2014 has really kicked my ass

[scheming daemons]

I haven't posted here for a while. Life has gotten in the way.

The year began with me having a kidney stone.

Then, my grandmother took her last breath while I was holding her hand. A profound moment that changed me forever.

Then I got a 2am call from my 20 year old college daughter's RA saying that she tried to physically harm herself with razorblades after her boyfriend broke up with her.

Then my other daughter, the athlete, developed asthma.

Then my father in law nearly died from a bad combination of prescription drugs.

Then I lost my job on October 1st.

BUT!

My daughter got professional help (thank you Obamacare), transferred to another school and is doing better.

My other daughter joined the cross country team and has developed breathing techniques that are keeping her asthma at bay.

My father in law got his health issues taken care of.

And I just got an offer for a better, higher paying job than the one I lost.

2014 tried to crush my family. But it failed.

Sorry for the vanity post, but it has been a tough year and I am bouncing back and wanted to share.

And I believe this country and the Democratic party will bounce back strong after this difficult year as well. Even if we lose the Senate on tuesday, we are poised to take everything back in 2016. All branches.

The Republican brand might have their dead cat bounce in 2014. But that's all it is.

[CTyankee]

1. You're here and you're fine. Glad to hear it cuz you've been through a lot.

Wishing you a MUCH better 2015!

[scheming daemons]

4. Any day above ground is a 'win'

[BubbaFett]

2. Here's hoping 2015 will be better

or at least 2014 4Q

[DarthDem]

3. Very Glad to Hear About Your Rebound . . . .

. . . and your family's! RIP to your grandma. Best wishes for a far better 2015!

[NYC_SKP]

5. Hope things just get better and better.

I feel for you, lots of similarities for me this year.

And, like you I think, it makes me want progressive wins all the more.

[Mnemosyne]

6. ...

[Gothmog]

7. Good luck with 2015

[babylonsister]

8. Great to hear from you!

Sorry about all your trials this past year, but am happy things are looking up for you.

[VWolf]

9. Wow, glad to hear most of your issues are being resolved, BUT

what are you doing about those stones?

I've been dealing with them for years, and they're downright awful. One was so bad I tried to knock myself out just so I didn't have to feel the pain anymore.

I'm now drinking lots more water daily, and I've pretty much given up my favorite snack (pistachio nuts), among others. Hopefully you've been given some good dietary advice as well.

Best of luck to you in '15.

[scheming daemons]

23. No more carbonated beverages, no more berries, no more cashews, lots of water

...

[japple]

50. Yes!! Carbonated beverages are the WORST, according to one of the finest

urologists I've ever known. He always warned us in May to expect a lot more patients with kidney stones when the weather turned warmer and people started drinking more carbonated drinks.

[DFW]

10. Sounds like you're kicking back

Not everyone manages to do that, so kudos for your efforts, and here's hoping you're right about the rest!

[FLPanhandle]

11. Great for you.

Getting laid off 5 years ago was the best thing in my life.

Now making 50% more and much happier.

I too am hopeful for 2016. Veto everything Obama.

[FSogol]

12. Glad to see you back. For your daughter with asthma, find out who the best allergist is in

your area and go see them. Asthma can be triggered by environmental allergies. Allergy shots and some changes around the home really helped my son and it has been years since he had any problems.


PS. We won't lose the Senate next week. Ask Eric Cantor about it.

[SteveG]

13. keep on truckin dude

your 2014 sounds like my 2013. But like the Big Lebowski, the Dude abides, and survives. May the next year bring you nothing but good fortune.

[whathehell]

14. So glad to hear things have gotten better for you, and don't worry about

anything being a "vanity post" -- We're all here to support each other in rough times.

[Adrahil]

15. Wow... glad things are on the upswing!

[JohnnyLib2]

16. Thank you for an inspiring post

--and the reminder to keep one eye on the future and keep hope alive.

[jwirr]

17. You truly sound stronger for the experience. Very glad for you. And I agree with the prognosis

regarding the US. But if the Rs take over it is going to be harder.

