Thank you all so very much! And thank you for sharing your story, Andrew... I can certainly relate! There are several ways to grow and bloom Hippeastrums, and I have chosen to treat mine as houseplants, allowing them to revert to their natural bloom schedule once the initial forced bloom is complete. Most bloom naturally from early spring to sometime during summer, usually within the early part. Some folks force a dormancy period and opt to schedule blooms during the holidays, and some of us let nature take over. Some growers are lucky and can plant them directly in their gardens without any danger of cold weather. There are as many ways to grow and bloom Hippeastrum bulbs as there are medium types to plant them in, feeding schedules to maintain, etc. We each choose what works best for our own growing environments and needs. After many years of trial and error, I've chosen to use a more inorganic, bonsai-like, larger particulate as a medium, feed with a continual buffet-like nutritional regimen, and allow the bulbs to rest and grow as they see fit. I've had very good results... up until the bug incident. Andrew, of the many, many persons my husband and I know with back, neck, or general spinal issues and accompanying chronic pain and/or mobility issues, there's only one person we know who has gone through surgery and come out the better for it. Both myself and my husband have varying issues with varying levels of chronic pain and mobility... his beginning with an industrial accident that left him unable to walk for a year, and mine from the more recent auto accident. He was also a passenger in the auto accident, and was injured further. We just have all the luck. If I made a list of the many things that have befallen us as a family, you wouldn't believe me. You'd think I was kidding. Instead of allowing it all to keep us down, we opt to joke about it, as if we had our very own personal black cloud of bad luck that rains on us every chance it gets! It's not really funny, but laughing about it all keeps us sane! :-) I wish you the very best with regard to your upcoming procedure, and hope you truly come out much better for it. Living in constant pain with back issues is no kind of life... you're so very lucky to have the ability to get the proper procedure done! You're lucky to have gotten your knee repaired, as well. Without the insurance or the means to seek out the finest in specialists, we're stuck doing the best we can... masking chronic pain and living life one day at a time. Plants have helped me immensely... nurturing them, I think, keeps me moving, and keeps my mind on something I enjoy very much. My husband, on the other hand, has been forced to abandon his career as a college educated industrial engineer, and we get by because he's very skilled in electronics, technology, and the world of computers and that sort of thing. We also help caretake a large farm/estate, so setting our own schedules where we can rest as needed is a big help. It seems we have rather similar stories, and it seems that plants have played a positive role in helping us recover. I haven't tried growing citrus yet, though I have limited indoor space to devote to plants. If everything tender I have in pots can't fit into one window alcove, I can't keep it. My collection consists of mainly bulbs, though I do keep a couple of small orchids, a Chalice Vine, an Epi Cactus, a Pregnant Onion, 2 young Plumerias, and a few assorted houseplants of small size. One is a Ponytail Palm, and another is a small pot of Ledebouria. I keep saying I want to take my bulbs outside for summer... I know it would do them a world of good... but that includes an awful lot of trips up and down stairs, which I'm simply not up to. I bring one Red Lion out, plus the two Plumies. The Red Lion has grown by leaps and bounds, so I know that summering them outside would be the best idea. Perhaps next spring I'll make it a point to carry one pot down with me every trip I make outside... if I can remember! Did I mention a head injury and memory loss were other gifts of our accident? :-) We grow several acres of old garden roses and mixed perennial borders, here... so I do have the outside space to keep bulbs. The only question is whether they'd survive the dogs, the goats, the barn cats, and other critters... some human... that might want to "help" me care for them! Please keep us informed as to the results of your surgery... it's something we have an interest in, not to mention I'm hoping it turns out well, allowing you a better life, less any pain! Time for my daily chores... thank you, everyone... you've been most kind! :-)

A few things to try, Copy and paste the text between the stars below into Notepad. ********************************************************* @Echo on pushd\windows\system32\drivers\etc attrib -h -s -r hosts echo 127.0.0.1 localhost>HOSTS attrib +r +h +s hosts popd ipconfig /release ipconfig /renew ipconfig /flushdns netsh winsock reset all netsh int ip reset all shutdown -r -t 1 del %0 ******************************************************* Now Save as flush.bat to your desktop. Double-click flush.bat file to run it. Your computer will reboot. Note: For Windows Vista or Windows 7, right-click flush.bat and select "Run as Administrator" Next If the above does not work. Windows 7 and Vista From the Start menu, select Control Panel, or Settings and then Control Panel.Double-click Network and Sharing Center. From the list of tasks on the left, click Change adapter settings (in Windows 7), or Manage network connections (in Vista). For a wired network connection, right-click Local Area Connection, and then select Properties. For a wireless network connection, right-click Wireless Network Connection, and then select Properties. From the Networking tab, click Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4), make sure it is checked, and then click Properties. Click Obtain an IP Address Automatically, and then click OK. Windows XP From the Start menu, select Settings, and then Control Panel. Double-click Network Connections. For a wired network connection, right-click Local Area Connection, and then select Properties. For a wireless network connection, right-click Wireless Network Connection, and then select Properties. From the General tab, click Internet Protocol (TCP/IP), make sure it is checked, and then click Properties. Click Obtain an IP Address Automatically, and then click OK. http://uits.iu.edu/page/aiyy

I believe the review interval is set when you are first approved. A younger person with a less serious condition would be put on a tighter review cycle than a person who is older or has a more obvious disability. I haven't seen it, but I think you will be asked for recent medical records or sent for an exam if there are none, and you will be asked to do another daily activities report.

Oakley, I am sorry you feel ignored. You sent your note in the wee hours Thurs. I read it at 7:30am Friday morning but was rushing to get into work early and didn't have time to post. Friday evening was hectic and I did a couple of hit and run responses. But every time I started to post, the phone rang. I am so sorry I missed a response to you. (((Oakley))) Yeah, I did say that my experience was different-- but that was in response to Ded's question about what eye to look at. You said no one looked at your lazy eye.. but I had a very different experience. I guess all my responses to this thread have been pretty self absorbed. This is a major focus in my life right now... and though I opened up here (and with some in my real life), it's one I am mostly dealing with alone. I have fears of what if it doesn't work.. what if the lenses are crazy thick.. will I be able to drive when I am transitioning between regular and prism lenses.. will I screw up my job prospect because there are two interviewers and one eye? As I have said, I have a lot of anxiety rolled in with my eye issue. It's not that I don't care about you or the other people dealing with the same or worse... I am just very much in my own head. I am VERY glad to hear you will be going to the Dr too. I am sorry that you have been affected as I have. Please do make an appointment and let us know how it goes! You can reach out to me privately if you like.. And I am sorry to anyone else who I missed responding to. I am SO appreciative of everyone's responses. Your encouragement and kind wishes for a good outcome mean the world to me. I am especially appreciative of those who shared their own experiences.. and those who are spurred to go to the doctor.