An Open Letter to Creditors and Collectors ...

I am 77, and my vision and physical condition make me damned near UNEMPLOYABLE.  Other than a few donations from friends, who have literally KEPT ME ALIVE, my SOLE income is from Social Security.  

My assets amount to an apartment full of junk (SOME of which no longer even WORKS, but is difficult for me to take downstairs to the dumpster in my condition) that is WORTHLESS to anyone who would choose to SEIZE it ... and a 19 yr old used car that is UNDRIVEABLE and would take several thousand dollars to fix (I'd HOPED that the VA could fix my eyes well enough for me to be able to WORK again and start putting my LIFE back together;  but THAT was NOT TO BE).

If you choose to haul me into court, there is NOTHING in that process that will magically conjure up money THAT DOES NOT EXIST.

I am ALREADY being sued by ANOTHER collector, for a much smaller amount that is EQUALLY IMPOSSIBLE for me to pay. That process might well succeed in KILLING me via stroke or heart failure, but it won't PROFIT them in the least.

When things started GOING TO HELL two years ago (eye problems I thought were cataracts (but included permanent optic nerve damage from glaucoma) costing me the part-time grocery cashier income supplementing my Social Security) I stopped using my credit cards, DESTROYED them, and STOPPED PAYING ON THEM (as I simply COULDN'T).

For a LOOOONG time, I received emails and voicemails about this, from the creditors, and THEN from various collectors, but THAT was ALL.

I honestly DOUBTED they would REALLY do ANYTHING else;  I may have LOTS of various opinions about creditors and collectors, but STUPID ain't one of them.

So, before hauling me into court, I hereby URGE you to INVESTIGATE the Hell out of me.  If those investigators are worth even a fraction of what you'll pay them, they'll advise AGAINST pouring time and money into THAT rathole.  I have absolutely NOTHING that is WORTH A DAMN to you;  and THEY will CONFIRM that!!!

FYI

Paul Gordon
3433 West Dallas St, Apt 1102, Houston, Texas 77019
email: gordonp@airmail.net

2307
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I'm sorry. We're closing now.

Somehow, I had naively assumed that the HEADQUARTERS of the POLICE DEPARTMENT of the FOURTH LARGEST CITY IN THE UNITED STATES would be a 24/7 operation.

This earlier post (Incident # *******-19) ...
========================================
Houston Police Department - Central Station 
61 Riesner, Houston, Texas 77002
Attn: Officer *. ********** - Re: Incident # *******-19 

Dear Sir:

On Wednesday, 19 JUN 2019, because of fear of what a pending lawsuit could do to me, I asked my Primary Care Physician at the Michael DeBakey Veterans Hospital if they would STILL provide funeral assistance to an Honorably Discharged Veteran IF circumstances (that lawsuit) forced him to take his own life.

THIS resulted in his calling the Mental Health people, and YOU coming to my apartment to check on me and take me to the VA Emergency Room, where I spent the rest of the evening being physically checked, and then interviewed by a psychiatrist, until they were satisfied that I was NOT a danger to myself and RELEASED ME, with a two-week supply of prescription anti-depressants (Escitalopram Oxalate).

You seized my pistol, "for safekeeping", and left me a receipt.

I would like to know how I go about retrieving it.  I gather (from the receipt) that you would have to sign off on it.  If you are worried about ME, let me present these arguments ...

1) Come October, I'll have possessed that weapon for 19 YEARS.

2) It has ALWAYS been CLOSE and AT HAND.

3) Even SO, HERE I AM.

I have lived with weapons at hand (usually pistols; often more than one) for over half a century.  The 19 years I mentioned above is just for THIS one.  In all that time, I've had MANY ups and downs, emotionally;  yet STILL I remain.

Don't forget; AFTER after the VA people CHECKED me and their psychiatrist INTERVIEWED me, I was RELEASED!  If they thought I was a DANGER to myself, not only were they PERFECTLY CAPABLE of KEEPING me there overnight (or longer) for observation; they would have been LEGALLY OBLIGATED to DO so.  That they DIDN'T suggests they considered me a bit "down" at the time, but NOT serious enough to be KEPT there.

I Honest to God believe myself in GREATER DANGER from just WALKING (I've had SEVERAL falls;  some resulting in broken bones, and ONCE almost being run over in traffic) than I've EVER been from that pistol.

Paul Gordon
3433 West Dallas St, Apt 1102, Houston, Texas 77019

email: gordonp@airmail.net    phone: 713-***-****

-
======================================== 

... is a longer, more explanatory version (emphasizing my RELEASE) of a letter that I conjured up for the Officer who TOOK my pistol, and was mailed to him (via USPS Certified Mail) on Friday, 21 JUN 2019.

It SHOULD have been delivered Monday, 24 JUN 2019.

NEVER happened; an investigation by the USPS resulted in being told by them that it was irretrievably LOST.

I printed out another copy and took a taxi to the 1200 Travis Street  Headquarters building (having been told that the 61 Riesner location has NOT been PUBLICLY accessible since Hurricane Harvey in 2017) on Saturday, 13 JUL  2019, only to discover it CLOSED. One lonely uniformed Officer (probably just there to WATCH the place) informed me, "This is the WEEKEND; NOBODY'S here!"

He was kind enough to accept the letter, promising to get it to the Mail Department, who would see that the Officer the letter is meant for WOULD get it (probably sometime in the middle of the week.

POLICE DEPARTMENT CLOSED?!!!

NOT what I expected.

I couldn't help flashing back to Nicholas Meyer's WONDERFUL Time After Time (1979)  in which a young H. G. Wells (BRILLIANTLY played by Malcolm McDowell, in a role almost a polar opposite from the ultra violent Alex of "A Clockwork Orange") who has actually BUILT a time machine and shows it to guests, among whom is a doctor who turns out to be Jack the Ripper and uses the machine to escape to the future. When the machine automatically returns (as it was meant to do) Wells goes in pursuit, and the movie makes a few observations on MODERN life. including ...

MY reaction to the Police Headquarters being CLOSED.

:(
-

Financial Perspective ...

When I was a kid in the 1950s,  BEFORE drug lords, middle-eastern dictators, and Russian oligarchs, one of the richest men on earth was Dallas oilman J. Paul Getty. Supposedly, some newsman asked him if he was REALLY worth a BILLION dollars; to which he supposedly replied, "That's probably true. BUT, you have to keep in mind that a billion doesn't go as far as it USED to. :("

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Don't Panic ...

...a phrase on the cover of The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy.

Last night (Tuesday, 12 MAR 2019) I discovered that a LOT of photos were missing from posts on my blog (at https://paulinhouston.blogspot.com/). "blogspot" means Blogger.com; which is part of the Google Empire.

A check of THIS site (https://downdetector.com/) showed ...

Google is having issues since 10:32 PM EDT.

Are you also affected? Leave a message in the comments.

So, I figured they were having issues with the server that photos were stored on, and (since Google is a multi-BILLION dollar concern, instead of an outfit operating out of a garage), they were ALREADY on it, would soon have that server FIXED or REPLACED, BACKUPS loaded and checked, and would soon be back to normal.

And SO it WAS!!!

Crisis OVER. ;-)

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Can ANY of you SUGGEST ...

... LEGAL alternatives to my irritating ...

... PLEAS for DONATIONS via PayPal, as a way to get money by using my computer? 

(In my CURRENT circumstances, I am NOT all THAT resistant to ILLEGAL;  I just lack CONFIDENCE about BEING ANY GOOD AT IT.)

If you know something that is NOT a scam, and actually WORKS;  I'm LISTENING!!!