[treestar]

18. Good for you scheming!

I'm glad you got the better of 2014! Good Thoughts for you Dad and daughters and you.

[packman]

19. You gotta keep this on a file and play it

Whenever you're on that rollercoaster of life:

[libodem]

20. Goddess bless

You and yours. Sorry for all the troubles. So happy to hear it is turning around.

Maybe we need the down times to really appreciate the good times. Who knows why we have trials and tribulations?

[mountain grammy]

21. Good morning and thank you for the post. Good news is not vanity.

[Divernan]

22. Galaxy Quest: "Never give up! Never surrender!"

We liberal, progressive Dems share that stubborn streak (infamously characterized by Rahm as being fuckin' retarded) that makes us fight on despite the odds.

So watch your backs, GOP, One Percenters and Wall Street-lovin' 3rd Wayers, because by Grabthar's hammer, by the sons of Morvan, we shall be avenged!

Read more at www.Explore-Science-Fiction-Movies.com: http://www.explore-science-fiction-movies.com/galaxy-quest-movie-quotes.html#ixzz3HjMpP8Lh

[fleabiscuit]

24. Good on you and yours man! n/t

[JayhawkSD]

25. Stay positive, ride the wave.

"My other daughter joined the cross country team and has developed breathing techniques that are keeping her asthma at bay."

That is just fantastic. Back in the day there was a tenet that kids with asthma could not participate in sports. Now, not only can they participate, but sports is actually a measure of the solution. Give your daughter a "well done" for me and my encouragement to keep up the good work.

In 1982 I was diagnosed with "well advanced emphysema," and told that within a few years I would require supplemental oxygen. I engaged in physical therapy and breath control and learned to use the portion of my lungs that remains intact and, 15 years later, was still engaging in 25 mile day hikes. A lot of water has passed under a lot of bridges since then, but I still do not require supplemental oxygen, which utterly confounds my doctors.

[stevenleser]

26. So glad things are turning around and hope to see you around here more!

[Calista241]

27. Lol @ dead cat bouncing metaphor.

Glad you've recovered. One can wish that most people recover from these types of setbacks as well as you and your family.

[a kennedy]

28. Hoping things have settled down for you, and that they can only get better.....

[Half-Century Man]

29. 2009 was the year were the best answer I had for "How's it going"?

Was "I'm not currently on fire".

Eventually bad years becomes a series of stories to annoy your grand kids with. Have fun doing that, I do.

[Mojorabbit]

30. I am still having the worst year of my life but like you, am still standing! Hug. nt

[Lifelong Protester]

31. Glad you'r back and you have wrestled 2014

to the ground.

[glinda]

33. great post

[Hekate]

34. Well done, you. I'm so glad things have turned around.

[1StrongBlackMan]

35. That wasn't a vanity post ...

it is an uplifting, Celebratory post ... affirming that bad sh!t happens; but more, SO DOES GOOD SH!T!

Thanks ... We all need to hear, from time to time, that we can make it through to the other side!

[vlyons]

36. Bless you Schemer!

Things come together, and then they fall apart. Then they come together again, and then they fall apart again. Over and over and over. Endless change. Nothing but change. And how we deal with this constant flux of up and down and up and down is all in our point of view. If things are going well, sure enough something will make them worse. If things are going badly, eventually conditions change and better opportunities arrive. May you stay centered and balanced throughout it all.

Very glad to hear that your daughter, who was distressed by her crappy ex-BF is doing so much better. And very glad that your grandmother had the comfort of crossing over with you by her side.

[Enthusiast]

37. I'm glad things are on the upswing.

[democrank]

38. My best to you and your family

What a rebound!

[jimlup]

39. Thank you for your words of encouragement

I have to say that these are dark days. I'm still hoping that we can stop some of the bleeding with a large voter turnout on Tuesday but beyond that it doesn't look good short term.

I hope to hell you are right about 2016. I hope more of the American electorate figure out who their real oppressors are as those voting Republican obviously don't have a clue this election cycle.

