http://www.bennett-world.com/family/ Wed, 10 Mar 2010 15:36:00 -0700 MyBB http://www.bennett-world.com/family/showthread.php?tid=14 Sat, 17 May 2008 11:44:25 -0700 http://www.bennett-world.com/family/showthread.php?tid=14 http://www.bennett-world.com/family/showthread.php?tid=13 Wed, 12 Mar 2008 09:40:44 -0700 http://www.bennett-world.com/family/showthread.php?tid=13
I have been having a number of health problems over the past several years that have made some severe impacts in my life, especially for someone so relatively young. Without going into all the details, I have had a colonoscopy, endoscopy (confirming existence of a gastric ulcer), orithectomy (removal of a testicle through the abdomen to inspect for cancer. I had nodules growing. They removed the outer layer that had the lumps and pathology came back benign, so they put everything back. The swelling the followed was beyond expectations), stablizing diabetes, losing 30 pounds (contributing factor from the ulcer) and bi-polor (I'll come back to this). These issues are certainly less than what others deal with, and I am grateful not only for the health that I have, but for a family that has been there for me while I have gone through them (sometimes, the anticipation of the results is worse than the procedure).

I was diagnosed bi-polar II which is a functional level of bi-polar. Bipolar I is considered unable to function in normal society. In 2006, I recieved my first ever negative job evaluation because of my mood swings and that was the catalyst for me to recognize that I needed help. We went through many rounds to trying different medications over 2 years, counselling, and trying to find something that would level me out. For two years, emotionally, I have been going through my gethsemane. Feelings at times have sunk so far as contemplating suicide, although I have never once considered ever acting on those thoughts. I know they come from a mental health issue and will pass, so as long as I keep this thought in mind, I know I am not and will not be in danger. It has been a rough ride and continues to be. A lesser woman would not have been able to put up with it all, but my greatest blessing is Joylynn who has stood by me and never gave up on me, even knowing that this may be my lot in life for the rest of my life.

I was on long-term disability for a little over a year. During this time, I ran for re-election and lost due to a smear campaign that came out 4 days before the election with no time to rebutt. This contributed to a lack of self confidence and depression that I am still dealing with at times. I decided that my previous line of work in computers was likely contributing to my depression and have been blessed to be able to go back to school to work on a masters degree in political science. I am doing research right now on voting and campaign spending habits in local elections in 12 cities around the state over a 7 year period to see how that has changed in relation to the rate of inflation. I am going to try to submit the research paper for publication when it is completed. So, I have something to look forward to.

I am not sure what I am going to do with my life. I don't know what I am best suited for and hit my "mid-life crisis" about 10 years earlier than a lot of men do in deciding "is this really what I want to be doing for the rest of my life?" I still don't have answers, but I haven't given up looking.

My psychiatrist and I have decided to try some aggressive treatment to give me some stability in my emotional states. It is always a tradeoff between benefits and side effects. I have been on a med this week that has kept me very stable. However, 40% of people who use it gain up to 60 lbs. over time while using it, and I usually am in the bad part of statistics, but I am going to do everything I can to stay as healthy as possible.

Sorry to have to lay all of this out, but I felt the need to provide understanding to those closest to me who care so much and want to know what they can do. Right now, I don't need anything but to know that my brothers and sisters in this family care about me and that I am not alone. Setting up this message board is part of that ideal and therapy for me to get back in contact with those who I/we can draw strength from. If you can find the time to participate, I know that I and hopefully you will draw closer together and be able to support each other as we go through life's challenges.

Rob]]>
I have been having a number of health problems over the past several years that have made some severe impacts in my life, especially for someone so relatively young. Without going into all the details, I have had a colonoscopy, endoscopy (confirming existence of a gastric ulcer), orithectomy (removal of a testicle through the abdomen to inspect for cancer. I had nodules growing. They removed the outer layer that had the lumps and pathology came back benign, so they put everything back. The swelling the followed was beyond expectations), stablizing diabetes, losing 30 pounds (contributing factor from the ulcer) and bi-polor (I'll come back to this). These issues are certainly less than what others deal with, and I am grateful not only for the health that I have, but for a family that has been there for me while I have gone through them (sometimes, the anticipation of the results is worse than the procedure).

