[eskielover]

Originally Posted by AdamAW

Dear eskilover,

well done for trying to remain level-headed in the face of difficulties. You seem to be managing to maintain a sensible and pragmatic attitude and I admire you for this.

I will use Pay Pal to send in a donation. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to give something back to the Psych Central community.

Best Wishes,
Adam

((((((((Adam)))))))),

Thank you for your compliment......I am amazed that is looks level-headed from the viewpoint of others.....my insides aren't really feeling that way.....but I try to approach everything in life logically & try to let God's guidance help me know what is needed & then I start searching & turning over the stones that are in the path & taking it one step at a time. Good sound logical thinking I have found has alway helped throughout my life.....maybe that is why I ended up being s firmware/software programmer for so many years.....that logical sequential mind just keeps working....~knocks on head to see if logic still there~

Thank you very much for your donation & your support.....Know that your support & replies on the forums also gives back to PC......that is what is so wonderful about PC...it is a 2 way street.....where we can give & get support as we are able to......what a wonderful site DocJohn has provided for us here.

Thank you again for your support & your kind words,
Debbie

[eskielover]

Originally Posted by muffy

(((eskielover)))))) done hope it helps . take care of you . Im sorry things have been so hard.

(((((((muffy))))))),

Thank you so much for your support.....& kind thoughts.....Thanks to the kindness here from you & all the other wonderful friends here, it helps get through the hard times......the kindness of caring emotionally & on the financial end when possible.....is beyond anything I ever imagined.

Many deep thanks,

Debbie

[eskielover]

(((((((((Monty_girl))))))).....fellow kentuckian,

Debbie, so sorry to hear about the hard situation your in. I completely understand. I've been out of work for 2 years now and just recently started getting disability. But not before I lost everything and filed for bankruptcy. If it wasn't for family buying us food and paying our electric over this last year we wouldn't of made it.

What a rough 2 years it has been for you....glad you are on disability now.....it definitely helps.....I have been on disability since 1994....it helps, but definitely isn't like having a career......but that isn't an option now. Glad you family is there to help you with the food & electric....those 2 things are the worst....I have cut my food bill back to make sure my dogs are ok.....but we are both on the hot dog/ ketchup soup diet (not really that bad honestly)

Have you talked to the electric company about paying part of your bill? Our's down here let us make payments. One month of our electric bill was over $300 for just one month. You can also get them to set your electric bill to one price if you had them for a year. They like average your bill out over a year so you don't get hugh bills.

Have talked to the electric company...they are complete jerks Had to tell them I would have to rob a bank to pay the money they wanted before they would listen. Have since talked to the public utilities commission. The bad compressor caused me to have to use the emergency heating part of the unit as it was all that was working. First month....$703....second month $684, third month $502, fourth month $408....while the jerk wouldn't install the compressor....first excuse....sent out the wrong one...then on back order.....then it was too cold & couldn't install it or it would ruin the sweat in the line from the welding would damage the compressor....then the ice storm.....then the hurt back, then the neice died of cancer, then another family member died, then he was sick.....on & on & on.....finally applied more force & got more stupid maneuvers.....ready to let him have it by then & it only got worse from that.

Is it your heating unit that got jacked up? If you have to get it replaced our friends heat pump went out on them and since they were low income the electric company had a program that replaced their pump and they make small payments on their electric bill for the new unit. The pumps are great I love them. Heat in the winter and AC in the summer which you know is a must have in Kentucky.
It was a brand new unit he was supposed to be installing....will see what the inspector has to say when I get them out here.

Trying to think of other things that could help you. You know to talk to the Community Action in your area, they also do weatherization to your house to help cut down on your energy bills. If your low income you qualify for that as well. They do insulation and seal up cracks around your windows, things like that.

Yes, went to community action just found out about them from a neighbor a few weeks ago....I do just qualify for the weatherization program & will get on that as soon as I get through this mess....that is a wonderful program....had heard about in on the radio & never thought I would qualify, but community action told me & I do.....sadly, their financial support for winter electric bills ended in March....out of luck there on that

http://kaca.org/WhatWeDo/EnergyAssis...6/Default.aspx

I wasn't sure of the county you live in, so I just have the list. Contact them and talk to them about your situation. If you know ahead of time which programs you may need you'll get help faster. People just tend to help you for the things you ask about and don't tell everything you may qualify for.
http://kaca.org/Agencies/AgencyList/...2/Default.aspx

I hope this helps. I'm not able to make a donation, but I can donation my time. And if all else fells, I have an extra room.

