Trevor ... I'm ringing your door bell again

[Lindy]

I understand that it is difficult for you to actually run to see who is at the door if your doorbell is ringing at home; furthermore, I don't have the time or money to visit you in person; but, I did want to check in on you again.

Please don't let yourself sink into hole full of quicksand (oblivion) ... instead strive to survive by getting back on your horse (even if it takes a boost up by your family and friends), take life by the reins (don't be a bull lead around with a ring in its nose), and start riding down some sort of productive trail again (in other words, rejoin the world at large). As long as you live and breathe you still have a purpose, you just have get back on your feet, inching along a little each day in order to find it.

Take care my friend ...just wanted to let you know that someone down in Texas really cares about you. I have made it my mission to be your "long distance motivator and cheerleader." ;D

Happy trails.

[NS'Creter]

Hi. I can't believe that I went completely AWOL. Sorry. I found a good hole somewhere between pain and lots of meds and depression. I'm crawlin' out. Thank you.
I had some new shots in the spine since I was here. I actually got about 5 hours of nearly complete relief in my right leg. How cool is that? This is a good news/bad news situation so I'll get the bad outta the way first. This treatment will not do anything for my back. OK, now the good...I'm gonna have more of the same shots and if the duration of relief increases we will "chase" it with more and more and the hope is for permanant relief. Of course there are variables and "if's" and "but's" but for now I'll just leave it this way...nice and simple.
I was supposed to go for these shots on Tuesday but was in such shape that I couldn't even get dressed so that one got cancelled. I was also supposed to go today but the doc's office rescheduled it for Monday. So we're hopin' for the best.
I'm so glad that we do only get one minute at a time (never mind a day) 'cause that's all I can handle. Thanx again for the support and encouragement. I'm tryin' to stay outta that damn hole.

[Lindy]

Thanks for responding. Please always keep in mind that we, your long distance friends and allys, really care about you. It is understandable that you must dig deeply into the very core of your being, in order to take even baby steps every day; however, you're doing so demonstrates the courage and fighting spirit that remain deep down in your soul. I'm glad to hear that you're getting a reprieve from pain, even if it is only for a few hours, by the knock-it-out shots ... guess the shots are a form of pain management; but, not a cure. Can't doctors permanently deaden the nerves that are the roots of you constant agony?

Hang in there buddy... don't give in or give up. Always remember that as long as you live and breathe there will always be hope; a pain free life could be just around the next corner so long as you keep the faith. I pray that one day you will be able to look back on all that you have endured, rising out of your dismal despair to the light of a new day, shouting "I'm a survivor."

[NS'Creter]

It's so cool to have friends like I'm fortunate enough to have. To answer your question..."no". Because of the nerves involved, deadening them would result in permanant paralysis. I would be lying if I told you that I didn't consider it. The biggest reason that I decided against it is because I would become even more of a burden for my family. There is no cure for CRPS and the odds of any sort of remission at this stage are extremely remote. I suppose there is the possibility that some new technology is developped or we hit on the proper combination to give some real relief. I'm also fortunate to have the doctor that I have. It's hard to believe that a man of his calibre is in lil' old Cape Breton, Nova Scotia...but he is. He is world famous for what he has done. For example, he reached into his own pocket for that infrared thermal camera when the gooberment wouldn't. He did it again for the Photon Stimulator making the 2nd and 3rd units in the world his. He's quite the fella and I even enjoy talking with him. He understands that I don't need any sugar-coating or bullshit so he's great to tell it like it is. I would prefer that than not really knowing where I stand.
My CRPS has been very aggressive and rapid. I've been hit with more symptoms than is common. That makes me a little rare/extreme...which also makes me a candidate for the worst symptom of all. In extremely rare/extreme cases the disease has attacked the organs and had fatal results. My honest opinion is that "I've had enough" and that's not gonna happen. There's nothing that can be done to prevent it...it's just a phantom type of thing with no real explaination. I'm not expecting it and I'm not worried or scared or dwelling on it at all. My depression moments do not come from that remote possibility. It's the stagnating that depresses me...and feeling like I'm a burden...and the stress that I've put on my family (and friends).
So, tomorrow I'm back to Dr, Pollett for more shots. The drive to and from does more damage than he helps so far, but if anyone can help me it's him. The drive is 2.5-3 hours each way by the way. And I'm not driving so Sandy loses a day to that. I'm rambling again. I'll check in tomorrow when we get back.
Thanx.

