professor mom

My husband and I would like to go out dancing more often (swing, ballroom, latin, ..) and don't know where to go in this area. A combo of dinner and dancing would be nice. Also, we live about 45 minutes south of Pittsburgh and won't go much further north than downtown.

I'm hoping for some good suggestions.

Thanks

My husband's long awaited appeal is coming up later this week and he is considering just dropping the issue out of a fear that they will take punish him by taking away all his disability. He was given 90% disability and is paid at 70%. They denied a few things he did want to appeal. He did have someone assigned to help him originally but the person told my husband he had little sympathy since my husband isn't missing any limbs and has not returned calls to help or give info about the appeal process. Someone else seemed more helpful when talking to him but once you have an advisor they won't switch you to someone else (territory issues?).

My husband served over 30 years beginning with two tours in Vietnam and has not worked at all in the four years since retirement. (It took about 1 1/2 years for his original claim and he filed his letter of disagreement and been waiting for a hearing). Any last minute suggestions would be appreciated. Should I let my husband just let the issue drop?

A girl screamed loudly next to my teen son's one ear this afternoon. There was pain on that side that went away fairly quickly. Now he says that he can hear on that side but not as well as with his other ear. Does this need immediate medical care or should we wait a few days and see if it starts to return to normal?

This will be my first time. I think I am ready but am still looking for tips, encouragement, and ideas for what I should be sure to do while I am there.

My husband retired two years ago after 30 years in the military. Since then, he does almost nothing other than play games online and supervise us (and critique us). We have been married 20 years and have two children. I am 14 years younger and still working hard. In spite of the fact that he is at home, I still do all the cooking, laundry, etc. with no help from him. He cuts the lawn once a week on his fancy tractor (cost more than my car) and thinks he is overworked but he has time to criticize my housekeeping.

I knew there would be an adjustment period but I am at the end of my rope. He doesn't seem interested in picking up any new hobbies or pursuing his former hobbies. Discussion about my schedule of the kids' plans go in one ear and out the other as if they aren't important enough to listen to. I have considered that he may be depressed but he gets mean when I suggest seeing someone. (never physically, just verbally).

I NEED TO GET HIS ATTENTION OR LEAVE.

I found a quote many years ago in French that I loved attributed to Huxley. Now I am looking for the source without much luck. I would like to use this in something but can't without proper source information. I am assuming that it was originally written in English but am not sure.

In French- it begins "Ainsi le voyage est termine et je suis de retour, enrichi de beaucoup d'experience et appauvri par la disparition de nombreuses certitudes. Car convictions et certitudes ne sont trop souvent que concommitances a l'ignorance. ..." (excuse the lack of accents- I don't know how to type them in).

I translate it in English roughly as "And thus the voyage is finished and I make my retourn journey, enriched by much experience and impoverished by the disappearance of numerous convictions, by the destruction of numerous certainties. For convictions and certainties are too often the accomplices of ignorance. ..."

Any help would be appreciated...

Groove has been turned on in my account at work recently. It is an extra step every time I log on and I believe it is interfering with my ability to sync my iPAQ to my computer. I am not using it- and it isn't on for everyone. We are not given administrative privileges at work so I can't go into the msconfig to turn it off. It is linked to my log in so it also bothers me when I log onto other computers in classrsooms and conference rooms. How can I turn it off? If I wait for IT to do it, it will require a work order and a long wait before they send a student worker who may not know the answer.

My husband's elbow is suddenly painful. It is swollen, red, and hot to the touch. He has been doing a lot of work lately and may have injured it but has no specific memory of banging it on anything in particular. Could it be either of the two problems above? If so- how serious is this and what do we do. We are busy moving and he has already been to the ER this week for stitches and a tetanus shot. Is this a serious concern for the long term? (Yes, I know nobody can offer official medical advice via the internet without seeing a patient).

My husband has had chronic back pain for almost 20 years now while I have trouble with my shoulder several times a year. Has anyone tried the (Elaine Petrone) miracle ball method? Did it work for them or is it just another gimmick?

my younger son just came over and unplugged his i-pod from the computer without going in to stop it. Now the i-pod appears to be frozen (on). I plugged it back in and tried to go in and disattach it properly (still stuck).

Help!

I generally enjoy my job but this is one of those frustrating times of the year as I am suddenly receiving lots of work that was due a month ago with grades due Monday. In the last week I have been getting lots of whining emails such as:

- I thought question 3 on the test was too subjective - please change it or I'll complain to your department chair (it was covered in the book, in class, on the study sheet, and in the review session)

- I just realized I forgot to drop your class and am failing- can you get me in your (already full) class next semester and let me sit in and give me credit?

- I'm sorry I forgot to turn in XXX- I need to keep a 3.0 GPA with my scholarship. Could you count my 77average as a B?

Am I overreacting? I don't think I ever did this to any of my profs.

I have had several instances in the last few weeks of my hands/ arms "falling asleep" while I sleep. I have woken to find them numb though tingling and sensation returns fairly quickly as I move them around. In the last 2-3 days I have also had some mild tingling in my hands during the days as well.

How concerned should I be?