Thank you for the links....I have already poked around the community action one but they have led me to other ideas....thinking about contacting my congressman to see if he knows of any help anywhere on any part of my situation. Also might help with our whole area's too high electric bill problem.....everyone had bills that were way to high all winter....over $100 higher each month than the other electric companies bills around here....something wrong there.

Want to let you know how much I appreciate your support, the links & the time you have spent looking into ideas that can help......your help is very much appreciated....being new here to KY....all this stuff is so new & until just a few weeks ago, had no idea where to turn for help (never needed help before so it's a strange feeling in the first place). Your donation of time & ideas is very valuable & very much appreciated.

Hopefully I won't need a room.....have too many rooms as it is in the house....thank heavens I have a basement....we may all (me & my 6 doggies) end up in the basement for cool this summer until I get the unit completely fixed.


Debbie

[eskielover]

Originally Posted by shezbut

eskielover,

I wish that I could assist you financially, my income is strongly restricted. It's wonderful that this site has recognized the situation you have fallen into and are raising some funds to help you through! I hope that your church and Salvation Army are able and willing to donate a significant amount of money to ease your suffering.

You are in my thoughts. Very best wishes to you and your family!
Shez

((((((Shez)))))))),

Just want to thank you for your thoughts & wishes.....to let you know how much they are appreciated & gratefully accepted. They are as necessary to get through situations like this as the monetary donations & equally appreciated.

I know how it is to have a tight budget.....It is a blessing that DocJohn has set up a way to help out with emergencies like this & others......& what a caring loving community that offers the support in whatever way possible. I feel truly blessed.

Thank you again for your thoughts & wishes,

Debbie

[chalmette70043]

((Eskie))) I really wish i could help you out money wise. I can't so im going to send you hugs and good thoughts and a wish for a fast end to this. Hopefully within a day or two your electric is back on. Living without electric isnt fun. A basic necessity we all take for granted.

((((((Eskie)))))))))

love ya
chal

[eskielover]

Originally Posted by chalmette70043

((Eskie))) I really wish i could help you out money wise. I can't so im going to send you hugs and good thoughts and a wish for a fast end to this. Hopefully within a day or two your electric is back on. Living without electric isnt fun. A basic necessity we all take for granted.

((((((Eskie)))))))))

love ya
chal

((((((chal)))))),

Just want you to know how much your hugs & good thoughts are appreciated & how much they do mean to me.....the wonderful emotional support is very important in getting through situations like this. also.....& just as valuable to me too. The electric is on at this point....it has been shut off 2 times already....once for the lack of money on my part....waiting for the paperwork (that never was available) trying to get help from the manufacturer.....then because the guys check bounced & he said he took care of when he didn't.....so I ended up paying a large amount them which I was only luck enough to have extra money from an extra one time disability check......they they have set the payments up so high I can't pay them.....so trying to get that negotiated down by paying more money to them....just don't have $500 to give to the electric company every month until it's paid off.

Just got a little one time help today from the Salvation Army for this months bill.....will see how things go.

Thank you for your thoughts & kind wishes,

Debbie

[(JD)]

Hoping the fund drive is going well...

..I am amazed that is looks level-headed from the viewpoint of others.....my insides aren't really feeling that way.....but I try to approach everything in life logically & try to let God's guidance help me know what is needed & then I start searching & turning over the stones that are in the path & taking it one step at a time.

Isn't that what good self care is all about? Using cognitive skills and not relying upon feelings.... though we tend to think that what we are feeling is the truth, when in reality what we are thinking and doing is the truth.

[Malady156]

How goes the drive?

Can't wait to hear how much $$$ we've put together for Eskie and when she will be getting a cheque in the mail!!!

[SeptemberMorn]

Looking around in amazement! WOW!! Look at all this support you're getting, Debbie! Doesn't it just make you feel all warm and fuzzy inside?

Want you to know I'm doing my part, too, including prayer and good thoughts.

[eskielover]

Originally Posted by SeptemberMorn

Looking around in amazement! WOW!! Look at all this support you're getting, Debbie! Doesn't it just make you feel all warm and fuzzy inside?

