Well Sue, as frustrating as this is (and I know how patient you've been), I can't help but be selfish about this one, and express a desire to see you really well before you take any more risks that might result in a setback.

I don'tknow whether to laugh or cry. I just saw my doctor and he phoned the hospital for the results.

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'No radio opaque stones of the kidneys or renal tract. Mild diverticular disease of the sigmoid colon noted.'

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I am going back to work on Monday. Now don't ask me where the stones have gone, perhaps they are hiding. My type of stones were not radio-opaque in the first place! Sheesh.

Hee haw...good news girl!

I'd be laughing and crying Sue - actually I kinda am! Fantastic news that you get to go back to work - YAY!

Oh, and last I heard the Stones were tossing up between releasing yet another album, or trying to work out how to gather no moss. Personally I think they'll go for the album release, as Moss is still celebrata-non-grata after her recent foray into video, so not gathering her becomes somewhat of a moot point! Okay, maybe the comparison's a bit overdrawn - I guess Stones, Rolling aren't really anywhere near as painful as Stones, Kidney...but then I've never actually had kidney stones...!

Hi all,

I wanted to share about my student teaching. Actually, it's called field experience, it's the pre-student teaching. I am so excited to finally be at this point. :-)

I'm in a sixth grade social studies class and I taught for the first time Wednesday! I went over a worksheet, and today I went over the test. I also led a short discussion after they watched a video. OH, and I can remember most of their names! LoL I've only been there 7 days but it seems much longer! I have a great teacher and the kids are wonderful. I'm not nervous as I had expected I would be.

I told a joke as I went over the worksheet. The question was where is most of the earth's water locked up in. And I said, don't tell me jail! One of the boys laughed-a spontaneous giggle. It was great! LoL

I may be a teacher yet.

A good day so far. For a couple of months I have been trying to find a shirt in a particular shade of pink, today I found it, it is perfect. I received a cheque from the insurance company in respect of my cancelled holiday, a little less than I hoped but it will definitely do as I guessed I wouldn't get some of it back.

Sue, I really hope your kidney and related problems may finally be at an end!

Just a quick review of the week- apart from about an hour's delay in activating my email incoming messages the broadband's been fine since I connected it to the laptop and went on strike again when I reconnected it to the PC, but it's OK now and I've done all the downloads I had to so won't be switching it around for a while again.
I am currently learning all the Abba pieces on the piano from the music (I usually play by ear but not if it's complicated) and last night I took it to my mother, an ex piano teacher, so I could use her piano (I only have a little electronic keyboard) and she played some of the pieces properly and then I played along on the guitar. I hardly ever get to duet with anyone and it was really good fun making proper music.

Nothing new otherwise, the novelty of broadband has kept me returning to the computer in the many idle moments, plus a couple of day's rain made sure I was indoors as well. I did just receive a signed copy of Nick Roach's new book which I proofread for him, and he managed to write it in a few weeks and find a publisher and get it printed within a few months. I'll have to ask him how he did that as when I wrote a small booklet years ago I ended up paying to have it done myself. Nick Roach is the enlightenment teacher I saw a year ago and I've been helping him out ever since as he answered all my questions the other teachers had created. I hope the book raises his profile to the others now as he is one of the best in my opinion.

Highlight for me this week is Dad being more himself, even though he isn't on any treatment at the moment. And also finishing all my home made Christmas cards (some of which can been seen on my avater! )

That's fantastic news about your dad, Jane, I hope it lasts...

Happy first day back at work, Sue, hope the Aussies didn't tucker you out too much (groan, pun not intended at first but now I'm claiming it!)

Guru I know what you mean about being able to make music with someone, so to speak...when I was still keen I used to tape one half of a duet and then play the other half along with it (used to get right under my mum's skin when I'd announce I was going into my room to play with myself! )

As to me, well, I'm just happy that the weekend went much more smoothly than I had a right to expect. Mum's still stiff and sorry for herself, but dad's actually been behaving himself quite well. Turns out the dog's infected tooth can wait a couple of weeks, brother and sis-in-law home safely and happily re-united with their dogs, husband happily pottering around the garden putting in a pond and a solar fountain... People took care of themselves so well I had time to develop a head cold and a tummy bug!

