Hi All,

Seems like I've been away forever. I'll try and keep this as short as possible. I was admitted to the hospital on 11/10. I had an ERCP procedure and the next day surgery to remove my gall bladder and do a hernia repair.

I was in the hospital and a rehab center until 11/21 when I came home. My recovery was going well and I had recovered most of the strength I had lost. Then on 12/08 I had severe pain in the upper left area of my back, which was determined to be 3 compressed discs pressing on a nerve.

Unlike after the surgery, recovery from this problem has not gone smoothly or quickly. Many days I've felt like I took 1 step forward and 2 backward. Finally, things look a little brighter and I'm praying nothing else will happen.

Now for the icing on this cake of a bad saga: This apartment complex, where I've lived for the last 40 years (with the exception of 1-1/2 years from 06/2003 until 01/2005 that I spent in Charlottesville) notified me on 12/01 that they were not going to renew my lease which was expiring on 01/31/15. No reason given.

I called the office manager and asked why. She said it's because I smoke and the tenant in the apartment above me (who has been there less than a year) complained she smells cigarette smoke in her apartment. Mind you, this is not now nor has it ever been a non-smoking complex.

The company who manages this complex was adamant - they would not renew my lease nor allow me more time to recuperate and find a suitable place.

So I had to hire an attorney to deal with them. There's a lot more to the cr*p this management company is putting me through, but this post is already too long.

I do want to once again thank MaG, Rog, Pandora, and curly for their phone calls and emails. They helped alleviate the depression I've felt because of all this.

Love you all,

Jema

Jema,
I was about to send you a private message to
ask how you were. I had been missing your
weekend posts. I am so sorry to hear about
all your troubles. My hope is that 2015 will
be a better year for you and things will turn
around soon. I will remember you in my prayers.
Stay strong.

My love to you,
Joan

Jema! You're back! You've been missed, don't doubt it. I hope you continue to improve and gain strength and play with us in our puzzle garden.

Oh, Jema! What you've had to go through. But, I'm so happy to see you back. I hope you find some solace here.

It's so good to have you back Jema

Here's to your physical recovery, Jema, and a swift resolution to your apartment problem. Thank you for posting here and letting us know how you are.

I'm so sorry to hear of all your pain and troubles~
that is awful the apartment owners did that to you after you've been a loyal renter for over 40 years~ sure hope your lawyer gets things fixed for you ~so glad your back to GB!
God bless~






Doc

I'm so sorry to hear of all that you have been going through, Jema. I sure hope that things improve. You have been missed, and I'm happy to see you posting again.

I'm so happy to see you back here Jema. I'm sorry to hear of all your troubles. My wish is for everything to improve into a wonderful 2015. I look forward to having you back around here.

Jema,I hope everything goes well for you.

Glad you're back, Jema. It was in the back of my mind that you hadn't
posted in awhile. I hope everything works out OK for you.

Hi Jema,

Sorry to hear that life has been dealing you some tough cards, but glad that there is light at the end of the tunnel.

As I read your message, I was wondering whether you were going to say that you had been motivated to give up smoking!

Hey Gem.

Nice to see you back. I will be sending a puzzle right now and you better answer one of them.
I hope you are feeling much better.

curly.

Hi Jema,

I was wondering where you were and have missed you in the Garden. I didn't realize you were having these troubles and the to top it off with your apartment complex issues! I can't believe they're treating a long-term resident like that. Anyway, I hope things work out gloriously for you.

Take care. I look forward to seeing you around.

Cue

Welcome back. All the best moving forward

Hi Jema, Glad to see you here and hope all will be well now.

Redz, Pandora, Sherlock, soot, LadyK, Drmojo, Marian, BobH, Haroula, CCbomber, Lex, curly, Cue, OrleansBelle, and GBC - thanks all of you for your welcome backs and words of encouragement.

Lex, to answer your question: Because I was not recovering well after the back problem, I decided to see if not smoking would help. I quit for about a week. Then one day I had a horrific mood swing. I felt like everything was closing in on me - that I had lost control of every aspect of my life. I have never before felt so hopeless.

So I smoked a cigarette to see if it would help, and it did. Since then some days I don't smoke at all, others I smoke 1 or 2.

Thanks again everyone - your support really helps.



Jema

Jema - wonderful to see you back! Get well soon, but don't overdo it!!

Hugs, Rog

Hi Jema, great to see you back in the Garden but I am so sorry to hear what has been happening to you.

I hope this will help you a little as things do and will get better. My wife died of cancer early last year then my sister, my only sibling, died of leukaemia shortly afterwards. It was a double hammer blow. I have been doing my best to get my life together ever since. Things have got better Jema, very slowly but surely. I even bought a book off Amazon entitled 'How to Boil an Egg' .

Onwards and upwards Jema and may I send you my very best wishes.

Bernie

Hi Jema - Sorry to read about your health issues. I'm glad you've rallied back!
The apartment issue seems rather harsh, without warning. This too will work out in your best interest.
Welcome back to the garden, where you can have some fun!
_________________
Michele

Rog, Bernie, and Michele - thank you for your welcome backs and kind words.

Oh, Bernie, I'm so sorry for your double loss of loved ones. Please accept my belated condolences. I am very happy things have gotten better for you and hope they continue to do so. I shall keep your positive example in mind if ever again I'm about to fall back into that blue funk pit.

Jema

Thanks Jema. Keep and stay positive and you can beat and overcome any adversity

Bernie