Want you to know I'm doing my part, too, including prayer and good thoughts.

Tomi,

I know......I can't thank everyone enough. I am overwhelmed with gratitude for all the prayers, kind thoughts, support & well wishes along with wonderful suggestions & ideas on handling the actual actions I need to take to see how & what I can do to hold the guy accountable however I can in the legal/business world.

Yes, the "warm fuzzies inside" is a good description of the feeling. The love & caring that is poured out by this community for each other is the most awesome I have seen or could have imagined existing in an internet community. I have told my friends about how wonderful everyone is here & how much support there is between all the members & they are just amazed also.

I can count on your direct hot line when it comes to your prayers.....want to acknowledge how much I appreciate your prayers & good thoughts. I know your support is endless as your heart for all here at PC & thank you for that.


Debbie

[nightbird]

Dear ((((Debbie)))))

I wanted to send you more warm fuzzies and hope that this situation is well in hand with a bit of help from those that love you.

You are so very supportive to so many, I am touched by the outpouring of support to you ~ but then again ~ this is PCentral, a quite unique and wonderful community thanks to people like you. xo

Best to you in your endeavors to straighten out this bad experience and move forward with your precious life.

Be well and Stay Determined,
Peace and Love,
Night
xoxoxo

[eskielover]

Originally Posted by nightbird

Dear ((((Debbie)))))

I wanted to send you more warm fuzzies and hope that this situation is well in hand with a bit of help from those that love you.

You are so very supportive to so many, I am touched by the outpouring of support to you ~ but then again ~ this is PCentral, a quite unique and wonderful community thanks to people like you. xo

Best to you in your endeavors to straighten out this bad experience and move forward with your precious life.

Be well and Stay Determined,
Peace and Love,
Night
xoxoxo

Dear ((((((((Nightbird))))))))),
Thank you for sending more warm fuzzies......They are so appreciated. The warm fuzzies feel wonderful at a time like this. Even my 6 little white fuzzies (eskies) aren't able to provide the amount of warm fuzzies this outpouring of support is to me.

I know how aware you are of the wonderful support especially emotionally everyone here at PC is all the time, but especially the outpouring of the support & caring when a crisis situation (not sure that is exactly the righ word for it) arises in the life of one of her members.

This is definitely a most wonderful & unique community. I know how supportive you continually have been throughout all your own serious health issues you are dealing with. How much we all have gained both by being able to give support to you & the wonderful graceful way you have of returning that support for us to gain from all you have gone through.

I think this is the perfect picture of PC.....where we all have our own serious issues we are dealing with & band together as one close family in the caring & love we feel for each other. There is nothing like it that I have ever experienced. I know it is the love & kindness from within each one here....that pours over the community.

I know your special kindness, love, & support is what helps provide the community with the ability to pour out it's support all the time, but especially at times like this & with others who are at critical times in their lives.

I can honestly say that this support both emotionally & financially has made the biggest differenct in my situation. I have been touched beyond words at this outpouring of love & kindness that has allowed me to get through this situation. Not only that, but it has made a huge difference in the way the electric coop has been willing to work with me through the rest of what is owed.

Blessings of peace & health & determination
Debbie

[FooZe]

Is it too soon for a progress report -- a "thermometer" graphic or something?

[DocJohn]

Hi folks,

Just wanted to give you an update on the progress of this Community Fund Drive! Congratulations, we've hit our goal of $500, the maximum we allow such drives to attain. This includes donations that have been pledged that we plan on receiving by regular mail. If we receive any additional money, we will also forward that along to eskie.

THANK YOU ALL for helping out with this drive. We had over 24 people give money for this drive, which shows you the open hearts and willingness to give and help our, even in tough economic times such as these.

I am always humbled by the generosity of our community, and feel grateful that I can be a part of this.

If you've given and are not yet recognized as PC Supporter ("Premier Poohbah"), drop me a PM and I'll grant you access to the forum.

Thanks again,
DocJohn

[eskielover]

Originally Posted by DocJohn

Hi folks,

Just wanted to give you an update on the progress of this Community Fund Drive! Congratulations, we've hit our goal of $500, the maximum we allow such drives to attain. This includes donations that have been pledged that we plan on receiving by regular mail. If we receive any additional money, we will also forward that along to eskie.