[aynet]

I'm very glad to see a response from you, Trevor!
I saw LIndy's post and never saw a return from you, so I've been concerned. Was out of town for a few days and when I check the board this morning, saw your responses, so I'm glad to see you're not totally down in a hole.
Truthfully, you come to mind just about every day and I'm continuing to pray for you - for the strength of your youth to return to you.
Your unwillingness to give into this thing is 3/4 of the battle, I think. Keep at it! I truly believe there's hope for you and I also believe that God put that doctor right where he is for YOUR sake.
We will continue to pray!

[NS'Creter]

Thanx Tenya, I appreciate it so much.

So we started on our way to North Sydney this morning. We got just outside of (our) town and I hadta ask Sandy to turn around to take me home. It was a tough decision to make but I was in too much pain to travel. North Sydney is 2.5-3 hours each way...there's no way that I would have had any positive results today after that. It's 5:12 AM and I'm still up! When I can't get comfortable I cannot sleep...even with all of the junk that's pumped into me. Crazy huh?

[aynet]

I'm so sorry that you are in that much pain.
Please know you have all our support and prayers.
You are going to lick this thing and have victory!

[Lindy]

You're setting out on the road to relief that day, only to have to turn back due to unbearable pain, after traveling only a short distance, was a definite disappointing downer. When you do attempt to travel for a distance, how do you do so? ...sitting up, fully reclined seat, or do you have the use of a van where you could actually lay down perhaps using one of those memory foam (feel no movement) mattresses or mattress toppers that would absorb all road shocks/preventing them from reaching your body, while conforming to and supporting your frame. The memory foam mattress toppers (in twin size) could be cut down to fit in seat that reclines, providing you cushioned/stabilized relief. Of course the best scenario would be the use of a vehicle that you could actually lay down in such as a van with seat that turns into a bed or perhaps a long Suburban that the back seat will lay flat down .... since either would allow you to the whole memory foam mattress or mattress topper. I hope and pray that your doctor finds some way/treatment to slow, or eliminate, the pain associated with your medical condition. We, your friends, will all be in your corner, encouraging and praying for you to gather up the strength and courage I'm sure it takes to rise every day. Take care and God bless.

[aynet]

How are you doing, Trevor. Just wanting to check on you because I don't want you to slip into that pain hole. Been thinking about you a lot this week, and praying.
I know that it can be hard to believe right now, but God loves you, and this episode in your life is all a part of His plan, not just for you, but for the greater good of every life you touch. I don't always understand those things, but I have faith in the fact that my God is in control. I hope you can trust that and that the Lord will show His great love to you in very real ways this coming week.
Keep putting one foot in front of the other, even tho that's difficult most days.
You're in our prayers!

[NS'Creter]

Thanx again folks. Your support is very important to me. Here's a funny one ...my skin was very sensitive today so a shower would be like torture but I had an appointment with my regular doc. As much as it stresses and embarrasses me I just cannot shower on super-sensitive days. So I put on fresh cloths and Sandy drove me to the office. Turns out that my appointment is tomorrow. Heh,heh. Don't ya just hate when that happens?

Can only keep on keepin' on huh? So how's everyone else doing? What's new? Tell me stuff...I love havin' things other than myself to think of.

[aynet]

Well, at least you can still laugh at yourself!!! It's great that you can keep your sense of humor.
Let's see what I can tell you that's going on....

We seem to be doing almost as many overlays as straight concrete now. I've done so much Ashlar Slate in the past 10 months I'm cross eyed.
We're still trying to play catch up from 5 months with almost no work (last Sept-Jan). And, praying for some jobs to come through and get scheduled. Last scheduled one is this week. That sucks! Just have to keep going and trust God - eh?
I've decided that I hate doing commercial jobs and usually hate acid stain. Seems the harder we try to get a job, the easier we lose it on commercial ones. Boy! We could really use one of those big $30K ones too. We bid one, but it went to someone who bid half of what we did. They had to have bid the wrong kind of sealer because we checked with LIndy about cost and the sealer alone would cost only about $3K less than the gjy bid it. He got it because it's a government job and they have to take the lowest bid. Oh well... win some and lose some...

I wish we could post pics here, but maybe I can figure out my photobucket account and post a link to show a couple of our latest "cool" projects.

Keep at it, Trevor! You're gonna lick this thing eventually.

