The Story of Lori, Chapter 2

[Stottie Girl]

I can do a good curry and teach car maintenance!

At the same time?😁

[Lori Dee ✅]

@Northern Star Girl

I nominate Danielle for the dessert menu!

@Devlyn @Stottie Girl

I can't cook, so anything would probably be good for me. I can't handle spicy either.

We can have @tammy753 sarcastically supervise the seasonings.

🤣

[tammy753]

<s>MMM that curry isn't bland at all</s>

[tammy753]

Sorry practicing

[Lori Dee ✅]

<s>MMM that curry isn't bland at all</s>

🤣🤣🤣

[Lori Dee ✅]

Some people have all the luck...

Belgian student strikes gold worth €9m while digging a new sewer
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/aug/14/belgian-student-strikes-gold-worth-9m-while-digging-sewers 🔗

any descendants of the once-wealthy Van Assche family could all have a claim to part of the fortune.

* Scans family history files for Van Assche surnames *

[ChrissyRyan]

Some people have all the luck...

Belgian student strikes gold worth €9m while digging a new sewer
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/aug/14/belgian-student-strikes-gold-worth-9m-while-digging-sewers 🔗

any descendants of the once-wealthy Van Assche family could all have a claim to part of the fortune.

* Scans family history files for Van Assche surnames *

That was quite the find.

[Lori Dee ✅]

So... { extreme frustration levels achieved }

I received a message from the VA last week that they are referring me to an Orthopedic Surgeon to evaluate my knee. They said I would be contacted within 3-5 business days from Aug 12.

Today, I received a message, dated today, Aug 17th, stating that I have an appointment scheduled at the hospital on July 4, 2026. I know I am amazing, but I am not highly skilled at time travel yet, but I am working on it.

The July 4th appointment at the hospital was when I had my MRI done for my knee. The hospital only does diagnostic imaging. The surgeons' offices are in a different building, nowhere near the hospital (a totally different address).

Originally, the VA wanted to send me to the Colorado Springs VA, but they had no appointments available until September. So, being the clever woman I am, I suggested they refer me to the local orthopedic surgeons, who have access to my hospital records (i.e., MRIs). That way, I am not wasting my entire summer waiting around for my knee to be fixed.

And here we are, mid-August, and six weeks since the MRI was done, and I still do not have an appointment.

Thank you for your service! < sigh >

/rant

[tammy753]

That's sucks I hope they get you in soon.

[ChrissyRyan]

The schedule can be worked out so begrudgingly contact them right away. 
Sorry you are having this issue. 

[Lori Dee ✅]

Thanks, ladies.

I did receive a nice message from a Care Coordinator. She sent me a copy of the authorization packet (dated today) that was supposedly mailed out on Aug 12th. So I have printed that out.

She said the surgeon will review the materials (authorization, MRI report, and images) before contacting me to schedule an appointment, so I should wait another 3-5 business days for the call.

When I do get the call, that will be to set up the appointment, not to be seen that day. Who knows how soon I can actually get in to see somebody.

I could probably handle it better if it wasn't a pain issue. But unfortunately, I use my knees every day, so it is getting old very quickly.

Hopefully, I will have another update in 3-5 business days.

[ChrissyRyan]

Do you get cortisone injections for the knees Lori?

[Lori Dee ✅]

Do you get cortisone injections for the knees Lori?

I had one about 3 years ago. I have a torn meniscus in the left knee. The cortisone injection helped and lasted much longer than most people experience.

Now that I went climbing around in the mountains, it started acting up again, so I asked about another injection. Since the last MRI was 3 years ago, my GP said she wanted new films first.

So here I am... waiting.
😀

The difference is that 3 years ago, it was just the torn meniscus. This MRI shows the tear, and a cyst has developed next to it. I asked for a surgeon to evaluate it to determine if I need surgery to remove the cyst, or if it can be drained and new cortisone injected, or if they should amputate the whole thing, or whatever.

[Emma1017]

I think we could actually do this!!!

A once a year Susan's camp and we could each share a skill. 

What would be a good location?

[Lori Dee ✅]

I think we could actually do this!!!

A once a year Susan's camp and we could each share a skill. 

What would be a good location?

Not Danielle's place! 🥶 It's too far away... from the Sun! 🤣

Sorry, Danielle.

@Northern Star Girl

[davina61]

We did this in the UK till covid stopped it, was good fun.

[ChrissyRyan]

Lori,


Have you used a stamp mill?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stamp_mill 🔗



Chrissy

[Lori Dee ✅]

Lori,


Have you used a stamp mill?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stamp_mill 🔗



Chrissy

No, those things are huge! In the old days, they were steam-powered. They have one at the Mining Museum in Lead, South Dakota.

What I use is a hand-powered rock crusher. First, I break the rocks into chunks with a 3-lb. machinist's hammer (like a mini-sledgehammer). Then I drop the pieces into my rock crusher to pulverize them into sand. It is very strenuous and dusty work.

That is for hard rock mining. When you pull chunks of rock out of a mountain and need to crush them to separate the gold from the ore.

I mostly do placer mining. That is where I collect the gold that has naturally weathered out of the rock and collects in drop zones in a creek. The nice part is that Nature has done the hard work, and the creek washes the dust off for me.

[Lori Dee ✅]

This is the one at the Black Hills Mining Museum in Lead, SD.

[davina61]

Have you tried a ball mill? I bet they are noisy.