[Maedhros]

40. Our struggles at times can seem Sysyphean.

Keep pushing that stone, and one day it will stay in place

[Dont call me Shirley]

41. WooHoo! Bouncing back is good!

[Skittles]

42. wishing you and your well, scheming daemons

yes INDEED

[Eleanors38]

43. Hang in and hang on. Land Ho!

[rhett o rick]

44. Best of luck in 2015. nm

[IronLionZion]

45. Thank you so much for sharing this!

Glad everything was working out for you.

The past several years have royally kicked my ass hard. I won't go into details, but I was ready to harm myself pretty bad earlier this year until everything turned around when I got called back from a recruiter for about the 2000th job I applied to. I have a much better job now with a greatly improved commute, the right kind of work, and much better pay. Members of my family have gotten obamacare as well.

things are looking up everywhere. I'm seeing reports that wages are finally rising as the job market had improved enough to give workers some bargaining power. A wave of retirements also opened up opportunities in many places.

[flamingdem]

46. Happy to see you here and

learn about your triumph over life's challenges.

[RiverLover]

47. Vanity, no. Inspiring? Hell yeah! Thanks for sharing!

Here's to a Fantastic 2015!

[Cha]

48. Love to hear that, scheming daemons! Getting our asses Kicked but hangning in there

and Rebounding in Style!

Happy for you and your family and Happy Halloween!

[Elmer S. E. Dump]

49. Best thing I heard in awhile. I'm so happy for you and yours.

[shenmue]

51. You will make it

This puppeh believes in you.

[URL=.html][IMG][/IMG][/URL]

[BadGimp]

52. thank you for sharing!

[AnnieBW]

53. It's kicked mine, too

A close friend of ours died in a fire in January.

My mother died on Easter.

I sold the house that I grew up in.

A former co-worker, and the husband of another former co-worker died over the summer.

Robin Williams died.

On the bright side, we adopted a new kitty, and my parents' estate is being resolved quickly.

We sold the house to a great young couple with two dogs and a cat. The dogs are already enjoying the backyard.

[Algernon Moncrieff]

54. It sounds like you kicked 2014 back -- good to see you again!

Welcome back!

[Iwillnevergiveup]

55. What makes your post so sweet

You persevered under adverse events and felt gratitude when circumstances improved.
I'm in agreement with those who say this is NOT a vanity post. Best to you and your family for all the years to come.

[sadoldgirl]

56. Glad that you are starting to get

through your trials. They are terrible, but may give us not only more strength, but also a new perspective on life.

Sometimes we really need to forget politics and concentrate on what and who is dear to us.

[Liberal_in_LA]

57. kick. happy 2014 is ending on an up note for u

[herding cats]

58. I love a success story!

There's nothing quite like hearing how life is beating someone up, but they stood up to the challenge and won. We've all been there, or if not we will be at some point in our lives. Thank you for sharing your journey with us so those of us currently in a downward spiral can know there's hope, and a possible light at the end of the tunnel if we just hold on.

Vanity post my sweet Aunt Helen's butt. This was a PSA post in my eyes!

[AtomicKitten]

59. cheers

[Number23]

60. 2014 has sucked ass for a whole lot of people

Here's hoping the Good Lord hears our prayers and 2015 is a marked improvement.

[nightscanner59]

61. I had a rough go of '14 as well.

My parent's demise was rough on all of us. Not the death aspect, but their ill-preparedness for their aging needs and decline, my dad's alzheimer's going into final stage, legal battles to get him put away from abusing my mom, and all very, very expensive. I had extended unemployment, ran into some real jewels of workmates (a whole other shitstorm story) at a job I attempted a good start at go bad. This is all sort of still a part of downward spiral of work demand/supply that went sour under GW Shrub's unenlightened rule that is only. finally, now bouncing back to normal.
I totally phucking dread the repug congress stifling or reversing all progress made so far. It still simply astounds me how gullible the Faux-faithful tehadist idiot hoardes, especially the low income ones can hang onto the trickle-down bullshit and believe it.
Hillary put it best, but cannot recall the exact phrasing nor find it on google but it went something like:
"It takes years for the repubicans to trash the economy, then years for us to fix it"