Finally finished our taxes

Randy and I finally got around to finishing up our taxes last night when he got home from work. Since I had to stop working last July, my income was pathetic. Our daughter earned more working part time at McDonalds than I did working as a newspaper reporter! SIGH! It was a pretty easy process. When I finally get approved for disability, it will take much longer. Our tax preparer said it was much more than an hour of answering a few questions. They have to literally sit down with paper and pen and work out numbers. Why does a person who is too ill to work forced to go through so much? He said they could tax up to a huge percentage of what I receive! Why?? Looking around my house and at my clothes, we obviously are far from the upper elite. Going on disability will allow us to continue to live in a house and feed, clothe and send our son to college. Why in the world are they going to bother to give me money and then just take it all back in taxes?

We have been going to H&R Block for several years and always have Rich Deflbaugh do our taxes. We've known him forever and we have never had a problem with him. Coming from a small town, my parents also have Rich do their taxes. Mom laughingly told him, "I Know where you live," if she ever gets audited. :)

I have a ton of things to get put up before we leave for my surgery, from my daughter's amazing win at the Brockway Volunteer Fire Department's latest gun bash to more on my surgery and how my life will never be the same. I will have my Surface 2 tablet with at the hospital, but in the collar and not able to move my neck, I'm not sure what kind of shape I'll be in and if I'll even be able to update while we're there. I think most people who read this also are on Twitter, G+ and Facebook, so I know I can put up a quick note that I'm still alive once I get out of recovery and can think.

Even more surgery

The days are flying by and soon I'll be in Pittsburgh for yet another surgery. How many can one body survive? I have to have a herniated disc removed and replaced with a donor bone, then a titanium disc will be fused on that spot. I'll never be the same again. I don't know if I'm making the right decision, but the disc is pressing on the nerve and causing my arm and hand are going numb and it hurts all the time. :(

I'm probably out of my ever-loving mind to have this done so soon after the knee surgery, but sadly I can't heal the way I wish I did. I woke up this morning and could barely move. It hurt so bad! I sat and cried after everyone left for the day. The pain was unbearable. I can't believe it's so bad at this age. I should be traveling around the world, not being pushed around WalMart in a wheelchair because I can't walk.

I go on Monday for the pre-op check up and to make sure I'm healthy enough to have the surgery. I can't miss this chance. I could lose the use of my arm and I can't stand that, so I have to go and let the doctor know I'm doing great and am all ready for the surgery!

Yearning for more and the Great Reveal

I'm sure everyone has noticed that the world seems to have become enamored with the supernatural these days. All the TV shows, movies, books, clothing etc... are covered with vampires, werewolves, witches, zombies and more supernatural creatures. It's something that says this generation is looking for something more, something they can't find in the normal, so they have turned to the paranormal. If you don't know this, you have to be living under a rock somewhere. BR>
What does that say about us? Why is there that longing for more than what we can see every day? There has to be more out there. Why are we searching for something to dream of. Bella got her everlasting love with Edward and their miracle daughter Renesamee on the Twilightt series. Buffy had her perfect moment with Angel, sadly he turned to the evil Angelus then, but it was the moment we all were waiting for. Ghost Hunters seems to have brought it to the main stream, but Buffy the Vampire Slayer was the first true powerful female figure that let women know they could take on anything and survive ~ even death itself and return. She let us know that vampires didn't have to be evil and killed; they could be heroes and loved.

We all seem to be looking for our own Edward, Bill, Klaus, Jacob (if you aren't looking for eternal life) or Angel. Now we have the Originalvampires and werewolf/vampire hybrids; The Vampire Diaries; True Blood; Being Human; even Zombies are finding love. We have Dean and Sam Winchester out hunting all manner of beasties from demons to ghosts and everything in between. We were told by our parents and there parents that Ouija Boards, Tarot Cards, witches, demons, etc are evil and are to be avoided at all costs, but we don't believe it anymore. We have been brought up on stories that show that is what we want to be.

Maybe it's time that the Great Reveal happens? There will never be a time that is more perfect for those who are a little bit more than human to walk out of the shadows and announce, "We are here!" The older generation won't trust you, but my generation was brought up on your stories and have taught our children that you are what we want. We want you to be real, to find those of us who need more.

I'm not ashamed to say that I'm ready to step up and shout, "I'm here and I'm ready! Come find me. I'll be waiting for the Great Reveal!"