THANK YOU ALL for helping out with this drive. We had over 24 people give money for this drive, which shows you the open hearts and willingness to give and help our, even in tough economic times such as these.

I am always humbled by the generosity of our community, and feel grateful that I can be a part of this.

If you've given and are not yet recognized as PC Supporter ("Premier Poohbah"), drop me a PM and I'll grant you access to the forum.

Thanks again,
DocJohn

First, I want to thank Doc John for listening & understanding my need & for arranging the Community fund drive. How thankful & blessed we feel as a community that you have acknowledged this type of need does occur & have made a system like this available when someone is in desperate need of help. A system where the contributions are matched for extra help takes a lot of extra effort & planning & accounting added to the directing of this site. I think something we take for granted until we actually find ourselves in need of this kind of help.

I know for me, it was the hardest thing to do was to ask for financial help....a place I have never been in before. I kept holding onto the understanding that those who were responsible (the manufacturer, the installer) were going to step up & be accountable for their bad product & the problem it caused. I hadn't even acknowledged that I was going to end up being responsible for the exorbitant amount of my electric bill that I wasn't able to pay as I knew the responsible people would stand up to their responsibility. When it hit me that wasn't going to happen & there was no way I could force it to happen, I had to come to the realization I had to find other sources of help. There was NO WAY I could pay that kind of bill but the situation I was in was a foreign concept to me. I started my search for help & was sure that all the community actions groups that were in place to help with things like this would come through.....but when those doors were closed because I missed their date for help because I was trusting the responsible people to step up to their responsibility, I was really starting to feel hopeless. Finding a door that was willing to help provides the most amazing feeling of hope. This feeling of hope in the middle of feeling so hopeless is something I can't thank Doc John enough for providing. A door that didn't close. I had seen this community fund drive here & supported financially when I could & emotionally when I couldn't do anything financial. I never had the deep appreciation for the feelings that come from the help like this being available & I know that until the need hits, the reality of the feelings of hope it gives goes far beyond the financial help that it provides.

Second, I want to thank you all, the community here at PC, with my deepest endless thanks. I tried to thank personally each one who posted here in this post, but if I missed, please accept this as my personal thanks. Your support financially has been amazing especially in such bad economic times. Your support with all the prayers, good thoughts, well wished, hopes that have been given has helped encourage me & kept up my spirits to get through this part of the problem. Please accept my thanks for ALL the support you have given to me.....it is all equally important to getting through "difficult" (I think that should be "impossible") situations, & making them not so impossible to get through.

I want you all to know though how much this has financially helped. I went to the electric coop on Thursday to talk to them about the contract as they had never gotten back to me about it. When I talked with Salvation army on Wednesday & was able to get a little help from them, they talked with the electric coop & the amounts they came up with were nothing like I had agreed to. The next day, I talked with the public utilities commission & they also didn't agree with mine. So I called up the electric coop, made an appointment Thursday afternoon & we sat down & went through everything. I wanted every last cent accounted for (my accounting college degree was valuable for something...lol) I verified the amounts that weren't accounted for on the bills (as payments on contracts don't show up anywhere). Found out, they incorporated the next months bill into the contract so it turned into a 5 month problem rather than just the 4 (that last month added $169 to the contract amount). The total electric amount for the middle of November until the middle of April was $2623.. I had already paid $1500 on the account, so the amount of money that was still owed was $1123. which they placed into the contract. The Christian life Center here in my town provided $50 from their emergency utilities fund & the Salvation Army provided $90 from their fund for utility bills. When I told the electric coop about the fund drive & that it was around $500, they were amazed just as I have been. That leaves only only $483. on the contract to deal with. They knew how impossible even at $350/month over my normal electric bill would be since I only have max $300 total for my electric. It was amazing how they changed their approach with me when they saw they I was trying to get the money for the bill.....they were willing to work with me on the ending balance the last 2 months by spreading it out depending on further assistance I can find. All thanks goes to the help you have provided to which not only helped with the bill, but also help with their willingness to work with me on the rest of the bill.....just wanting to let you know what a huge difference your help has actually been in my situation. All thanks to that goes to all of you who have supported in the financial end & all thanks go to every ones prayers & best wishes as it help me go there with a much better attitude.

