chore, made me happy with the accomplishment.

-I've been keeping busy, taking on some small subcontracting work for income. It's not much, but every little bit helps. if I last a year without having another rash of spine/nerve problems, I will try to reenter the workforce. I can't bring myself to put forth the effort to find a job only to have my body betray me and ultimately make me lose the job, causing me more and more trouble in the future.

-Family life is mostly unchanged. This is a good thing, as we are still doing things for fun, and nothing really bad has occurred (yet). Time will tell how this pans out.

That's about it for now. Hope everyone reading this is doing well.

Comments

[vicar.livejournal.com]

Hooray for not hobbled with pain!

[greatbearmd.livejournal.com]

It seems so unreal. I'm usually housebound at this time of year.

[vicar.livejournal.com]

Winter fairyland it is!

[2stroker.livejournal.com]

Good to hear from you. I'm still here but have no idea why.What you write sums up my feelings to a tee."Interestingly, here in LJ Land, things are rather quiet. I'd normally move my focus here, but, well, I feel like I am in a large but empty warehouse, shouting into the reverberating space where few, if any, even take notice. This space invites me to write in my wordy style, and spend a lot more time crafting an entry, but the end result seems lost in the emptiness. Being that most, if not nearly everyone I would interact with here has moved to that noisy back alley party known as Facebook, I ending up posting there for maximum effect. The very nature of that site prevents me from posting anything substantial, so my entries hold little interest to people that Facebook deems worthy to actually see the posts in the first place. A conundrum it is." Facebook is a fucking bad joke.I tried TSU it hasn't panned out .I write on my blogs on google mostly .People seem to read it but not bother to respond , but, the other day a man from Italy did and wants to buy one of the bikes I'm building to fund the downpayment on a house in Arizona so that was good. I'm glad that your life is somewhat ok again.I miss the old days here when I had friends but I guess they weren't really friends so it is what it is.You have a MERRY CHRISTMAS my friend and enjoy as much time as you possibly can.I'll remain on here even though I don't really post anything other than some photos and you can always find me thru the links I posted to my blogs in my journal. Be well, Ed

[greatbearmd.livejournal.com]

I miss your garage scenes and bike work. Very few people share in our interests it seems. I'm down to just myself here, getting a fair amount done in the garage for once. I do hope this continues with no setbacks.

May you have a merry Christmas, and have lots of safe travels.

[geometrician.livejournal.com]

Glad to see a post, Phil. I have deactivated my FB account for the reasons you describe. I simply cannot take it anymore. Plus, I am concerned that my opinions are being molded by the endless drivel on FB. The endless repasted links--many, many of them to articles that are either false or recreated to meet someone's agenda--drive me crazy.

I am pleased to hear that your health is better this year. May that continue for you!

[greatbearmd.livejournal.com]

That's another huge peeve of mine. People pass on downright false info over and over, and FB is a breeding ground for that crap. I'm tired of correcting even otherwise smart people on their errors.

Thanks for the well wishes! Hope all is well with you and yours.

[furr-a-bruin.livejournal.com]

Very glad about no repeat of the setbacks with your back. Here's hoping that continues long term!

I know what you mean about LJ - I keep thinking I should post more here, but I fall into the trap of thinking it's easier to do on G+.

[greatbearmd.livejournal.com]

I often forget how much effort there is in posting here, compared with other platforms. With my time limited lately, I have to squeeze this sort of thing in.

Thanks for the good vibes.

[rcfozzie.livejournal.com]

Always good to see you on here. I'm still here reading and still hardly ever posting. Glad to hear that the pain is diminished.

[greatbearmd.livejournal.com]

Hey stranger, long time no see! I hope things are going well with you.

[champdaddy.livejournal.com]

::waves::

[greatbearmd.livejournal.com]

Howdy, handsome! Missing ya lots, hope all is well.

[fingertrouble.livejournal.com]

I know what you mean by political stuff...it's exploded here because of Syria and Paris. Other option is be like a zombie and post cat videos, so of course I discuss politics and LGBTQ stuff...but after Paris it got nasty. An attack like that always does that, memories of 7/7 :-(

I still on occasion post here...and usually pop by every week or so to check posts out. I'm sometimes relieved there aren't more, I remember going through millions of posts back in the day, struggling to keep up.

Glad you're not in pain, that sounds like a great improvement.

[greatbearmd.livejournal.com]

Politics here have gotten real nasty, those with racist views no long feel the need to hide it, and they are out in force. It's ugly. The telly has been off, my reading of news sites carefully selected, and social media curtailed along with some purging of the ugliness sources.

[mrdreamjeans.livejournal.com]

I guess my LJ writing is just plain boring to folks these days. I have very little feedback unless something is going wrong. I have resorted to posting on FB, because positive news seems to get more reaction there. I hope you received my Christmas card. I sent it to an address I had for you.

[greatbearmd.livejournal.com]

I do read what you post here, Neil, even if I don't comment, but since I often see the same post over on FB, I interact there with the crowd. :)

And, yes, I did receive your card the other day when I finally got to the post office. Thank you!

[ciddyguy.livejournal.com]

Like some others, my posts go largely unresponded to, but I don't really partake much here of late, I only did a post, or two last month if that gives you any indication.

Even my own blog has suffered a bit too, though recently, managed to make not one, not two, but THREE posts in about a week, go me.

However, I caught a cold over Thanksgiving weekend, and am still dealing with the sniffles, though the worst has past (I think), but now have been worrying about whether I'll catch something worse, such as bronchitis or some such, and am still dealing with post nasal drip however.

I've also been in the dumps myself, depression and at times not feeling well, though I did finally deal with the mold and condensation that has been plaguing my apartment for a few years every time it rains in any major way.so that's good, but have worried the mold has/is making me sick?

Anyway, the last few months have sucked and I'm still renting and paying close to 60% of my income in rent, and that's been adding stress to the whole thing.

I wish the housing market was better here (a buyer's market) but something will show up, I'm sure.

Tomorrow, I have the day off as I have 2 floating holidays to take off before the end of the year, and the other one is next Friday so tomorrow, I'm dealing with some banking stuff, housing stuff and then head downtown, rain notwithstanding. It's been WET here, lots of rain and mudslides and of course, flooding all over. A bunch of windy and/or rainy storms have hit the area since early November, and earlier this week, we even have lightening come through one morning as I was eating breakfast before heading to work.

Thankfully, next week, I have my doctor's appointment and will hopefully get to the bottom of all this crap that I've been dealing with and hopefully am still relatively healthy, and NOT dying like I sometimes think may be the case.

Glad to hear things are OK in your neck of the world and that you've been able to get some outside stuff done before succumbing to the pain.

[greatbearmd.livejournal.com]

I've been reading your entries when I can, and i see you have a lot going on. I hope you find your own place soon and get away from renter's hell. I think a lot of other issues will resolve themselves once you take care of that.

Hope you have great Christmas!

[redmoonriver.livejournal.com]

Yay for a lackage of paining!! *SQUEEZES*