-

PHISHING:

noun

the fraudulent practice of sending emails purporting to be from reputable companies in order to induce individuals to reveal personal information, such as passwords and credit card numbers. "an email that is likely a phishing scam"

You probably get some (maybe a LOT) of THESE in your email ...

NOT many WORDS this time; what's ABOVE is probably OBVIOUS to MOST of you.

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Is long life hereditary?

As of TODAY (11 FEB 2019) I am 76.  May 25 of this year will make it 77.

My dad went at 70, but THAT was from complications after surgery.  HIS dad made it to 76.

Mom went at 88.  So, it would appear that the Binkley (Dad) and Williams (Mom) families have a fair amount of "long life" genes among them.

At THIS point, you may be wondering, "WHERE the HELL does "Gordon" come into the picture?"  Well, Gordon used to be my middle name (chosen by Dad in honor of a friend), until I went to court and had the family name lopped off.  I DID re-unite with the family later, but STAYED with the changed name.  ("What family doesn't have its ups and downs?"  ~Katherine Hepburn as Eleanor of Aquitaine in "The Lion in Winter")

Obviously, mortality has been on my mind lately.  I could GO before I finish this, OR, I may have another DECADE left.  Equally obvious:  improvements in medicine and medical care have to be factored in.

MOST likely CAUSE of demise ...
1) Accident.  I am weak and fragile, and have difficulty with even walking.  In my current condition, a FALL could be LETHAL, depending on HOW and ON WHAT I land.

2) Heart failure or stroke.  I have a blood pressure problem;  had it off and on for AGES.  Being treated for it, but the financial pressures I'm under sure don't HELP any.

Mostly just rambling (and sharing) here.  If there's a POINT to this;  it eludes me. 
-

I'm gettin' too OLD for this sh*t!!!

- Yesterday (Tuesday, 06 NOV 2018) I had two appointments at the VA Eye Clinic.

To use Metrolift, one needs to make a reservation at least a day before. When I remembered (Monday) that I had NOT done so, it was already just past 5 PM, and the reservation office was closed.

Taxi fare would have been so expensive that I took a chance and used the regular buses (FREE with the special card I have because of my age and condition), hoping the new walker mentioned in my My NEWEST Toy ... post, would let me handle the bus stops (some of which had broken pavement) without injury.

It DID!!!

On my return trip, I switched to another bus which dropped me off at the polling station so I could vote (Normally, I would wade through all the different races, BUT;  because of the recent behavior of a certain unmentionable party, STRAIGHT REPUBLICAN!!!).

I then walked several blocks over to the Kroger near my apartment for some groceries, only AFTERWARDS using a taxi to get home (just TOO MUCH of a load to carry that far).

Yesterday was more walking than I've done in MONTHS, and that walker made it POSSIBLE.

BUT, it DOESN'T prevent FATIGUE.  Several times I felt about to COLLAPSE, even in my apartment afterwards.  I was so tired when I hit the sack, I really wondered if I WOULD wake up the next morning.

I suppose I'm just gonna have to EASE into it.

This may all be academic;  I'm STILL RUNNING OUT OF MONEY and find it NECESSARY to BEG for donations AGAIN.  PLEASE!!! 

I tell the folks at the VA about this;  that the ONLY thing that could SAVE me in the long run is to become EMPLOYABLE.  They nod and smile;  but I can SEE they do NOT really comprehend.

How COULD they?  This is BEYOND any experience THEY'VE ever had.  HOW could running out of money KILL anyone in THIS country?  

I hope they NEVER find out;  I wouldn't wish THAT understanding on ANYONE.  :(

-

My NEWEST Toy ...

... sometimes, LIFE just SUCKS!!!  :(

Today (Wednesday, 31 October 2018) I had a Physical Therapy interview at the VA hospital, and came home with THIS ...

They had noticed my DIFFICULTIES with walking on less than perfect terrain, and were DETERMINED that THAT simple act NOT result in my death.

It really DOES help (a LOT), but for SOME (unfathomable) reason, I feel it kinda APPROPRIATE that I acquired it ON HALLOWEEN.  Sigh ...   ;-)
-

Revisiting "The HORROR - NO TV - :(" ...

On Wednesday, 17 OCT 2018, I sent THIS email to all my friends ..
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The HORROR - NO TV - :(

DIED;  and I CAN'T AFFORD to DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT.

MAY seem TRIVIAL;  but when you can BARELY even get about, it DOES kinda SUCK.


ARRRRRRRGGGGGGGHHHH!!!!   :(

-- 

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------.
Got THIS from a WONDERFUL gal who's donated a LOT to me ...
Hey Paul-what size tv do you have?

I answered ...
A 27" Sony Trinitron WEGA  KV-27V42 that I got from Sears in 2001.  It's a MONSTER, weighing about a hundred lbs.  When I moved into my current apartment in 2007,  I managed to lift it onto the heavy duty steel shelving I used for a stand  THEN, but I'd probably KILL myself trying to handle it in my condition NOW;  so I'll just call the leasing office and let one of their maintenance people take care of it.  The FUN part is FINDING something, and THEN going going out to GET it and bring it back when going ANYWHERE is SUCH a HASSLE.   ;-)


Her follow up ...
Paul-I would happily buy you a new tv :=). Why don't you pick something out online and I will order it and have it delivered to you? I'm a best buy or sears/Kmart fan (since looks like they are going out of business :-( ) if you could find something there or even macys-lots of coupons :=). Or amazon ... What do you say?

I replied ...
I may take you up on that.  I'll see what I can find on Best Buy's site;  need to check specifications to be sure it has the right connectors.  I'll try to get back to you in a few days.  Thanks.

BUT ...

My initial email was slightly exaggerated;  instead of "DIED", I should have said "DYING".  I REALLY believed that it WAS.

What was happening was more and more frequent LOSS of video for five to ten seconds followed by its return.  I felt this was a symptom of impending FAILURE of that 17+ year old picture tube.

It's STOPPED doing that, and if that monster is STABLE, I'm content to simply STAY with it for NOW.

That gal has helped me with donations SO MUCH, I regret that she can't claim me as a dependent on her income taxes.  I CAN'T (and WON'T) add THIS to her burdens.

Of course, THIS POSTING could JINX EVERYTHING.  We'll see.   ;-)
-

"The COWARD dies a THOUSAND deaths, ...

... the BRAVE man dies but ONCE."
(Variations attributed to Shakespeare AND Hemingway)

Dear God. I wish I WAS a BRAVE man.

WHAT brought THIS on?

I have faced SO MANY fears in my life.  But, THIS one may FINISH me.

I fear that I may be slowly going BLIND.

For some time now, I've had spells of cloudy vision, that would clear up after awhile. But, they are lasting longer and longer. Bright sunlight makes things VERY difficult.

Should I see somebody about this? You BETCHA. BUT, my experience with doctors and clinics is that, before I can get past the receptionist, THIS question arises, "And HOW will you PAY for this, Mr. Gordon?". The ANSWER, "I CAN'T." is GUARANTEED to be a problem.

I'm fairly certain that a proper diagnosis will cost hundreds of dollars, and treatment (if there IS any) probably THOUSANDS.

And THEN, there is THIS problem with the car, mentioned in THIS previous post ...
##############################################################
Could have been KILLED today ...
... but, I lucked out and WASN'T.

At around 5 PM, today (Thursday, 06 APR 2017, I decided to take a hike to Kroger's, to get some groceries. That's about half a mile from my apartment. I can barely walk; lower back pain interfering with balance, and the sun was directly in my eyes a lot of the time, making it difficult to read the terrain on which I was walking. Less than a hundred yards from my apartment, I tripped and fell while crossing a street, and a car, making a fast turn, barely managed to stop in time.