[aynet]

I added a couple pics of our uniquely colored Ashlar.
s691.photobucket.com/albums/vv280/BMJ_Design/

[Lindy]

New use for toilets ...
There is a guy in Plano/TX (Dallas/Ft.Worth area) that has built a business around crushing/pulverizing toilets. His company is Enviro Glas Products, Tim Whaley, nickname "scrappy."
His claim to fame is "recycling" ceramic toilets and sinks (old ones or those that are new/cracked or otherwise damaged). He incorporates these recycled ceramics into epoxy terrazzo floors (instead of using costly marble or granite chips). Product name EnviroMode (as in commode/toilet). Also using his crushed/recycled toilets in concrete countertops referred to as EnviroSlab. Primary colors he has are: bone, black, red, and blue.
Since these toilets (as well as ceramic sinks) would otherwise end up in landfills across the country; the news media has got behind spreading the word about his recycling efforts, which also serves as "free" advertising for his promoting his business with a focus on his flooring and countertops. Apparently he has a never ending source, since municipalities dump these ceramic toilets/sinks at his location (instead of in their landfills).
If you want to read the entire article about this go to: www.ewire.com/display.cfm/wire_ID/3428 (you many need to cut/paste this link to get it to come up).

[Lindy]

Lucky day ...
My brother in law (contractor), just got about the best job ever. He just locked up a job in Belize (Caribbean). Will take about 5 weeks to complete this multi-million dollar home's floors, as well as build exotic wood staircases which is a master at constructing. Builder is putting him and his helper up in a 4 star resort motel and paying $100 a day per-diam ($50.00 each) to cover out of pocket expenses (food, car rental, etc). My nephew (his son), who is 16, will be staying with his sister, whose kids go to the same high school. He will be back before Christmas with a pocket full of money and a "tan." If this is not success, I don't know what is.

[Lindy]

Have covered new use for old toilets, my lucky brother in law, so not lets go to something really creative; took only 2 days to complete using my Diamond Shield polyaspartic aliphatic polyurea (PAP).

Go to: photobucket.com/LindyA

How it was done...
(1) entire area to be checkered flag was coated in White PAP; 2 hours later 2nd coat of White PAP was applied
(2) 3 hours after 2nd coat of White PAP was applied, floor was taped out in winning checkered flag design, applied one coat of Black PAP to complete the checkered flag design.
(3) waited 3 hours, then taped off areas between all the overhead garage doors ...2 coats of Gray PAP were applied (2 hours between 1st coat and 2nd coat) this was to simulate sidewalks
(4) waited 3 hours, then taped off the areas between the
Gray PAP sidewalks ... 2 coats of Black PAP were applied (2 hours between 1st coat and 2nd coat)
(5) waited 3 hours, then taped down the middle of road ... applied 1 coat of Yellow PAP simulating lane markers down the middle of black roads.
(6) 4 hours after all this was completed was returned to use

This job was done by Rick Warwick, Luxury Concrete in Boston ... a long time friend/contractor who uses a great deal of my regular clear (gloss or satin) Diamond Shield PAP; as well as my 24 pigmented colors ... this garage floor (approximately 3800 sq.ft. was done for a customer of his that is a classic car collect and major NASCAR racing fan; the guy has garages all over the Boston area for his 48+ classic cars and is very well know in classic car and truck collector circles all over the nation. Job finished about a month ago. A television crew was at the garage filming a regular show on cable network New England Sports Network (NESN), show being "Crusin New England" ... floor will be SPOTLIGHTED in one of the shows this fall (not sure of the date yet but I will know date soon); which of course if free publicity/advertising for Rick; with NESN having more viewers than ESPN in 13 New England states. Also, it will be appearing in hot rod/Crusin New England magazine that goes out to1000's of subscribers (also more SHOWCASING of Ricks' floor). The show was supposed to be about Rick's customers' classic car collections; but, the tv crew, "Crusin New England" show, and all those (car collectors buddy) that have seen this garage floor are more impressed with the floor than the guy's car collection. One this episode of this show is aired, along with the magazine you can bet Rick will be racing around, as he takes the checkered winning flag, winning many more applications across New England using pigmented PAP's.

I'm also doing a feature New/Article on the floor, as the Co-Host of the Decorative Concrete Forums www.decorativeconcreteforums.com ... before/during/after photos included with Rick's own words as to detailed information on his application process ... he started and finished this floor in only 2 days. There are no score lines, control joints, etc just used tape and 18" rollers (although if there were engraved/scored line or control joints they would be excellent stop/start points instead of using tape).

Pretty cool isn't it ... done in record time, definitely a winner!

Lindy A.