Thank you sooooo much PacificStar for all of the wonderful suggestions. Some of them apply to me, some don't, but I will definitely look into some of the agencies you mentioned.

I am blessed that I can still care for myself quite well on most days. The days I can't, I have my man to help me. He's supported me financially, physically, and most importantly emotionally throughout this whole ordeal. I had just met him after the initial injury and before I knew how bad it was going to get. I had no idea that we'd go from strangers to friends to lovers in such a short span of time, but they say God puts people in our lives for a reason so I'm positive this guy was an angel sent by my Dad, delivered to me at my time of need. He walks the dog when I can't, and he never complains about my current limitations. I could not be any luckier.

Notice I said "current" limitations! I WILL beat this thing. It's going to take some doing, but the doing will get done! It might get done a little slower than I'd normally function, but it will get done nevertheless.

I still have my sense of humor at least. And my intelligence. And support from family and friends. And my most awesome dog Trot! I have so many things to be thankful for that I just try to stay focused on that. And baseball! My team (the Boston Red Sox...GO SOX!!) are in the World Series right now! For many it's just a game, but not for me. There's deep meaning behind it (has to do with my late father... R.I.P Dad )and even more so this year, for me anyways. When I think about how hard my life has become, I concentrate on how hard a player or a team must work to overcome obstacles and fight for what they hope to accomplish. There is no quit. There is no backdown from challenges. There is show up and play the game and do your best. That's all we can hope for...in baseball and in life!

And so I'm abandoning the garage and Mingle for a few hours shortly to go watch game 3. Win or lose, they will try their best. And win or lose, I won't stop battling to get back to the kind of life I want to live where I can actually throw a baseball instead of just watching it! I'll still watch my Sox of course. Have I mentioned I'm a huge Sox fan?!?!

Anyways, thanks for the response and the offer to email ya if I want more info. Really appreciate the input.

Good for you! Congrats Cali. Hope it works out for both of you.

Well said Mg! You are a wise man.

I especially like waking up to Folgers in my cup!

But even without my coffee, I've learned that any day above ground is a good day.

I've learned too many lessons to list. Probably the most important is to appreciate the little things in life. Saying I'll be happy when... (insert whatever you want here) ... is pretty much useless.

There's an old commercial with a little old lady talking about how she wakes up everyday and has two choices. "I can be happy, or I can be sad" she says, "I choose to be happy." I have no idea what the commercial was for but I'll never forget that little old woman or her words.

I strive to live like that, to think like that. I don't always succeed, but I do believe that stuff happens for a reason and it's all just a matter of perspective and choices. Even in my darkest days, I try to find something to be thankful for. It's actually quite easy once you set your mind to it!

Now if my mind would just stay there once I set it there...dang thing likes to take off on me sometimes! Little sucker's quick too!

Great list!!

I particularly dig the last three.

May I just suggest that if you ever encounter a pool table that needs to be flipped, you rely on yourself to get some big dudes to help you flip it, lest you end up relying on someone else to do even the simplest things like pull up your own underwear.

I learned my lesson. Now I rely on others for help when I need it and I'm not afraid to ask. Took something drastic but I think I got it now.

You two are too much!

I will really laugh if Painted finds a 48"x12"x5" FedEx box on her doorstep shipped from India that smells a bit odd next week.

Thanks for the laugh.

You're gonna get a list a mile long depending on the man. Some want it all. Some want very little. Some say they want one thing but they really want another. Good luck figuring out what guys want. Better to just figure out what YOUR GUY wants.

Having said that, I find that ALL guys (and girls for that matter)seem to want the same basic things really, and coincidentally they all start with the letter A...

Attention
Affection
Acceptance
And a piece of ______ (hint, you have starting letter, add SS)

To get that requires just a few basic things, and coincidentally they all start with the letter C...

Communication
Compromise
Commitment
Compassion

Disclaimer: Lists not in any particular order. I do not speak for everyone. This is just my observation.

So one has to be simple minded to have simple needs???

I disagree with that. I think ya gotta be fairly sharp to subscribe to the "keep it simple stupid" philosophy when it comes to what you want or need. Maybe I'm just too simple minded to know better? Silly me!

I'm not subservient either. He doesn't drag me by my hair to the cooking area of the cave and scream "Make me sammich woman!" or "Get me beer biotch". THAT would be cave...errr...ANCIENT cavemanish. I'd club him if he did that!

I'll keep my simple minded man, 'cause pleasing him is pretty dang easy. He's above average intelligence, smoking hot body, and a really decent genuinely great guy. He doesn't ask for much to be happy. Plus if he's happy, he tries a whole lot harder to make me happy, so it's a win-win situation.

I knew SOMEBODY would take offense. I am not saying ALL men are simple. I'm saying most men have simple needs. And meeting simple needs is...well...simply simple.

Sorry if I offended you Oh Complex One!

Ha! That's what I thought too! Who knew?

Maybe I wore him out in the beginning and he needs a breather now. I dunno. I swear I almost fainted one night when he said "No baby, not tonight, you gotta be in the right mood for sex!"

Say what?