A couple of people got out of their cars and helped to get up.  Didn't break anything;  just scraped my hands, my left knee has a hell of a bruise, and it ripped part of the left leg of my slacks. Noticing that I was trying to continue on my way (I STILL needed groceries). the one who nearly killed me was nice enough to give me a ride there and back.  (Sadly, it was a GUY this time, instead of the nice LADY who helped me when she noticed me struggling with the walk, several years ago. :-).

So, WHY IN HELL was I trying to WALK there?

Thursday, a week ago, I started to drive somewhere, and the automatic transmission, on my 2000 Honda Civic, began slipping and jerking when shifting, and the "Check Engine" light came on.  The next day, I had AAA take the car over to A+ Transmission Specialists. They have a fairly comprehensive set of electronic and driving tests they will do for no charge.

On Monday (03 APR 2017) I learned from them that pressure drops, in the transmission, were causing the shifting problems, but to determine the cause of those drops, they would need to completely disassemble the transmission (for $395.00), and (depending on what they find) I could be looking at a total from $1500.00 to $2500.00.

At the moment, there is absolutely NO WAY I can handle THAT.  So I got AAA to bring the car home.  I am without transportation, for the foreseeable future.  If I CANNOT get the car fixed, I can NEVER afford to get another one.  my current situation will be THE REST OF MY LIFE..

I STILL have the PayPal  "Medical Donation" button near the top of the left column on this page,
 in hope of help.

Alternatively, a check can be mailed to
 Paul Gordon
 3433 West Dallas St, Apt. 1102
 Houston, Texas 77019

 Email: gordonp@airmail.net

If you CAN help a bit, Thank you.

In earlier posts, I mentioned the possibility of going for Chapter 7 bankruptcy to help with my financial problems.  After long consideration (and research) I have taken THAT off the table, concluding that, my current circumstances being so different from the time I exercised that option in 2000, THIS time the end result would most likely be a do-it-yourself .44 caliber lobotomy.

The only REAL possibility I can see is to TRY and get myself into shape to be able to get (and be able to DO) the extra hours I so desperately need.

Today's incident has made me decide to make a note or card, listing several of you (names and telephone numbers) as people to notifiy if something final happens to me.  I should have it double laminated, so if it gets covered in blood, that can be wiped off so it can be read.

I hope some of you will KEEP the email you received about this, and if YOU get a call, you can haul out that email, edit the subject line and the content, and pass the news along using "Reply to all".

Thank you.

##############################################################

Put together, I'm looking at THOUSANDS of dollars worth of help that I desperately need.

HOW can I POSSIBLY ask this of you? The plain truth is that I am a very poor investment right now, as it will be a miracle if I'm not DEAD before mid-summer, probably at my own hand.

Right now, all I see in front of me is DEATH.

Kinda DEPRESSING.  :(
-

Be still, my heart. :-)

... Notice from Social Security.

This year (2016), it didn't increase by a single penny, staying at the level it was the year before.

NOW, it  "... will increase by 0.3% in 2017 because of a rise in the cost of living.".

(Not THREE percent, but THREE TENTHS of a percent.)

Now, in truth, it does NOT actually say that the cost of living rose only 0.3%, BUT, that sure SEEMS to be the implication.

I have NO idea what planet they are thinking of, but it damned sure isn't the one we're living on.

Obviously, THIS is a VENT.  :(

-

NOT one of my brighter ideas.

Being cheap about cab fare.

There's a Kroger about half a mile from my apartment. Being unable to drive, I've been taking a cab each way to do my grocery shopping, usually around $5.00 each way (including a modest tip).

Tuesday, the 23rd, I went back to work for the first time in a month.  I go again tomorrow (Friday). I HAVE been walking some, in this cast-like boot, and using the bus again. But, it's still awkward and exhausting.

Today, I decided to walk to Kroger and just use the cab to get back with a load of groceries.

The STUPID part was going around 2:30 PM  in wonderful Houston summer weather, trying hard to not pass out because if I went down, not only would I need help in getting back up again, I'd be damned lucky if I didn't break something else in such a fall.

If I try that stunt again, I'll at least wait until later, when the sun has gone down.

I DO need to get better at walking, as it is all too possible I may not have anything to drive ever again (see "First blow ..." in Hat-trick:  ).  This situation just may KILL me financially.  The money is running out. I am grateful beyond words for the donations that have come in from friends, but as I mentioned in that post, I see no possibility of avoiding Chapter 7 in the near future.

So, I may be walking for the remainder of my life.
-

Where things stand ...

On Friday, 22 May 2015, I had my accident (referred to in Sometimes, life just sucks ).  I had badly sprained my right angle after slipping on a muddy sidewalk at a bus stop.

Sunday, 07 Jun 2015, I thought things had improved enough to go to a local clinic and hopefully get a doctor's note allowing me to return to work.

BUT, the nurse at that clinic was very disturbed by all the redness that still remained on my foot and lower leg.  Fearing a possible blood clot, she felt she couldn't issue such a note and recommended I go to Ben Taub emergency room for blood flow tests.

I took a cab there, arriving just before 6 PM, and was there until a bit after 2 AM before I was released.  It was almost 3 AM when I got back home.

They took all kinds of blood tests to make sure there was nothing toxic, and to make sure (by sonogram) that blood flow wasn't restricted by a clot. They took x-rays of the ankle and the tibula (one of two parallel bones in the lower leg) and found fractures on both the ankle AND the tibula.

They gave me a special boot they want me to wear until I go back for a follow-up on Monday, 15 Jun 2015.  Unfortunately, I cannot use it, as it is like walking on a cast. I almost had a bad fall right in the emergency room when I tried it (I suppose THAT would be the best place for it to happen, but there is no way I can afford a fall that might break something else.).

The only way I can use that boot would be to get a crutch. I'm going to see if someone here will give me a ride to a local CVS pharmacy that has one. I'm probably going to have to use that boot if I hope for that doctor's note from the orthopedic surgeon Monday morning.

I have GOT to be able to return to work and begin drawing paychecks again. Otherwise, this situation will finally FINISH me; it's really just as simple as that.

Will know more on Monday, but this is NOT good. :-(
-

NOT dead YET!!!

-- or WHY I haven't posted anything since early July.

Part of it is a few things on my plate I have to deal with.

But, MOST of it is because my ancient computer is having more and more trouble dealing with certain websites.

My computer is an HP Pavilion 061 desktop unit, with a tower and a separate monitor, bought near the end of 2003 when I learned that the entire IT division of SCI (Service Corporation International) would be outsourced to InfoSys (in Bangalore, India) the following March.

It has 256 megabytes of memory, running Windows XP, which is no longer supported by Microsoft.

Some websites (facebook and linkedin, for example) hog so much memory that visiting them (I have accounts on both) fall into the "life's too short" category.

Blogger.com's editor (which I have to use when posting here, has become flaky. While editing a post, it automatically (periodically) saves a draft of the post. Normally, each save would overwrite the earlier version, but the "flaky" part results in each save creating a new draft, so when I finally publish the post, I have DOZENS of drafts to have to dispose of. Other functions (such as text centering for captions under images) no longer seem to work. Posting has become a pain under these circumstances.

I need a new computer with a later operating system and as much memory as I can afford to dump into it.

In a few months, I should have a very nice income tax refund, which will allow me to find something better.

The LAST time I went for months without putting anything up, an Air Force buddy in Montana called the store at where I work to find out if I was still ALIVE. Thought maybe I should put THIS up to make a repeat of that unnecessary.

