Halloween!

Yup, ever since 9/11 it hasn't been the same. Nobody really decorates anymore, and fewer kids go out trick or treating.

Leighton's parties never seem to diminish. They get bigger every year. But even they are touched by 9/11. This year's theme was injured people.

I don't get it. Like famous injured people throughout history?? Or just come in a wheelchair with your arm in a sling?

To quote: Costume Suggestions: Come as your favorite disaster scenario: In case of the rapture this costume will be unoccupied; the comet smushed me; aliens abducted me and this is why I have all this important aluminum foil around my head; my portfolio tanked and this is all the Goodwill store would let me have for free, and George Bush is taking us all to Armageddon anyway, so this is what I am going to be wearing. http://www.evite.com/pages/invite/viewInvite.jsp?inviteId=ZCSKZXQRZOWNWZYQTXJS has the rest of the gory details.

I like his ending--"Keep Austin Weird!" From the sound of it, that's going to be quite a party. It sounds terribly organized compared to the parties I attend.

It was very organized. A lot of fun. Leighton is legendary for his Austin parties.

Did you enjoy the bands?

yeah, they were great!

Did they play "Celebration"? LOL!

Someone mentioned Hm otherwise known as "Troll" who managed to knock himself unconscious by falling off the roof (don't ask) in Hilo. I wish it were all over!!! I will get nasty as soon as I have everything I want out of there and he will be the first to go. I am heartily tired of this. Thanks for asking. I tend to bury my head in the sand to forget about it.

I can totally sympathize, I'm dealing with the rentor from hell also.

What's his story, Terry?

Her. She's gone on a two year tear that she goes on every two years. Extremely paranoid and delusion, add a dash of mean. But haven't seen her for 3-4 days so it's chilled out. wer is out here working at the Spring today, doing some construction work on another website. All is quiet, calm and peaceful at least for now.

You don't need that! Why don't you just give her the boot? Sounds like you and wer are having a good time.

Yep. We are. And yep, boot is what we did. But eviction an take up to a couple of months.

Ah well, at least you've got the ball rolling. I suppose the "perfect tenant" is hard to find anywhere...

In the future, excruciating care will be taken in choosing tenant. Shawn would be our model tenant, Shawn the Viola player.

See, in my book anyone playing an instrument or who owns a dog would be out of the running.

Dog agreed. the music was ok. Considering he built out our entire top floor over a year and a half period. Too bad http://symphonysociety.com didn't take off.

I'mn dealing with cutting my losses in Hilo and wondering if a PTSD sufferer (major disability) makes a suitable mate...

Uh-oh, hope you're not second guessing your decision to leave HI for KY... Hang in there, the transition is bound to be difficult. Get your hands on everything you can read about PTSD, especially how to cope w/someone who lives with it. I bet there are a bunch of resources on this (perhaps all written by veterans' wives). (((Marcia)))

Louisville's a great place. I think you'll enjoy being there. I don't know about the PISD thing, but I'd start doing some heavy googling to find out.

Re response 221 Don't know if you've been, or if it will have the information you are looking for, but this looks like the best place to start researching on the web: National Center for PTSD http://www.ncptsd.org/

If that doesn't help, you might want to look around in here, when you've got the time. http://dmoz.org/Health/Mental_Health/Disorders/Anxiety/Post_Traumatic_Stress/

Thanks, all. Yes, I have done Google as has he. It is not easy, but knowing another who had "moods" has helped me immeasurably. We're doing ok, and knowing what to avoid is half the fight. Hugs are good, too. That mental health site is excellent. Thanks for suggesting it. Curious how not just war can do this. One's own family can be just as damaging. Fathers, especially,but I suspect there are mothers out there who can do it too. Louisville is lovely and has the kindest people. I feel very at home here. Hmmm.... has anyone besides me spent the night in Springfield, Tennessee?

I'm currently looking for what family memebers/friends can do to help and to avoid pushing the wrong buttons. There are many pitfalls, but I have been mostly lucky. He is also trying very hard. Fatigue is a danger. Separate and go to sleep!

Great, sounds like you're progressing well and turning in to a regular Louvillian.

Luavillian is what I am before becoming a Volunteer (orange and white are college colors??!!) for Tennessee. He's worth it.

*HUGS* Marcia, PTSD is hard to deal with. i think my father suffers from it many years after V-N. could be where my anxiety stems from. (and mothers can be the central force too). the thing to remember is that everyone reacts to things differently. anyone can suffer from PTSD even if the cause is something most folks find trivial or a "just get over it" type of thing. in other words, what affects me one way, may affect you an entirely different way. not sure if "avoiding" things helps (it doesn't with anxiety). but there are good meds out there to help while a person gets things sorted out in their own time. and groups are always a good thing.

Now if only he would stay away from things that make it worse. He seems unable to do that but I will keep encouraging. I guess I am doing the right things. He said I'd have huge gold medals on each shoulder if they were given for patience...