I can`t think of anything much to say to that Sue, it`s bad news alright, but your next job will hopefully allow you to take holidays when you want without feeling bad.

That is so unfair as you worked hard and many long hours for them.
I am stunned they would be that callous.
I am sure you will find something better with people who will appreciate you.
PF

Oh Sue I'm so sorry! That's it, really, I'm just so sorry (okay, there's more I want to say, but it involves lots of swearing).

The same thing has happened to me, except I was off with a work-related injury. They'd decided well in advance they were going to get rid of me as soon as I came back, but didn't have the decency to tell me before then. It's just rude.

Like the others said, I hope you are treated with more respect in your next job.

*...fuming ...*

That, in a rather handy and inclusive word, Sue, SUCKS! I am speechless as to how employers can be the way they are. It'd be easy for me to say something like: "You don't want or need to work for such an organization like that one sounds to be" but I won't say that since I'm sure finding a new job is not something you look forward to, either. It all is just irritating no end.

On a better note: Good for your Dad, Jane! It just goes to prove that there are more ways to live with health crises than just one or two.

I won't even talk about my week passed (most of which was pretty good, actually). I'm going to go and have criminal thoughts about Sue's employer now... .

The biggest joke of all is that I work(ed) for the Citizens Advice Bureau and that is the first port of call for people with problems of any nature, including employment!

I have an appointment with the director of the body who deal with all employment issues, he is totally shocked. He has worked closely with our organisation over the years.

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I'm going to go and have criminal thoughts about Sue's employer now...

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I think quite a few of us will be doing that! What a shame Sue. I hope everything gets straightened out

Oh Sue, that stinks so much. I can't believe they could be that callous.
I can't help wondering if this isn't a case of wrongful dismissal...I hope you get some satisfaction out of that meeting.

So hard to believe, Sue...you are one of the ones who keeps the place in order. Dim witted creatures!

That's me done, registered as unemployed and discussed unfair dismissal. The settlement figure suggested was almost a year's salary so my employer is going to get a shock, if they don't come near to it then I put them through a tribunal with the associated publicity.

The high (if there can be such a thing) is that I knew both men (through my job) and both were very helpful. I know where I will be applying for work, even if temporary, as a result of one of the conversations.

At the risk of sounding like Oprah "You go girl! Kick their bottoms to the curb" (why do all my posts seem to involve bottoms at the moment...?)

Good news you've got a line on some work, though Sue, at least that's something...

Well, my son's high school football team won the first round of their playoffs.
Next round is Friday, but they'll be playing the best team in their division. This team has only been beaten once, and we're the team who beat them!

Congrats to your son and his team, skunkee!

Sue, that's terrible. What jerks! Kindly give 'em heck from us.

My high of the day: While eating dinner I hit upon an time-saving idea that sped up my program by a factor of 20. I still don't know if it's output is plausible, but at least it's much faster to tinker with now!

Sue my sympathies, but I must say that the one thing I noticed when you lose your job in Europe is that you have legal recourse and severance packages. You might get those in some places in the USA, but for the most part, here I've heard nothing but horror stories of people getting called to a meeting, getting sacked en masse, then being told not to bother going back by the office for their things as they'd already been removed! This is the truth!
I heard of one story of a higher executive who had to give everyone the ax at a major airline, and then, they informed her she was next to get the hatchet! Well, she went to the office, bashed the windows, and began throwing computers out the window! So, though I don't condone this sort of thing, I know that even with benefits coming to me, I felt really distressed when I was told the bad news.

I lost my job in Europe and even without being in a Union, the committee backed me up and gave me suggestions and I negotiated my departure. At least you have benefits that they cannot take away.

I completed my IPM exam and it went quite well. That only leaves two more exams! Year 12, almost over. It's hard to believe the year's gone so fast.

So a good day!

I think each country probably has its own employment laws. Here we don't have redundancy legislation but do have unfair dismissal since earlier this year.

Good news today - confirmation from my urologist that there are no visible stones in my kidney and I will have to have a follow up scan/x-ray in nine months. He is one relieved man, he really didn't want to operate on me.