I was diagnosed bi-polar II which is a functional level of bi-polar. Bipolar I is considered unable to function in normal society. In 2006, I recieved my first ever negative job evaluation because of my mood swings and that was the catalyst for me to recognize that I needed help. We went through many rounds to trying different medications over 2 years, counselling, and trying to find something that would level me out. For two years, emotionally, I have been going through my gethsemane. Feelings at times have sunk so far as contemplating suicide, although I have never once considered ever acting on those thoughts. I know they come from a mental health issue and will pass, so as long as I keep this thought in mind, I know I am not and will not be in danger. It has been a rough ride and continues to be. A lesser woman would not have been able to put up with it all, but my greatest blessing is Joylynn who has stood by me and never gave up on me, even knowing that this may be my lot in life for the rest of my life.

I was on long-term disability for a little over a year. During this time, I ran for re-election and lost due to a smear campaign that came out 4 days before the election with no time to rebutt. This contributed to a lack of self confidence and depression that I am still dealing with at times. I decided that my previous line of work in computers was likely contributing to my depression and have been blessed to be able to go back to school to work on a masters degree in political science. I am doing research right now on voting and campaign spending habits in local elections in 12 cities around the state over a 7 year period to see how that has changed in relation to the rate of inflation. I am going to try to submit the research paper for publication when it is completed. So, I have something to look forward to.

I am not sure what I am going to do with my life. I don't know what I am best suited for and hit my "mid-life crisis" about 10 years earlier than a lot of men do in deciding "is this really what I want to be doing for the rest of my life?" I still don't have answers, but I haven't given up looking.

My psychiatrist and I have decided to try some aggressive treatment to give me some stability in my emotional states. It is always a tradeoff between benefits and side effects. I have been on a med this week that has kept me very stable. However, 40% of people who use it gain up to 60 lbs. over time while using it, and I usually am in the bad part of statistics, but I am going to do everything I can to stay as healthy as possible.

Sorry to have to lay all of this out, but I felt the need to provide understanding to those closest to me who care so much and want to know what they can do. Right now, I don't need anything but to know that my brothers and sisters in this family care about me and that I am not alone. Setting up this message board is part of that ideal and therapy for me to get back in contact with those who I/we can draw strength from. If you can find the time to participate, I know that I and hopefully you will draw closer together and be able to support each other as we go through life's challenges.

Rob]]> http://www.bennett-world.com/family/showthread.php?tid=10 Wed, 27 Feb 2008 12:42:47 -0700 http://www.bennett-world.com/family/showthread.php?tid=10
Rob]]>
Rob]]> http://www.bennett-world.com/family/showthread.php?tid=9 Tue, 12 Feb 2008 18:06:17 -0700 http://www.bennett-world.com/family/showthread.php?tid=9
Michael - 14 in March
Sarah - 12 in April
Jessica - 8 in March

[The small pictures below (thumbnails) will enlarge if you click them]]]>
Michael - 14 in March
Sarah - 12 in April
Jessica - 8 in March

[The small pictures below (thumbnails) will enlarge if you click them]]]> http://www.bennett-world.com/family/showthread.php?tid=7 Tue, 12 Feb 2008 17:59:26 -0700 http://www.bennett-world.com/family/showthread.php?tid=7 http://www.bennett-world.com/family/showthread.php?tid=6 Tue, 12 Feb 2008 17:54:51 -0700 http://www.bennett-world.com/family/showthread.php?tid=6 http://www.bennett-world.com/family/showthread.php?tid=5 Tue, 12 Feb 2008 17:51:58 -0700 http://www.bennett-world.com/family/showthread.php?tid=5 http://www.bennett-world.com/family/showthread.php?tid=4 Tue, 12 Feb 2008 17:46:33 -0700 http://www.bennett-world.com/family/showthread.php?tid=4
[first, let me say that I know that not everyone will be able to make it. That is a shame, but reality. We hope to get as many together as we can, and then maybe start doing it more regularly so families can plan to come if they are able].

So, if you are planning your summer vacations, what are your top preferences for location (suggest one if you don't see it). You can select more than one; when we have a clear frontrunner, we'll get more specific about where. Suggestions would be great.]]>
[first, let me say that I know that not everyone will be able to make it. That is a shame, but reality. We hope to get as many together as we can, and then maybe start doing it more regularly so families can plan to come if they are able].