I have NOT become bored with blogging. I just hope that getting a better computer in a few months will put me back into the game. :-)

-

Paperwork.

Sometimes, I really, REALLY envy Napoleon.

Why?

Read somewhere that a LOT of his time was eaten up by that.

But, every now and then, HE would deal with the problem by clearing his desk, LITERALLY;  by just shoving it all off his desk, onto the floor, and having an aide dispose of it.

When you are Emperor, I suppose you can do that.

As I remain considerably shy of THAT position, it's probably NOT an option in my case.

Sigh.  :-)
-

... perhaps MORE savvy than a pet rock.

At least, I HOPE that's a good description of the heads of hospital billing services. :-)

With any luck, this may be my final word on my financial disaster stemming from my accident in late July last year (chronicled in boring detail in A Scream of Pain. )

I had thought that when I finally reached a summing up point, it would have to be called "Death by a thousand cuts", in honor of hospital billing systems that separately bill for various activities and trickle them out over a period of months, so you're never quite sure when you have the whole picture.

At present, it appears there are three accounts to deal with from St. Josephs Medical Center and four from Memorial Hermann Hospital, totaling about $6100.00 altogether. I have yet to hear anything about the last of the Memorial Hermann accounts, but I should find out something next week.

Many people have told me that if I pay SOMETHING on the bills each month, the billing departments are unlikely to push any further. They just might be right.

The biggest monster among those bills, for $2369.40, I received just a few days after the accident. I wanted to get the whole picture before starting any payments. But, in early October, an invoice for that bill threatened to turn it over to an outside agency for collection if I didn't call them and state my intentions.

THAT scared me. If a collection agency takes on the debt as its own, they can take actions, such as hauling you into Small Claims Court where you are at the mercy of a judge, who just might be capable of ANYTHING in his calls. I recall a manager of a company I used to work for telling me about a judgment he received in an alimony and child support case, and explaining to the judge, "Your Honor: That's more than I MAKE", getting the reply, "Well, you're just going to have to get a second job, aren't you?".

So, I called them and talked to a receptionist (you NEVER get anyone in charge). I told her that I could maybe manage $60.00 to $70.00 a month on the entire bill. As I already felt that bill to be in the $6000.00 range, we were talking about 1% a month on the individual bills.  She said she would pass that information along, but she felt they would insist on $300.00 a month as a minimum payment. Well, THAT was as impossible as $300 MILLION, so I just hung up, feeling that further conversation was useless with her.

BUT, a couple of days later (Oct 9) I went onto their web site and opened up an account on that bill and made a payment of $25.00 (1% of $2369.40 rounded up to the next multiple of $5.00). It accepted the payment. So far, so good. A few days later, an invoice arrived thanking me for the payment and demanding the rest of the total within ten days or call that number again (which seemed pointless after the last experience). A couple of weeks later, another invoice arrived, repeating the collection agency threat.

The next month (Nov 9 - trying to be consistent as computers seem to like that :-) I logged onto the account and made another such payment, and then opened up another account on the second St. Joseph's bill and paid $15.00 on that.

So far, I've made five payments on the monster (number six coming up in a couple of days) and the same pattern repeats (Thank you, followed by threat) making me pretty sure I am dealing with billing software here.

BUT, so far the threat hasn't been carried out, and each time I log on, I see the total is down by exactly the amounts I've paid in (meaning NO interest or penalties have been tacked on).

THIS is what makes me hopeful that, SOMEWHERE in the loop is a REAL LIVE HUMAN BEING, ... perhaps MORE savvy than a pet rock (now you know where title comes from :-) who understands that, YES, they CAN scare the Hell out of me by playing hardball, but all they'll acquire by doing THAT would be a notification from a Federal Bankruptcy Court.

At present, I'm now making monthly payments on six of the seven accounts, and maybe by next week I'll find out if the seventh is also doable.

If so, I'll be literally paying for the rest of my life, but they should be payments I can handle.

With luck, I can drop THIS subject and get back to posting about things that interest me.

BTW, yesterday, I updated my "Posts I Feel Good About ..." (see column on left side of page) with eight entries, near the top. Hope you'll give them a look, and not be bored. :-)
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A Scream of Pain (FINAL Update - 25 Dec 2013)

FINAL Update - 25 Dec 2013 - I've noticed a few people coming straight to this post, to see where things stand.  I've decided that, since the previous update of 05 Sep 2013 was the point where I was returning to work, that it would be a good place to cease adding to this post, while it was still shorter than "War and Peace".  Today, I posted Merry Christmas ..., where I tell where things stand at the moment, and in which I mention a future post that will deal with the financial situation. I plan no further additions to this post.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

25 Jul 2013 - I just sent the following email (edited slightly for this post) to a few of my friends ...

Oh God! I've REALLY done it this time
Last night (Wednesday, 24 Jul 2013), I had a bad fall in my apartment. I couldn't move my right arm at all (though my right hand seemed to work Ok).

I had to crawl to my door and yell for help. Someone called 911 and I was taken to St. Lukes hospital St. Joseph Medical Center, where they determined that I had a fracture in my right humerus (that long bone between your shoulder and your elbow.

They said the fracture was too high for a splint or cast, and just provided a sling to keep it in position. (That sling's got a strap that is adjustable with e velcro strip. The damned thing keeps popping loose. Does that hurt? Yep! You could say that.)

They expect me to follow up with a visit to my primary care physician (completely oblivious to my statement that I have no such thing), to make sure it's healing properly. They said it could take 4 to 6 weeks to heal.

In the meantime, I cannot work or drive. The simplest things are a nightmare to do with left hand. Getting up from a sitting position is screamingly painful, as is reaching down low for anything.

Making it though these next 4 to 6 weeks without that part-time paycheck scares the hell out me.

To which one of those friends replied ...
F’en-A man… that sucks!  What does work have to say about it?

And I answered ...
Not much that work DOES have to say about it.  As a part-timer, there is NO sick time or insurance involved.

The store director said to give them a call if there's anything they can do.  I'm confident that my job still awaits me when I can return.  Making it, until then, is the challenge

The next six weeks promise to be Hell.

If I'm less prolific over the coming weeks, it will be because even typing and using the mouse under these conditions defy my powers of description.

Beavis and Butthead would simply say, "This sucks!!!", and I doubt that Will Shakespeare could improve on that.

Says it all! :(

Update - Sat, 27 Jul 2013 ...
Among the people to whom I sent the email announcing this post was a blogger who responded ...

Sorry to hear it. Do you want that published on my site?

I replied ...

You are quite welcome to publish it, if you wish, but that was not my intention. In truth, the post is a whine that I needed to get out of my system by sharing.

The next six weeks have me VERY worried, indeed.  

BUT, I reached birthday # 71 two months ago, have had my share of ups and downs, and am STILL here.  A lady shrink, dealing with one of my depressive cycles told me that she saw "a survivor.  You've just pulled up stakes and moved halfway across the country to make a new beginning. Wimps don't do that!".

Ok. She was doing her job, but I treasured that.

As bad as this pain is, it's NOT the worst I've experienced.

THAT honor would go to the mid-sixties, when (fresh out of the USAF)  I was living in rural Arkansas and had to have a wisdom tooth removed. That is usually the province of an oral surgeon, but a local regular dentist about twenty miles away was the only option.  He ended up having to break the tooth to get it out.  On a pain scale of 1 to 10, I would have rated it as "20". Thank God my brother came with me as there was no way I could have driven home after THAT.

Laurence Olivier and Dustin Hoffman's experience in "Marathon Man" over a decade later had NOTHING over THAT.

