:( ...Haven't had much time for LJ or the shop lately.

Self care is one of the most important things we can offer ourselves…keep doing what it takes! Hey, I’m in no hurry for the Sketchup blog!

-- Dorje (pronounced "door-jay"), Seattle, WA

I’ll pray that your efforts and the efforts of the doctors will be blessed by God and that these efforts will bring you better balance and many more years for you to enjoy your blessings. I hope you enjoy your vision of a larger shop, too.

-- Jesus is Lord!

that’s a pretty big bump in the road. I hope it all goes smoothly and successfully.
The bridge is waiting—so it can represent your journey over the hump… right now you are sitting almost on the top ready to sail back down the other side.

Good luck with the docs.

-- ~ Debbie, Canada (http://www.execulink.com/~yohan)

I’m with Dorje, Bob. Take your time. Soak up some sun in that awesome chair you built. Try to avoid the frustration and know that we are behind you. Good luck and I hope all goes well.

-- Jeff, St. Paul, MN

Bob…

Take care of it.. we are not going anywhere.

-- -John "Do I have to keep typing a smiley? Just assume it's a joke." www.flickr.com/photos/gizmodyne

Take care of yourself Bob. You are in our thoughts each day. We will be here when you get back.

-- Bill, Turlock California, http://www.brookswoodworks.com

Good luck Bob, perhaps you’ll come out of it with some cool zen like super woodworking powers. Spidey senses tingling when you’re about to cut something too short or a kickback is imminent…. Seriously though all the best.

-- I am always doing that which I can not do, in order that I may learn how to do it. - Pablo Picasso

My prayers are with you Bob.
Best always,
Douglas (and Pam, too)

-- "Bordnerizing" perfectly good lumber for over a decade.

Bob:
-Kidney stone, zapped with Lithotripsy unit into fragments iin 1985.
One tof the fragments blocked a ureter.
In a botched attempt to remove the blockage they perforated my ureter and caused a stroke that left me with 20 percent hearing in my left ear and horrendous balance problems.
Pulling on my pants is now a problem.
I feel for you.
I have learned to balance with my eyes and I am a falling down drunk the sun comes down.

You will know what I mean.

Take the best treatment you can find and deal with the results- there are no guarantees.
If this could help you, try “white noise” in your left ear to cancel our any vibrations that your brain might interpret as balance signals before severing the nerves permanently.

Bob

-- A mind, like a home, is furnished by its owner

Thanks for the kind thoughts and prayers everyone. This is a pain but in the grand scheme of things its not that big a deal. When life hands you lemons, make lemonade. I really just wanted to explain why my involvment here might drop off some. I really appreciate the prayers but there are so many others that need them more than I.

That would be cool Damian, I’d like a sixth sense for beautiful hidden wood grains.

Bob,
I already know what you mean. I’ve been dealing with vertigo since shortly before my 1st treatment 4 years ago. When this 1st started I was thinking I should wear protective gear I was falling so often. The reason why I’m interested in trying to kill the nerve is that the only explanation I’ve gotten that seems to make sense is that there is still some signal coming from the left side. Part of my feeling lucky about this is living so close to Boston. I live 45 mins from some of the best Doctor’s and facilities in the world. There are only two of the machines that treated me…one in Boston the other in Calif. and the list of Doc’s Ive seen have literally written the book on this.

My problems come and go, it’s actually part of why it’s so frustrating, it’s tough to plan anything, short or long term. I have days when I feel almost normal (except the deafness and tinnitus, thats constant) and days when my head is exploding, I can’t walk without danger of falling, and my face hurts (My best friend says my face has been killing him for years so its only fair…:)) My wish for further treatment comes from the need to drive, and lack of sleep. Oftentimes when I’m not doing well I can’t sleep because as soon as I close my eyes the world begins to spin. Both of those things make work difficult. Thankfully my company has been very understanding, even getting me a laptop and allowing me to work mostly from home.

The connection of senses that give us our sense of balance is amazing. My original diagnosis of this came from some tests that had me all wired up and watching moving red LED dots. Those results prompted an MRI that found the tumor.

