Whats going on?

Gliden07

Gliden07

Well-Known Member
Whats going on with this page?? It was always a hotbed of posts and information! Now lucky if there's 4 different posts a week? Just wondering??
 
I'm guilty of looking to see what to read, but seldom posting. We all need to do a better job to keep the forum active. Great forum and good folks.
 
I've been hanging around a lot but not posting either. I'll post some things soon. I've made a few improvements in my shop and have a finished knife to show. Part of the reason I haven't follows.

This last year has been very difficult for me. After a very long illness I lost my wife of 30 years on May 31st of this year. It's been hard for me to even talk about it. However with the help of a grief support group and my wife's incredible children I'm doing OK.

I've been reluctant to mention this here, though I'm not quite sure why. I know most of the regulars here better than some people I see face to face. I always appreciate support, but I don't want to be overwhelmed with it either. Perhaps that a reason. And it's simply been difficult to put this in writing.

It's been almost six months now and I think I'm over the worst of it. But there are still some very down days.
I know this might be a downer, especially after not posting for some while. But I have some plans and projects going forward that should (hopefully) be more interesting to see and read.

I really appreciate everyone in this forum.

Mods if you would prefer to move this elsewhere that's fine.
 
I enjoy the interaction with fellow knifemakers.
I have also noticed the reduction in posts and interaction since COVID. What is especciaaly sad is that a number of people that used to post regularly, has not visited the site for quite a while. New members seem to have dwindled, and newbie questions almost non-existant. I suspect this is some kind of worldwide trend on these type of forums.
 
Sean Jones said:
I've been hanging around a lot but not posting either. I'll post some things soon. I've made a few improvements in my shop and have a finished knife to show. Part of the reason I haven't follows.

This last year has been very difficult for me. After a very long illness I lost my wife of 30 years on May 31st of this year. It's been hard for me to even talk about it. However with the help of a grief support group and my wife's incredible children I'm doing OK.

I've been reluctant to mention this here, though I'm not quite sure why. I know most of the regulars here better than some people I see face to face. I always appreciate support, but I don't want to be overwhelmed with it either. Perhaps that a reason. And it's simply been difficult to put this in writing.

It's been almost six months now and I think I'm over the worst of it. But there are still some very down days.
I know this might be a downer, especially after not posting for some while. But I have some plans and projects going forward that should (hopefully) be more interesting to see and read.

I really appreciate everyone in this forum.

Mods if you would prefer to move this elsewhere that's fine.
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Can't imagine what you have/are going through. Will be praying for you brother
 
Sean Jones said:
This last year has been very difficult for me. After a very long illness I lost my wife of 30 years on May 31st of this year. It's been hard for me to even talk about it. However with the help of a grief support group and my wife's incredible children I'm doing OK.

I've been reluctant to mention this here, though I'm not quite sure why. I know most of the regulars here better than some people I see face to face. I always appreciate support, but I don't want to be overwhelmed with it either. Perhaps that a reason. And it's simply been difficult to put this in writing.
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I'm so sorry to hear about that Sean - It's good you've got a good support group there. Hang in there my friend.

I know exactly what you mean about knowing some regulars on a forum so well. Their personally (the "real" person) tends to show thru after a few yrs of posting and reading.
 
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Sean Jones said:
I've been hanging around a lot but not posting either. I'll post some things soon. I've made a few improvements in my shop and have a finished knife to show. Part of the reason I haven't follows.

This last year has been very difficult for me. After a very long illness I lost my wife of 30 years on May 31st of this year. It's been hard for me to even talk about it. However with the help of a grief support group and my wife's incredible children I'm doing OK.

I've been reluctant to mention this here, though I'm not quite sure why. I know most of the regulars here better than some people I see face to face. I always appreciate support, but I don't want to be overwhelmed with it either. Perhaps that a reason. And it's simply been difficult to put this in writing.

It's been almost six months now and I think I'm over the worst of it. But there are still some very down days.
I know this might be a downer, especially after not posting for some while. But I have some plans and projects going forward that should (hopefully) be more interesting to see and read.

I really appreciate everyone in this forum.

Mods if you would prefer to move this elsewhere that's fine.
Click to expand...
So sorry Sean...
 
Sean Jones said:
I've been hanging around a lot but not posting either. I'll post some things soon. I've made a few improvements in my shop and have a finished knife to show. Part of the reason I haven't follows.