So, while worried as Hell over what's coming (I think I qualify for a PhD in worrying sometimes :-), I expect to survive this, as I already have so much else.

Thanks for writing, and have a good 'un!

HELL is made up of LITTLE things ...

Ok!  That's me trying to be optimistic.

But, if any of you have recently heard screams coming from the general direction of Houston, Texas lately, that was probably me trying to wash myself, change out of a tee-shirt and regular shirt with one hand (the wrong hand) pulling it off and replacing it with a fresh one over a limb that has a broken bone in it.

Working with the wrong hand means deliberation in all things, to avoid being scalded from a simple thing like hot coffee.

Now, I can shoot my pistol pretty damned well with my left hand (from much practice and the belief that it should be usable with whatever hand is available). Give me a problem I can solve by shooting, and I'm good to go.

But, that is the only thing that I'm currently ambidextrous at.  I suspect that is going to change over the coming weeks.

With this fracture, I dare not risk tripping or slipping on a wet surface. Another fall could possibly kill me;  while I don't really know if the pain and shock could stop my heart, it's not  something I want to put to the test.

The friend I mentioned near the top of this post offered to help if he could, but he works for an outfit that sends him all over the place. He'll be out of town for awhile. If he gets back soon, I hope I can get his help on a doctor to see if this is going to heal enough for me to become functional again (I'm damned near an invalid now).

There's a couple of friends that I hope can help with long term loans and, as much as I hate to, I may have to ask them for help.  I'm looking through my junk to see what I can sell to get by.  That last part is long term, after healing enough to be able to drive again.

I've spent a fair chunk of my life being completely alone (preferring it that way), but it does have its disadvantages, sometimes.

Oh, boy!!!

2nd Update - 29 Jul 2013 -- Horror Show 
This picture does look like something out of a zombie movie, but (I hope) this is nothing more than the Mother Of All Bruising ...

I called the rental office and asked if they had a camera and the means to transfer the pictures to a flash drive of mine. They did, and here's where things are at the moment. (Had to wait until today, as that office isn't open on weekends).

And Yes!  I did look up gangrene, but the lack of fever makes me feel that's unlikely.  I will watch it, but am reluctant to totally destroy myself financially (as in "cast out into the streets") by panicking.

Need a bone doctor to go to, to determine just what I'm up against treatment wise and financially (I dread what will probably come from St. Luke's St. Joseph) before I decide what kind of help I need and from whom to ask for it.

Long days ahead. :(

3rd Update - Tue, 30 Jul 2013 - In case I drop off the grid ...
My hopeful optimism over that bruising may have been premature.

This morning (Tue, 30 Jul 2013), it has spread, and new bruising has appeared on other parts of my body.

Some of it may actually not be unusual; new bruising on the bottom of my right wrist (which impacted on the table corner when I fell) may have taken these 5 and a half days to spread from the interior to where it's now visible. Same for other parts of my body that may have been affected by the fall.

What has me scared now is my right hand is becoming swollen (could be an extension of the wrist bruising) and it's one of the things for which they warn, "Seek Help Immediately!".

Well, from WHO?!!! I don't have a family doctor. I am completely alone and have nowhere to go, unless I call 911. There's already a 911 debt on me, which is certain to appear soon. That is not a trivial thing. If I have to cross that line, it might really be all over.

I am truly scared to death of a financial tsunami, that leaves me in a position of, "Well, you'll live. Of course, that living may end up being beneath an overpass, but Hey! Them's the breaks.".

I don't know what I'm going to do yet, but if I cease writing, maybe these people will have some idea of what the Hell happened to me ...

Allen House Apartments 713-524-0514 (residence)

Randalls Food Market - 713-668-4778 (employer)

Of the two, Allen House will more likely know.

There ain't nobody else.

Dear God!  I'm scared.

4th Update - Fri, 02 Aug 2013 - South Martian - I Need Help.
This is the ninth day of my situation and, with my usual impeccable timing. I'm putting up this post (begging for help) at a time when most of the intended audience will be leaving for the weekend and probably wont even see it until Monday.

I keep getting advice from people, telling me that:
 "Paul, you really need to find ..."
 "You need to go to ..."
 "You need to get someone to ..."

When I try to explain that there is nobody; that I am completely alone, and can barely even get around (I can't drive right now, and walking any distance is painful), I might as well indeed be speaking to them in South Martian, as it doesn't appear to be any language that they understand.

I've already mentioned, above, my reluctance to call 911 to make another emergency visit to an ER and my absolute fear of that resulting in a financial collapse that ends everything.

I've downloaded a form that I'm going to fill out and mail to Metro (Houston's bus system) for a card that allows free rides (Because I've passed the 70 mark), and maybe I'll have that in a week if I'm still alive by then.

I phoned St.Joseph Medical Center (above, I had referred to it as St. Luke's, which I would have sworn on a stack of Bibles was what the 911 guy told me as to where I was taken) to find out how long they keep the x-rays that were taken, to see if they would still be available to whatever doctor I eventually get to see. I was told they hold them for five years, so I guess that wont be a problem.

What I need is info on where I can go for treatment (the doctor at St. Joseph said it needed to be an orthopedic surgeon - a bone doctor), preferably somewhere close to my address of
   3433 West Dallas Street, Apt. 1102
   Houston, Texas 77019
   (A block north of the River Oaks Shopping Center)

A place where I can get help in spite of my circumstances, which are ...

 No insurance of any kind.

 On basic Medicare (Part A).

 Almost no assets at all.

 Trying to live on early-retirement social security and the
 meager earnings of a part-time cashier at Randalls Food Center
 (which, of course, have stopped until I'm able to function again).

I hope this is read by someone who knows the Houston area and has some ideas.

Where can I go?

And, BTW, are my fears of financial Armageddon realistic?

In my present condition, I really don't think that I would survive on the streets, if it came to that.

Getting more than a bit desperate here.

On the other hand, I suspect that an eventual autopsy report on me (whenever it is written) will likely note ...
   
   COD:  He worried himself to death.


5th Update - Tue, 06 Aug 2013 - Rays of Hope
Friday, the 2nd, I set out to walk to Kroger (a bit over 3/4 of a mile away) to get some groceries, planning on taking a taxi back (that would only be about $4.00 over that distance - certainly worth it as I probably couldn't have carried the load that far).

I've mentioned before that walking is a bit painful over much distance, and tense because of having to be extra careful to avoid a mis-step and another fall.  Plus, would you believe that Houston in August can get HOT? :-)

On my way there, a very nice blonde lady pulled over, having seen me stagger a bit, asked where I was going and gave me a ride (as she was already going there herself). She gave me a ride back and helped me get my things up to my apartment (2nd floor - Thank God there's an elevator).

Nope. Things didn't go any further than that; the word "husband" came up in the conversation, but it was a very nice experience. She was even nice enough to laugh when I wondered aloud if I should hang on to this sling when I recovered, having never considered before that I could pick up girls with it.

Saturday, the 3rd, when I took off the sling to try and change out of my tee-shirt, instead of my right arm just hanging limp, I could actually move my right forearm if I held my upper arm. I could also raise that arm. Just a bit in each case. as in a couple of inches. Hurt, and I didn't want to push it. NOW, I'm more desperate than ever for someone to check this out.

Later that day, in response to my plea for advice, I got this email from another blogger ...
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Paul - I am very sorry to hear of your injury and resulting disability. I have two suggestions for you.

One, call the local county hospital and ask to speak with the social work coordinator. Explain to him or her your injury and situation. My mother suffered a leg injury about three months ago. The social worker got involved and the amount of support that was made available through medicare and VA was unreal. Further, it is continuing. It is worth your time to make such a call and see what might be available to you.

