Thanks for asking, brother Bob. I'm doing fine. At least as fine as can be expected for this time of the year and under the present circumstances.

Each year at this time I fall into a funk (almost depression, but not quite). Anniverseries galore. Weather does not help, either. Rain and grey skies. Dark longer. Add to that the usual post-operative depression most feel after bypass surgery, the VA claiming over $5K overpayment which they threaten to collect in one fell swoop (three months without income), missing my daughter during the Christmas holidays, VA refusing to pay for my surgery (I'm 100% so they should) and facing several $K in medical bills (Medicare co-payment).

One good thing,however, this gives me a chance to screw (read that the F word) with the collective minds of the VA. When Dave visited last he commented about how I really stuck it to them. I love making them look stupid.

I now have the situations above on appeal. They have to do everything right, and they don't even know what is right. They sent me a Statement of the Case, and I replied that it was "inadequate, incomplete and insufficient for me to properly prepare a perfected Substantive Appeal." Now let them figgure that one out and correct it. (Giggle)

Jim