So, if you are planning your summer vacations, what are your top preferences for location (suggest one if you don't see it). You can select more than one; when we have a clear frontrunner, we'll get more specific about where. Suggestions would be great.]]> http://www.bennett-world.com/family/showthread.php?tid=3 Tue, 12 Feb 2008 17:41:15 -0700 http://www.bennett-world.com/family/showthread.php?tid=3
Some nice things to know:


If you post something to a thread (any conversation on this forum), you will automatically get an e-mail sent back to you whenever someone posts a reply there (you can turn this off if it gets annoying)
Unlike e-mail, everything we write here will stick around and be a written history. Nothing to get lost or accidentally deleted, everything already recorded like a big family journal over time with pictures and real people telling real stories about a big group of descendents.
Easy to click on a person's name and to send them an e-mail directly. Nice if you haven't been in touch with some cousins for a long time.
Families can easily show off what they and their kids are doing so everyone can see. We don't have to be blind to each other's families growing up. And it doesn't just have to be at Christmas (much cheaper here too than printing and postage!)
You never know when you are going to need a favor! :-)

]]>
Some nice things to know:


If you post something to a thread (any conversation on this forum), you will automatically get an e-mail sent back to you whenever someone posts a reply there (you can turn this off if it gets annoying)
Unlike e-mail, everything we write here will stick around and be a written history. Nothing to get lost or accidentally deleted, everything already recorded like a big family journal over time with pictures and real people telling real stories about a big group of descendents.
Easy to click on a person's name and to send them an e-mail directly. Nice if you haven't been in touch with some cousins for a long time.
Families can easily show off what they and their kids are doing so everyone can see. We don't have to be blind to each other's families growing up. And it doesn't just have to be at Christmas (much cheaper here too than printing and postage!)
You never know when you are going to need a favor! :-)

]]> http://www.bennett-world.com/family/showthread.php?tid=2 Tue, 12 Feb 2008 17:32:30 -0700 http://www.bennett-world.com/family/showthread.php?tid=2 http://www.bennett-world.com/family/showthread.php?tid=1 Tue, 12 Feb 2008 17:28:29 -0700 http://www.bennett-world.com/family/showthread.php?tid=1
1. I have created an account for each cousin in the family (all the kids and their spouses for Marlene, Ron, Steve and Sue). The username to get you in is your name (for example, Raylene Anderson or Darice Knight). For right now, your password is your first name in lower-case letters. After you have logged in, you can click on "User CP" (User Control Panel) and pick a password of your own.

2. If you can send me (e-mail would be great) a copy of your (and hopefully your spouse's) photos (see, I'm letting you pick rather than pulling one up from years ago!), I can size them and place them in your account so when you post something here, we will get to see your smiling face and remember who we are talking to (please, no remarks about "where did all of Rob's hair go!?! ;) ) Send photos to rob@robsblog.org and I will size, crop, etc. to get them right.

3. Any additional info you can include, such as birthdate, address, phone number, e-mail, etc. will help us be able to better keep in touch. Please include it and details about your families. Click on my name or Joylynn's name (you can see everyone under "Members" at the top of the page) for an example.

Having said that, we can really start going here.]]>
1. I have created an account for each cousin in the family (all the kids and their spouses for Marlene, Ron, Steve and Sue). The username to get you in is your name (for example, Raylene Anderson or Darice Knight). For right now, your password is your first name in lower-case letters. After you have logged in, you can click on "User CP" (User Control Panel) and pick a password of your own.

2. If you can send me (e-mail would be great) a copy of your (and hopefully your spouse's) photos (see, I'm letting you pick rather than pulling one up from years ago!), I can size them and place them in your account so when you post something here, we will get to see your smiling face and remember who we are talking to (please, no remarks about "where did all of Rob's hair go!?! ;) ) Send photos to rob@robsblog.org and I will size, crop, etc. to get them right.

3. Any additional info you can include, such as birthdate, address, phone number, e-mail, etc. will help us be able to better keep in touch. Please include it and details about your families. Click on my name or Joylynn's name (you can see everyone under "Members" at the top of the page) for an example.

Having said that, we can really start going here.]]>