Two, contact a social security disability lawyer and let him or her evaluate your situation.

I do hope that you find this of some help.
---------------------------------------------------------------------

Monday, the 4th, got an email from a former co-worker offering the use of her son to drive me around if necessary. Greatly appreciated, and I might have to take her up on that sometime, but we'll see.

Having heard absolutely nothing from some people I'd really hoped to hear from, here's where things now stand ...

Tomorrow (07 Aug 2013), I have an afternoon appointment with an orthopedic surgeon at Memorial-Hermann Hospital in the Texas Medical Center.

At St. Joseph, the doctor told me that my type of fracture normally heals Ok, without the need for surgery (for implanting pins? Don't know; didn't think to ask.).

I hope to God the surgeon finds no surgery necessary and just has advice on what I should (and should not) do to allow this to heal properly. When the appointment was set up, I was told that the office visit could run from $95.00 to $250.00, plus another $100.00 for x-rays.

My hope is that this visit, and maybe a follow-up visit in a few weeks should suffice. In that case, the cost will hurt, but will not destroy me. The main thing I WILL need help from friends for would long-term loans to make up for lost income.

If surgery is necessary, that's a whole 'nuther story, costing probably an order of magnitude more, and then I'll have to take up that blogger's suggestion with a vengeance.

Tomorrow IS another day.
~Scarlett O'Hara

6th Update - Thu, 08 Aug 2013 - Went to the surgeon yesterday.
Yesterday (Wed, 07 Aug 2013), I kept my appointment with the orthopedic surgeon. I didn't update this post until now because I was just too damned tired.

The really good news is that, though the humerus has a complete angled break near the top, he didn't see anything requiring surgery.

In place of the sling (which I may keep, for picking up girls :-),...

... he's given me a wraparound brace to keep the bones lined up properly...

He wants me to start moving that arm (using common sense, of course) and to come back and see him in four weeks.

My worst fears were not realized. They're going to try and run most of the bills (which wont be all that horrible) through Medicare. Odds are pretty good that Medicare will not cover a lot of it, but it will take time for this to run through the bureaucratic mill, and that time is welcome indeed.

For such a self-centered recluse, I've somehow managed to acquire an amazing number of really good friends, many of whom try their level best (often in vain) to see that my head is screwed on properly, and to help me keep my fears in perspective.

The latest such attempt is from Karen, a wonderful lady in central Michigan who sent to me this email ...
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Paul, I told you that the best way I could help you from Michigan was pray, and it must have worked! Sometimes we let our fear get in the way of the facts! I was sent the following message that says it best. In the meantime, listen to the doctor, heal, and work at moving that arm. In a few weeks, you should feel lots better!

Bear Attack in Churchill , Manitoba , Canada

These are pictures of an actual polar bear attacking a man.

The pictures were taken while people watched and could do nothing to stop the attack!

Reports from the local newspaper say that the victim will make a full recovery.

The photos are below.

May your troubles always be smaller
than your imagination!
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hear, Hear!!!  :-)

7th Update - Sat, 10 Aug 2013 - Sometimes, there really ARE monsters.
I ended the previous update with the pictures of the polar bear cub as a way of trying to put my fears in perspective.

Yesterday (Fri, 09 Aug 2013), I got something in the mail that made me feel as if that cub's DADDY  had just joined the party ...

The monster was this ...

... and the relevant (killer) part is ...

Way up near the beginning of the post, I expressed DREAD of what may be coming from St. Joseph Medical Center for that trip to the emergency room.

Well, it's ARRIVED; to the tune of $2,367.90 for the 911 ambulance call and the ER treatment.

Add in for the visits to the surgeon (including one 4 weeks from now), and anticipated loss of six weeks income and I'm looking at a hit in the range of $4200.00 to $4500.00 altogether.

Do I HAVE it?   Not -- even -- close.

I pretty well went through my panic attack last night, and hope I can now take a calmer look at the situation.

I knew SOMETHING would be coming from St. Joseph about that ER visit; I just didn't expect a gut-punch quite that bad.

SO. What ARE my options?

########### (Morbid thought that I'm NOT posting here).

Ignore it.

Try running it through Medicare even though I'm positive THAT wont fly.

But, maybe I'm wrong and they might help a bit. Besides, they insist on an itemized invoice, and I certainly want to see THAT.

Hopefully, I'll think of other possibilities.

I've sent this email to St. Joseph's ...
------------------------------------------------------------------------
I've just received your "statement", which amounts to
 "YOU owe US $2367.90 -- SEND IT!"

I need an itemized invoice for this -- Medicare will INSIST on that if I submit it to them.

Paul Gordon
3433 W Dallas St Apt 1102
Houston, TX 77019-3840

Master Number: ******
Invoice Number: ***********
Thank you.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

As today is Saturday, it will be Monday before anyone even reads it.

My ER visit involved three men of 911 taking me to St. Joseph's, and hanging around a bit until someone could see me and take me off of their hands. It then involved a couple of ER people asking questions, getting some x-rays taken, giving me two prescriptions (for blood pressure and pain killing), putting a sling on me and then cutting me loose.

I figure between 2 and 2-1/2 hours there.

I will be fascinated to see what cost almost $2400.00 (approximately four times what I figure the combined costs of two visits to that orthopedic surgeon and the x-rays of their own which they took), and will update the post with that info when (and IF) I get it.

If I have any problem getting it, that too will be noted.

To be continued ...

8th Update - Thu, 15 Aug 2013 - Three weeks and a day ...
... since the accident. One week and a day since the visit to the surgeon.
So, where are things now?

Limbo.

Using the brace instead of the sling, I'm very slowly getting more motion with my right arm.

On Monday, I got into my car, to see how far I have to go. Climbing in was no problem. The car is a Honda Civic, with automatic transmission, using a tee-handle shifter on the floor.

I had enough strength to pull and release the emergency brake handle (on the center console, behind the shift lever). Could NOT reach over and grab the shifter unless I used my left hand to move my right hand over to it. Once there, I COULD work the button you use to release the handle when it's in park.

Using the ignition key was fun, I could manage to reach over and put it in, but needed help from my left hand to push it in enough to be able to twist it and start the car.

Not much strength in my left arm yet; if I lie down and hold my upper right arm down with my left hand, I can manage to raise my right forearm, but it wants to just flop to one side or the other. Very sore when that happens; I'm guessing there are some lateral muscles involved here that aren't really ready for anything just yet.

Obviously driving falls into the category of "not really ready" at this time. Right now, my right arm is useless for helping with steering. While I could probably manage somewhat with my left arm, attempting to drive anywhere at this time would be dangerous and stupid.

Way up near the top of this post, I mentioned sending in an application for a Metro card that would allow me to ride buses free (because I'm over 70). The card arrived Saturday, but I'm not ready to try it yet.

I'm not steady when walking right now; when I go very far, my right leg really hurts near the hip area and I have to be careful how I step to avoid another fall. The bus stops are a pretty good distance from my apartment.  If I get on a bus right now, it's jerking starts and stops (traffic and road conditions) risk another fall that I really don't need.

I hope my arm strength and stability improve enough in the next three weeks enough that I can take advantage of the bus to get to my Sep 4th appointment with the surgeon (and not have to pay about $30.00 round trip cab fare).

Speaking of money, I mentioned in my last update about emailing St. Joseph to request an itemized invoice of their charges. On Monday, I called them, and made that request again. I was told that it will take several business days for it to arrive, so I may have it by tomorrow.