This last year has been very difficult for me. After a very long illness I lost my wife of 30 years on May 31st of this year. It's been hard for me to even talk about it. However with the help of a grief support group and my wife's incredible children I'm doing OK.

I've been reluctant to mention this here, though I'm not quite sure why. I know most of the regulars here better than some people I see face to face. I always appreciate support, but I don't want to be overwhelmed with it either. Perhaps that a reason. And it's simply been difficult to put this in writing.

It's been almost six months now and I think I'm over the worst of it. But there are still some very down days.
I know this might be a downer, especially after not posting for some while. But I have some plans and projects going forward that should (hopefully) be more interesting to see and read.

I really appreciate everyone in this forum.

Mods if you would prefer to move this elsewhere that's fine.
Click to expand...

Life is harsh, and unrelenting. I grieve for your loss, Sean. She's still there inside you. Listen...
 
Three years ago, I thought I'd be making knives again, rejoined forums, and re-built my shop. i was the most excited I'd been in years. So much for plans. Next came cardiac A-Fib (the uncorrectable type) and it stopped me in my tracks with fatigue that hasn't changed. (Got a metal thingy called an Abbott Amulet implanted in the heart in September to reduce stroke possibilities. It's made by the company I worked my "career" for, Abbott Labs. Check out a pic of the thing. 20 years after I retire and they still have their claws in me, literally. Haha.) Start to finally pick back up from that two year mess and now it's bladder cancer, the aggressive kind. Of all the damned places. It's relentless, apparently. Five surgeries in 10 months and more to follow. Yep, Life is harsh.

Best laid plans... :) I still hope to make a couple more knives and enjoy the inspiration the forums can provide.
 
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bladder cancer? Big time Bummer Mike - so sorry to hear that. Hang in there and keep your presence known here.

I did look up that fancy strainer you've got. Interesting.
 
KenH said:
bladder cancer? Big time Bummer Mike - so sorry to hear that. Hang in there and keep your presence known here.

I did look up that fancy strainer you've got. Interesting.
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Thanks, Ken. It is apparently a relentless cancer but can be slow if it is kept up with. The concern is when it metastasizes eventually, and it will. Ironically, the AFib saved me, in a way. They put me on a blood thinner (Plavix) and I slowly started noticing blood passing. And then a lot. That led to the first cystoscopy, and they found the first tumors. They are the bad, aggressive type, but had not yet penetrated through the bladder lining. Catching the new tumors prior to them penetrating is critical in the maintenance of this stuff. So that Plavix sorta saved me arse. But, can't pee blood forever, so off the Plavix and on that little screen doohickey. Hopefully no strokes. I fear stroke far more than dying after watching my MiL struggle for 18 years.
So, from what I've read, I might live a year with this stuff, but might also live ten years. It's a matter of when the tumors penetrate the bladder and the metastasis starts. I had surgery again last Monday and am awaiting pathology testing. Hopefully we have bought more time.
We'll see. Until then, it's another day and I still have to clean up the back yard daily from the dogs. :D
 
fitzo said:
Thanks, Sean. I am trying my best to take it one day at a time. And, as a matter of fact, I feel a bit better than yesterday. I hope you do, too!
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I do feel better. For me at any rate, some sharing seems to help. You might look for a support group in your area. And one day at a time is the only way to go.
 
Sean Jones said:
I do feel better. For me at any rate, some sharing seems to help. You might look for a support group in your area. And one day at a time is the only way to go.
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That’s good advice about a support group. Thank you! I will look into it. Matter of fact, I can ask the new oncologist about it on Wednesday. Thanks, again, Sean!
 
fitzo said:
That’s good advice about a support group. Thank you! I will look into it. Matter of fact, I can ask the new oncologist about it on Wednesday. Thanks, again, Sean!
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I'm a care giver to my Mom. She can be extremely difficult. Not knowing what I was doing or if I was doing it right or wrong was very frustrating. I talked to a friend in social services and she recommended a help group. I was very reluctant to join but did. Was one of the best things I ever did! I found out that what I was doing was right (contrary to my Mother's feelings), and there were some other things that I should do. Now this dosnt compare to people passing away but it does in the sense that you have a place to go to talk to others that have the same problems as you and although it dosnt feel it your not alone. Good luck you guys. I always tell myself "NO MATTER HOW BAD I HAVE IT THERE IS ALWAYS SOMEONE THAT HAS IT WORSE!!" IT puts things in perspective for me.
 
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