Who am I? Larry. Thanks for asking!

[hellisl]

I am a Christian first and foremost. Husband to a lovely lady who took me in tow 37 years ago, and has kept me honest ever since we wed on July 4, 1975. I am also a disabled/retired 57 year old ex-Hoosier. By trade I was an audio/visual technician who worked in and around movie theaters for thirty-five years until heart problems,diabetic neuropathy, and a lot of balance issues took me out of the workplace.
Grandfather of seven great kids who we decided had an urgent need to recieve handcrafted items with some meaning, in addition to the video games that they wanted for Christmas. Thanks to my new hobby (A used scrollsaw that I got off of Craigslist for $35 and some great free internet plans), that wish became a reality. I think Christmas was better for it. They may think otherwise, but my wife and I loved the fact that, even though disabled, I can still be pretty handy around the shop....
I am also the father of three boys who are fathers now themselves, and all of whom are pretty handy around the woodworking shop as well (perhaps because they all spent some time in the "woodshed" while growing up, as did dear old dad when himself a mere lad :wsmile.
I am very happy to be a member of this group, and to be able to call myself in some small way a North Carolina Woodworker...

 

[golfdad]

Welcome Larry...I see were neighbors.....we would love to see some of your workccasion1

 

[Bigdog72]

Welcome Larry!! I am in Garner all the time because there isn't much shopping around my place. Sometime, when you have a free moment, PM me regarding your neuropathy. I suffer from the same and would be interested in how the docs are treating you.

 

[hellisl]

Bigdog72 and Golfdad
Thanks for the welcome! Friendly folk like you are some of the many reasons we chose North Carolina to raise our family in 20 years ago.
I am new to posting on websites. I have been a computer user since buying my first Timex Sinclair and Commodor 64's back in the Stone Age but have never done much interacting with others. It may take me a while to get the hang of this thing, so if I make any mistakes, please forgive me.
I will try to post a few pictures of my projects as I go along. I forgot to take photos of the Chrismas presents for the grandkids but will do better next time...

Bigdog72, I sympathize with you. People who have not experienced nerve pain can't understand how excruciating it can be. They don't see how you can lose all feeling in a body part, but still have devastating "Ghost Pain". Believe it or not, I still have pain and burning in the toe that I had amputated in February this year. As for my neuropathy, it is pretty bad sometimes, especially at night making sleep difficult, but I know that there are others out there who are worse off than I am so I try to not complain. I recently lost a friend to diabetes after he had had both legs amputated over a two year period and so I can thank God that I can still walk. Right now I am on Gabapentin (Neurontin) which does seem to dull some of the worst spikes, but taking 3600 mg daily, I am at the limit of allowable dosage. Splitting the dosage up into 900 mg morning, 1500 mg afternoon/evening, and 1200 before bed seemed to help. Not sure what the next step will be. Just please, please, please watch out for diabetic ulcers. As I said, I have already lost a toe and have spent the entire year fighting infections in two others. You need to take care that it doesn't get out of hand if you get an ulcer. If you can't feel it, you may forget it...

larry <><

 

[red]

Welcome to the forum.


Red

 

[ScottM]

Larry thanks for your intro. Sorry you are having so many issues in your "golden years".