We'll see where things go from there.

9th Update - Fri, 16 Aug 2013 - Some damned good people out there.
Well, it's Friday, and I'm still awaiting that itemized invoice that was promised me. Got a message on my answering machine, from St. Joseph's business office, wanting me to call them. But, without that invoice, I've really nothing to discuss with them. I'm not quite ready to use the term "run around" just yet, but for people wanting their money, they seem to be taking their own sweet time about it.

Got the following letter today, from the Mulholland family in Illinois ...
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dear Paul,

I've been reading your blog a year or so now.  Don't always agree with you, but I always enjoy it.

I was sorry to read about the super hard patch you've hit.  I hope this little check helps a bit.

I'll continue to watch your blog -- learning to be a "lefty" is tough.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------

They enclosed a check for $50.00, referring to it as "little".  Well, it may be "little", in comparison to what I am facing financially, but I suspect that (in this economy) it is far from "little" to them. These people, who only know me through my blog, reached out to help and I am grateful, beyond my powers of description.

The help may be "little", but you are familiar with the phrase "being nickeled and dimed to death" to death where expenses are concerned.  Well, that works the other way as well. Every "little" bit helps.

To the Mulholland family: Bless you, and Thank you.

Addendum - 0910, Sat, 17 Aug 2013 - NOT asking for donations (yet).
I wanted to express my thanks to the Mulhollands for reaching out that way and for making me feel that I was not in this all by myself.

Before seeking financial help in earnest, I want the whole picture first.

I need to see (from my next visit to the surgeon on September 4) if things are healing properly and I will be able to work again.

Are my walking problems related to the fall?  Does something need to be done there?  Or, does the magic number "71" (my age) have more than a bit to do with it?

And, to find out (by submittal) what (if any) help will Medicare provide?  I'll keep in mind one blogger's suggestion about the VA.

Once I've got a solid picture of just how bad things really are, I may very well ask for help from some of you, maybe even putting in a link to PayPal (I've had an account with them for ages), allowing donations to be sent to them for my email address.

But, we're not there yet.

10th Update - Thu, 22 Aug 2013 - News:  Good, bad, and hopeful.

Monday, the 19th: Getting more mobility in right arm, although still very weak.

Actually got out a bit, walking to nearest bus stop and using my new free pass to take the bus to my bank where I cashed the check I mentioned above. Then, two more buses (because of the routes) to get to a Randalls that had some items not carried by the Kroger that is much closer to my apartment. Finally, a short taxi ride from there to my apartment. (Still have difficulty carrying much for any distance. Plus, there were frozen items; the bus might be free, but the wait times can run up to 40 minutes on some routes).

The walking problems I mentioned above don't seem related to the fall. More likely due to a lack of walking recently. The tension over having to be extra careful where and how I step probably has a bit to do with that. Seems to be getting better.

Wednesday, the 21st: Still awaiting that itemized invoice from St. Joseph's. I've been assured that it actually is on its way. In the meantime, I've finally responded to a couple of letters that I received from an outfit called Chamberlin Edmonds, that notes ...
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Chamberlin Edmonds works with Iasis Healthcare-Texas to help patients that have little or no medical insurance. We can help you find government benefits, such as Medicaid or Medicare, which could pay the hospital bill. Iasis Healthcare-Texas is providing this service to all patients at NO CHARGE.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I phoned them and talked to a representative, who felt that there really was help they could provide. He asked me to come to his office in the St. Joseph Medical Center to get started on the paperwork.

I told him I could probably do that, in a day or two (after I determined the bus routes so I could manage it without a $40.00 round trip cab fare).

I'd already planned on taking the bus downtown to Metro's main transit center to get a map of their routes and a bunch of schedules. (Yes! I could have gone online, or phoned them and asked to mail them to me, but that would have taken a solid week. I could also have downloaded them and printed them out, but they are huge files, and with my equipment; well, life's just too damned short. Besides, I desperately needed to get out. :-)

A google search of that transit center brought up a map that also showed St. Joseph's at only five blocks away. So, I went there as well and got the paperwork done.

The Chamberlin Edmonds rep felt that, because I was over 70, I may be entitled to more benefits than I thought. So, he's gonna go for it, and any reckoning with St. Joseph's is put off while that goes through the mill. That's the "hopeful" part.

The "bad" part is that it may take a month before I know anything, and the finances will get pretty damned desperate during that time.  A few of you have offered to help there. I sure hope you still feel that way, as I just may have to take you up on that.

Thirteen more days until my second visit to the surgeon. Although my arm is becoming more mobile, I sure want assurances (from x-rays) that the bone is knitting properly and that I can exercise that arm without being afraid of pulling apart something that is still healing.

And, that's the way it is, on Thursday, 22 Aug 2013 (and I have NEVER been that much of a Walter Cronkite fan. :-)

11th Update - Sun, 25 Aug 2013 - Breakdown
Breakdown: noun
(1) What I often have when things go awry.
(2) The St. Joseph's Itemized Invoice I finally received yesterday.

Almost had the first version yesterday, when I could not turn the ignition key in my car. Horrific visions of having to have the car taken to the mechanic on a wrecker truck ($60.00 estimated) and having to have that switch removed and replaced ($300.00 based on past experience with the most "snake bit" car I have ever owned -- a 1994 Dodge Intrepid that was up to ignition switch number THREE by the time I lost it to repossession at a bit over 91,000 miles).

The last time (a week ago) I had started up the car, I had cranked the front wheels over to one side to make it more difficult for anyone to move the car without the key. The odds are pretty good that by doing so I made it necessary to put pressure on the steering wheel to free up the locking mechanism so I could turn that key.

In my present condition where I have to use my left hand to force my right hand to push the key in hard enough to turn it, I can't use that left hand on the steering wheel to free it up. Tomorrow, when more people are around, I'll ask one of them to give it a try. With any luck (and Lord knows, I could sure use some), it should turn out that there is nothing at all wrong with that ignition lock and I'm simply not strong enough to work it yet.

We'll see.

As for the second definition, I can now tell what 911 costs in my instance, although much of the bill is about as specific as a fortune cookie. Here it is ...
---------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                    08/21/13

GORDON, PAUL        1320500460    07/24/13    07/24/13   001
                                                          D1
                                                         801
   PAUL GORDON
   3433 W DALLAS ST APT 1102
   APT 1102                                   07/27/13   RDJ
   HOUSTON TX 77019-3840
275001 SELF PAY ACCOUNTS

07/24/13 1 78 XR SHOULDER 2+V, COMPLETE  1  608.00    608.00
07/24/13 3 80 XR HUMERUS 2+V             1  551.00    551.00
              TOTAL, Diagnostic, Radiology          1,159.00

07/24/13 4 40013 ED LEVEL 4             1 1,516.00  1,516.00
07/24/13 5 40021 ED PROCEDURE LEVEL 1   1   475.00    475.00
              TOTAL Emergency Room                  1,991.00

07/24/13 2 23419 HYDROCODONE-ACETAMINOPHEN 5- 1 7.20    7.20
              TOTAL Drugs/Self ADMIN                    7.20

              TOTAL CHARGES                         3,157.20  

07/28/13 152 A6400 Uninsured Discount  275001         789.30CR

              TOTAL PAYMENTS/ADJUSTMENTS              789.30CR
              ESTIMATED PATIENT BALANCE DUE         2,367.90
---------------------------------------------------------------------

And, there you have it. I seem to recall about three hours from the time that the 911 guys showed up until I was released from St. Joseph's. Note that $789.30 discount. Could have been a lot worse.