-- Bob, Carver Massachusetts, Sawdust Maker http://www.capecodbaychallenge.org

Bob: My prayers are with you. God can heal what man can’t. You will be in our prayers always.

Karson

-- What happens in the workshop stays in the workshop. No wait that doesn't sound right. Karson Southern Delaware karson_morrison@bigfoot.com †

technology is amaizing… hope it helps youwith the problems… Also get a SawStop in case that vertigo comes up at the stop…

Drew

-- Drew, Pleasant Grove, Utah

Hi Bob;
—-sorry to have missed this post for a few days now and must say that I’m looking forward to your eminent return! Also since there is all-ways plenty and more wood….plus the LumberJocks who work that wood, we will be here when you have ‘better time’.

I’m also sending thoughts of ‘very good’ toward you….
Thank you.
GODSPEED,
Frank

-- --frank, NH, http://frank.wordpress.com/

Hi Bob, I was just looking for one of your entries about your band saw problems, & discovered this. I guess I missed this because of Barb’s problems.

Both Barb & I will be putting our hearts, & prayers for your health.

PS: I posted this for you in my Rikon Review.

-- -** You are never to old to set another goal or to dream a new dream ****************** Dick, & Barb Cain, Hibbing, MN. http://www.woodcarvingillustrated.com/gallery/member.php?uid=3627&protype=1

Again…thanks for the thoughts all. Facing this thing has been frustrating mostly because its been difficult to make plans. Strangely enough it may force me to do more woodworking/carpentry. There is a reasonable chance my company may want to let me go one of these days. They’ve been great but things are starting to get slow and with my head the way it is I might be earlier on the chopping than I otherwise would be. If it does happen I will probably start buying and renovating houses just because it would be difficult to find an employer willing to hire me. The only thing I wouldn’t do is roof work…..lack of balance and high places don’t mix well. I’m a pretty good carpenter, have some very capable crew available, can do all the electrical and plumbing, and my wife is both good with a hammer and a paintbrush. Like I said…when life hands you lemons, make lemonade.

-- Bob, Carver Massachusetts, Sawdust Maker http://www.capecodbaychallenge.org

life guides us to our futures in mysterious ways…. you will be where you are supposed to be, when you get there. Of course the destination is always changing as we grow

-- ~ Debbie, Canada (http://www.execulink.com/~yohan)

If your company does have to let you go, I think it’ll be just as painful for them also.

You have the skills man!

-- -** You are never to old to set another goal or to dream a new dream ****************** Dick, & Barb Cain, Hibbing, MN. http://www.woodcarvingillustrated.com/gallery/member.php?uid=3627&protype=1

Good luck Bob. Our prayers are with you.

Karson

-- What happens in the workshop stays in the workshop. No wait that doesn't sound right. Karson Southern Delaware karson_morrison@bigfoot.com †

maybe after you show those paddles you will be in a new business and you’ll be so busy you won’t know what to do first! :)

-- ~ Debbie, Canada (http://www.execulink.com/~yohan)

Bob,

Sorry to hear of your physical problems. These bodies are AMAZINGLY COMPLEX. We take a lot for granted everyday, when they work as they should. But, I have to say that you have a wonderful attitude about the situation. Instead of becoming bitter and engaging in self-pity, you have reflected on your many blessings and have become thankful. Afflictions have a funny way of doing that.

Charles Haddon Spurgeon suffered from gout and had this to say about afflictions:

””I do not know whether my experience is that of all God’s people; but I am afraid that all the grace that I have got out of my comfortable and easy times and happy hours, might almost lie on a penny. But the good that I have received from my sorrows, and pains, and griefs, is altogether incalculable. What do I not owe to the hammer and the anvil, the fire and the file? What do I not owe to the crucible and the furnace, the bellows that have blown up the coals, and the hand which has thrust me into the heat? Affliction is the best bit of furniture in my house. It is the best book in a minister’s library. We may wisely rejoice in tribulation, because it worketh patience, and patience experience, and experience hope; and by that way we are exceedingly enriched, and our faith grows strong.”

- C.H.Spurgeon, The Trial of Your Faith

-- Tom, Surfside Beach, SC - Romans 8:28