I know for the past almost 5 years (wow has it really been that long) I know I have been here through some of my worst times & some of my best. Through the home care person's abuse to my Mother & my Mothers death, through my illness with the anorexia that after that from the stress I went through. One I will always remember is my trip across the country, driving the moving truck from California to Kentucky. Checking in here at my motel stops every night gave me the drive (no pun intended) to get through that. What fun that was. I have always tried to be as supportive as I possibly can here....I find there is a great feeling in giving support & hoping that some of the support in just a little way might make a difference in any possible way

Much of my life however, I have always felt rather invisible in the overall scheme of life. It seemed many times when I needed support (not even financial) I would turn around & no one would be there or those that were there had no idea that support was even needed. Here, there has always been support through every tough time & even though there was always a little of the invisible feeling going on inside, there was always the support that helped me realize I wasn't as invisible as I felt. This need for support with this situation has really helped me know that I really am not invisible & that there are the most wonderful people in this world who really do care. I am completely honored by the support you all have given from your hearts. My feeling of invisibility IRL is also lessening as my Bible study group has put me in contact with a benevolence group to help me with more of the remaining amount & I will also follow up on some of the leads that have offered also here through the support you have provided.

I will be eternally grateful to all of you for all the wonderful support you have graciously given to me. I hope that I can give back to all of you the support & kindness you have provided to me.


Debbie

[ECHOES]

I am always humbled by the generosity of our community, and feel grateful that I can be a part of this.

Me, too.
Thank you DocJohn and Debbie for the opportunity

[eskielover]

Just wanted to report to everyone that I received the check today in the mail for $500........thank you all so very much. It will be taking care of over 1/2 of the contract amount along with the other smaller checks for assistance I have received.

What an interesting mail I received today.....I finally got the refund check for the propane I had them pump out when I finally got everything changed over to electric.....then I got the bad news.....last year, I found out my husband had made a huge mistake on our 2005 Fed taxes (which he didn't respond to & didn't tell me about until I received a certified letter a year later). Found that some of it was their error, but the huge amount ended up being back taxes owed......so today, I get the California state tax bill for those back taxes also......ouch......somehow, when you are down, you just end up getting kicked by something else. This too will be pass. ~shakes head~.

I am just so grateful for the help I have received from all of you at PC.....that help means even more now.

My never ending gratitude,
Debbie

[biiv]

so glad the bill is that much closer to being gone and that you feel more positive about things.
and can i just say that you re very very much visible here and it feels good since ive been back to know you re still here and doing more or less well (bar financial stuff!). you re presence gives me a sense of familiarity here and security and continuity. all important things for me! so thank you for being you and being here.

[Fuzzybear]

(((((((((((((((((( eskielover ))))))))))))))))))))

[Malady156]

WOOT!!!
happy dance!!!

[FooZe]

Just look at all the Premier Poohbahs assembled here! Thanks, Doc John. BTW, how do I make use of my new privilege, or pull my new rank?

[DocJohn]

You have access to the private Poohbah forum; that's the primary way we have of thanking and acknowledging such support (that, and the special badge you have!).

If you've contributed to this fund drive and need such access, send me a PM and I'll get you setup.

We're also getting closer to setting up the community fund drive in its own non-profit to have future donations tax-deductible. The organization is setup, but we're just waiting on a few minor details in filing the necessary paperwork with the IRS for 501(c)3 status. I'll keep you all informed when this is complete.

Thank you all for your generous support of your fellow members. We're all here in this life to help one another, whether we appreciate that or not.

Best,
DocJohn

[nightbird]

I think that is a wonderful idea to have community fund organization.

This place makes me proud to be here, every day anyway, especially though, at times like this, when we members need each other a little more, or differently.

Did you know that Whole Foods Stores has a drive where their employees donate money (like a dollar a week or something the payroll dept. works out) so that when another employee needs help with a large heating bill, or emergency, they can give them use of their fund ~

It's just one of the many reasons that the Fortune 500 has Whole Foods in the top 10 Places To Work ...

Anyway, it is so very life-affirming to me when others recognize how life has it's ups and downs, difficulties and triumphs.... that we understand this, and respond in such appropriate ways.

thank you Dr. John for having the Fund, and Debbie for sharing her bump in the road with us ~ so we can feel our humanity and focus on someone else other than ourselves!

It's all good ~

Peace and Gratitude,
Night
xoxo

[Sabrina]

I am unable to contribute but I wish you much strength!