But, that's only half the hit.  There's still the bills from the orthopedic surgeon, and the loss of six to eight weeks income until I can go back to work.

FWIW

Addendum - Mon, 26 Aug 2013 - Thank God!
The ignition switch I was concerned about turned out to be Ok.  As I had hoped, the turning of the front wheels I mentioned above had kinda locked things up. Today, I got a better angle on it when trying to push and twist the key while moving the steering wheel and, with a scream that was probably not heard outside the city limits, managed to free it up.

Arm still weak, and that really hurt.  But, am so thankful that I'm not looking at having to replace that switch. Things are already desperate enough without that on top of it.

To be continued ...

12th Update - Tue, 27 Aug 2013 - Desperation.
It has come to this: things are now desperate enough that I have added a PayPal button in the left column, and will greatly appreciate any donations that may result.

In the near future, I need to somehow get a long term loan (or loans) when I learn just what the total impact is. That impact could be a minimum of $1500.00 if the medical costs are somehow covered and the loss of six to eight weeks income is all I have to worry about. The other extreme would be no help available there (not at all impossible) and the grand reckoning could be somewhere in the $4500.00 to $5000.00 range.  Now, do you understand why I keep freaking out?

I've had a couple of you offer to help financially, but you need to be aware of what that could entail. I do NOT want handouts;  I'd much rather have loans long term enough that I could actually manage to pay them off, eventually.

But for now, I simply need to survive to get to that "near future". Hence, the addition of the Donation button.  I truly hate having to do that, but the alternatives are getting kinda scary.

13th Update - Thu, 29 Aug 2013
- Well, it seemed like a good idea at the time.
Two days ago, I added the PayPal Donation button. I didn't really have a lot of hope in it (Let's face it;  I don't have millions of readers;  dozens would probably be more accurate.), but I thought it might be worth a shot.

So far, precisely TWO wonderful people have responded, and Thank God (and them) for their help. Between them, they may have delayed the inevitable by a week and a half.

I'm going to leave the button up there for awhile (it may still help a bit, over time), but it sure looks like I'm gonna have to figure out something else.

To those of you who tried, I wont forget you. Thank you, so much. :-)

14th Update - Sat, 31 Aug 2013 - "Earn this!"
An amazing last few days. Got a money order from an Air Force buddy, who I know is not rolling in wealth, but he extended this help anyway, and I am grateful beyond words.

Drove my car around the apartment complex Wednesday, to see if I could. Right arm did protest, but managed to pull it off. Will get easier as that arm strengthens. Drove it again last night (Friday), winding along back streets to Kroger on a grocery run. The reason for waiting until night is that both the State Inspection Sticker and the License tag expired at the end of July. I meant to take care of those in time, but the accident (July 24) intervened.

Now that the License tag as expired, I cannot just renew it at the local grocery store, but will have to go to a DMV office, taking along the certificates of passing the State Inspection and Emissions Test (along with title and insurance forms).

With any luck, I should be up to driving in morning traffic late next week, so my grand plan is to schedule an early morning appointment at Pep Boys for that inspection, so it will be finished early enough that I can take the forms, grab a bus to the downtown DMV office and get back with the renewed tags before Pep Boys closes. Then, I'll be back in business. (Jayne to Mal, in "Serenity": "What you plan, and what happens, ain't usually the same. :-)

This same week coming up is when I should learn (from my final visit to the surgeon) if my arm has healed enough that I can start exercising it (without tearing something up) to get my strength back. For the last couple of weeks, I've been trying to use that arm normally (but without straining it), and have gotten quite a bit of mobility in it.

I hope that, by the end of next week, I should be able to tell Randalls to start scheduling me again. After all, I'm gonna need all the hours I can handle (and get).  At least, they've called occasionally to see how I'm doing, so when I finally show up, they probably wont react with "Who?" .

If you've noticed the removal of the PayPal Donation button, it's because in addition to that money order mentioned above, I received a very generous donation Wednesday from another who'd rather remain anonymous and instructed ...
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Don't post my name for the donation on your blogs or email. I am a firm believer in paying it forward, so rather than pay me back, put the amount towards someone else that needs it some day in the future.
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It will probably take awhile before I am ready, but I'm going to do my level best to honor that request and to not disappoint.

Now, I'm not out of the woods yet, by a long shot. There is still a reckoning coming with St. Joseph Medical Center, and with Memorial Hermann Hospital. So, it's possible that the Donation button may have to be restored, but it's my understanding that they will probably work with me on this. We'll see.

This gift covers the anticipated loss of income that this accident has caused, with a bit to spare. But, that was the most immediate and lethal threat that I was facing.

With this gift, the donor has done nothing less than to give me back my life, and with it (probably with full awareness) one hell of a responsibility: literally the challenge of a lifetime; best summed up by the last request that Captain Miller (Tom Hanks) made of Private Ryan (Matt Damon) in "Saving Private Ryan" ...

   "Earn this!"

15th Update - Thu, 05 Sep 2013 - "Doctor's Note"
Past few days a bit weird.

Another wonderful letter and check from an Air Force buddy.  My friends have literally been lifesavers.

Above, I mentioned visiting Chamberlin Edmonds a couple of weeks ago, to see what aid might be available to help with the bill of $2367.90 that I received from St. Joseph Medical Center. I was warned it could be a month before I heard anything.

I thought perhaps maybe they had accomplished something already when I got another bill from St. Joseph's on Tuesday, the 3rd, for $758.00. If that's what the bill had been negotiated down to, cool!  That I would be able to handle.

Unfortunately, that was not the case. The bill was for something entirely separate: The emergency room physician's fees. Although the first bill was probably being generated before I even left the emergency room and was received a couple of days later, St. Joseph's waited SIX WEEKS after the visit to spring this little surprise. Perhaps this is simply the way they do things. Yet another thing that I hope Chamberlin Edmonds will be able to help with. I alerted them. We'll see. (And, I'll report.)

Wed, Sep 4th, I went to see the surgeon for what should be my final visit. Freaked out a bit on seeing the new x-rays showing what appeared to be a humeris bone broken in two pieces with a large gap between them.  Wondered if I had managed to horribly screw this up.  But, that wouldn't jibe with the greatly increased mobility of my right arm, along with the slowly recovering strength in it.

The surgeon brought up the x-ray on a monitor that showed it much more clearly; showing what appeared to be gossamer traces of a cloud surrounding that break, and confirming that it looked that way because new bone growth wasn't as dense as the original bone. The bone is actually healing just fine, and he told me that I don't need that wraparound brace any longer. And also that I can begin to exercise that arm, as long as I use a bit of common sense.

When I told him that I was going to ask Randalls to plug me back into their  schedule, he saw nothing wrong with that and asked me if I needed a "Doctor's Note" to go back to work.  I told him that I didn't think so, and actually didn't take that question seriously. I had worked two generations in engineering and IT, and never had to consider anything like that.

But, when I stopped by Randalls on the way home and told the Store Director that I was ready to go back on the schedule, the first thing he asked was if I had that note.  So, I went back and got this ...

You can right click on this to bring up a larger image in another tab if you're curious about what a company wants before they'll let you return to the fold.

I spent much of today (Thu, 05 Sep 2013) getting the car inspected and taking the bus downtown to renew the license tags and then come home and put them on the car. That's now done, and I can drive again (Thank God!). Still some soreness in right arm when steering, but rapidly getting better. Drove to Randalls and dropped off the Doctor's Note. When I go in Saturday to look at the schedule, I should find my name on it.

Getting back to work is the main step in my resurrection. There are still bills from two hospitals to deal with, and all I can do there is await what will come.

Almost there ...
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