I checked to make sure his little buddy was still attached to his body, felt his forehead, no Malaria like fever. Chalk it up to "we're in love now, I don't have to put out daily anymore" syndrome. And here I thought having a significant other meant I'd get sex on demand. Foolish girl. What was I thinking?!?!

I'm definitely eliminating number 6. If the dude doesn't have any insides, I'm guessing he's not breathing and that accounts for why he's doubly low on the outside.

Nope. I'm in a long term relationship now.

I look at it like this. If all my man needs me to do to make him happy is fix him a sandwich after sex, or fetch him a beer and deliver it to him topless, what's wrong with that? I'm more than happy to oblige. It's not like he's asking me to do hard physical labor, or use excessive brain power, although I'm more than capable of doing both.

When you ask women what they want from men, you get things like emotional understanding, financial support, physical strength and intellectual stimulation, and the list goes on and on. Ask men what they want from women and it's a cold beer, sex, and a sammich after. I don't understand what all the fuss is about. I mean, how much easier can they make it for us. All I gotta do to keep my man happy is put out, feed him, and be nice. It's not rocket science! I hope the hell the demands from men stay this simple. If they start asking for all the crap we ask for, I might as well switch sides and start dating women!

Sorry! I know this was supposed to be what a man wants from a woman but thought I'd throw in my take on the situation since some other woman seem to think these demands unreasonable. I'm happy to provide these few things to keep my man happy, 'cause if he's happy, I'm getting laid and I'm happy. What could be better than that?!?!

And I was so sure you were just gonna say "show me her (.)(.)s whenever I want!" You disappointed me JT!

Honestly is my answer for the first question. Second one...you know what they say about assume? Makes an *** out of you and me...better to communicate your intent. Third one...depends on if you love them and how long you've been together.

Trust is important in a relationship. Some believe once it's gone, you can never get it back. I disagree. Both have to acknowledge there is a problem though and want to fix it. This isn't easy but it can be done.

Good luck to you whatever you decide.

Wow! Bitter much Crystal? Good Lord woman. Did you happen to see the very first post? Pretty sure it said "Men, add your input." So they do and you go off on them about going off on us! Since when does two wrongs make a right?

I'd just leave 'em alone to gripe here. For one, you're not a man! For two, what's so bad about what they want? Seems fairly realistic to me. I personally know lots of women that treat current boyfriends in accordance to how past boyfriends treated them which is just not fair. Same goes for women that want a man for his money and relish the princess complex. They're not looking for a partnership, they want to be taken care of and love being just arm candy. To each their own but it's gotta be just as hard on guys finding decent caring women as it is on women finding decent caring guys.

Why jump in a thread asking for mens' opinions and throw a tantrum about what they're saying? That seems pretty childish if ya ask me, and it makes ya look like a raging biotch. You might as well take your own advice and deactivate. Or go take a Pamprin or something. Sorry, but if you can dish it out, you should be able to take it as well.

As a matter of fact...

Now have ya ever seen a naked guy with a stiffy trying to run? I was laughing so hard I couldn't get very far or go very fast!! So hysterical!

I'm efficient. The other night I did both at the same time. Threw on the french maid outfit. My man got all like this... ...so I was like "Just kidding!" and ran away.

I love Halloween!

I don't know if he's taking my calls anymore after that whole stalking incident. I swear I just wanted an autograph!

How 'bout them Bruins?!? They won again tonight by the way.

I know you're thrilled. Contain your excitement young man! Do not do this...

Dodo...Thanks for sharing your story. It's nice to know I'm not the only one that's gone through this. Sometimes it feels that way, even though I know it's not true, that many people get permanently injured and learn to cope. You are lucky to have your faith in God. And I'm glad you finally got SSDI (it takes forever!!!!) I'll figure this out. Don't know if my injury is permanent, if the pain will ever go away. I've prayed that it will, but I've now come to the conclusion that I shall pray for the strength to bear it better instead. My life isn't over, it's just different now. That's how I gotta look at it. We are blessed to be here! Both of us. Even though you eat cats!

Thanks again for your support and advice!

Jack...Thank you also for the response. You're right. The humiliation is the hardest part for me. Never been the materialistic type so the lack of money isn't really that hard. It's more the lack of a purpose in life that has me running circles in my mind. I've never done anything but work hard my whole life. I'm not an idle person, or at least I didn't used to be!! Now I'm about as active as a snail on Valium!

I'm not currently on pain meds. Wish I was. I'd be able to work possibly if I had them. I've gotten them a couple of times and they help somewhat. I know they don't solve the issue, only mask the pain, but if they allowed me to get back to work, I'd take them regularly. Nerve pain from what I suspect are destroyed discs in my back/neck keep me on ice most of the time, literally. I can't exactly apply for work like this...some days I can't even lift my arms due to the pain. Gotta get the neck issue resolved, or at least get some relief even if it is pharmaceutical. Then I'll be back at it. Gonna suck big time to start all over again from the bottom, but I've done it before and I will do it again. I'm the friggen little engine that could...I'm just chillin' in the depot right now.

Thanks much for taking the time to share. Means a bunch to me.