Roger

I felt so elated after leaving the Doctors yesterday that I went and bought a new Maton 12 stringer (model EM425c for those that want to check it out on the Maton website) so happy NGD for Bushy.

Exceptionally good sense, sir.  Happy NGD.

Nela - my dad went through it and a year later is still cancer free.  He's got some serious nerve damage from the chemo that didn't all appear until about 6 months after he was done, but he's alive and enjoying his permanent disability (something very difficult for him to do... retire!).

Both of you hang in there and get better.  I can't imagine Chordie without either of you!!!!!

All the best mate.

NELA wrote:

Through work, I had a Long Term Disability Insurance policy that will pay me 60% of my salary. I have also had to sign up on Social Security Disability.
This is not something I wanted to do but I guess I'm lucky that I had the insurance policy and Social Security available for me.

I understand that this is not what you wanted, and I agree that you're lucky.  You're lucky in a way that I call making your own luck.  That insurance policy was a part of what you worked so hard for all those years.  It's as much a part of your compensation as your take home pay was.  Further, though the government would disagree, that Social Security is also part of what you worked for.  That stuff is yours just the same as if you had gotten the cash and paid for the policy yourself, or stashed it away in a rainy day fund through the years.  Don't feel any guilt whatsoever for not working to get your income now, because you ALREADY worked to get it.  You earned it.  Let yourself enjoy the free time, even while recognizing it's not your preference.  Check the quotes in my signature.  Never apologize for what you worked hard to get. 

- Zurf

I totally agree with zurf,it is not entitalment,more like something you have been paying for allyour working life.SSDI will usually pay you around 80% of your last pay grade,so that will come out too almost what you cleared,before,if you figure in what it cost for going too work (car,fuel etc),also lunches and other expenses.

Through work, I had a Long Term Disability Insurance policy that will pay me 60% of my salary. I have also had to sign up on Social Security Disability.
This is not something I wanted to do but I guess I'm lucky that I had the insurance policy and Social Security available for me.

I understand that this is not what you wanted, and I agree that you're lucky.  You're lucky in a way that I call making your own luck.  That insurance policy was a part of what you worked so hard for all those years.  It's as much a part of your compensation as your take home pay was.  Further, though the government would disagree, that Social Security is also part of what you worked for.  That stuff is yours just the same as if you had gotten the cash and paid for the policy yourself, or stashed it away in a rainy day fund through the years.  Don't feel any guilt whatsoever for not working to get your income now, because you ALREADY worked to get it.  You earned it.  Let yourself enjoy the free time, even while recognizing it's not your preference.  Check the quotes in my signature.  Never apologize for what you worked hard to get. 

- Zurf

Nela.

PS, with my recent heart stent and kidney cancer surgury I have been told to not anticipate going back to work. I still am facing treatment for "Lymph Nodes and Nodules"' For someone who has worked hard all their life this is a very tough pill to swallow. Through work, I had a Long Term Disability Insurance policy that will pay me 60% of my salary. I have also had to sign up on Social Security Disability.
This is not something I wanted to do but I guess I'm lucky that I had the insurance policy and Social Security available for me.

Get well soon.

Beamer.

We had Aussi-style temperatures here for Christmas day, getting up to 30 deg down here in Dunedin at the bottom of NZ.  I had to have some extra beers just to remain hydrated!!

Hopefully you will be able to "catch up" before too long. All the best