Announcement To SOS Associates: Ayatollah To Return

[Ayatollahgondola]

$username,

A Life Interrupted

Many months ago, I let it be known that I had became ill, and that it was a somewhat life altering illness. I also mentioned that I was withholding the information regarding this malady because I am normally a street activist, and that I was a little fearful making my weaknesses public could increase the chance that they might be taken advantage of in situations where passions run high, and personal combat surfaced. I have changed my attitude about this now, partially because I've gained some footing on my problem and have felt a little better lately, and also because if people don't know what's ailing you, it's hard for them to be of any help when you need it. And I may need it, because while I'm not cured by any means, I'm not too sick to just hang up my credentials for good, and sitting here while our country gets ravaged by corrupt politicians and greedy, power lusting entities as opposed to doing something about it while I still can is working against my health by way of stress and anxiety.

I'll start with the diagnosis. The medical establishment's diagnosis. (More on why I clarify this later).
Meniere's Disease.
It's been around for a century or more. It's a condition that affects the inner ear (balance and perception), hearing, and eye to balance coordination. Those are the primary parts of the body that are affected according to the medical establishment. But many of us diagnosed with Meniere's are reporting a wider and commonly occurring range of symptoms. Meniere's Disease is more a consistent set of circumstances as a diagnosis than anything else. They rule out other associated causes such as tumors, syphillis, and anemia. They don't know what causes it, and there's no cure at this time. When I mention no cause, I should say they do know some reasons for some of the symptoms, but don't know what propels that in the first place. Tiny capillaries in the inner ear burst, and those are the things that control your balance, and the nerves they service are well connected to those that feed the hearing information into your brain. The medical establishment reports the following consistencies:
Intermittent or constant hearing loss ranging from mild to severe
Tinnitus ranging from mild to severe
Vertigo ranging from mild to severe
Loss of balance ranging from mild to severe
Eye to balance coordination ranging from mild to severe
Sound sensitivity ranging from mild to severe
Vomiting during episodic recurrences
Fatigue during or after episodic recurrences
Hearing loss from mild to severe, and ranging from temporary to permanent

I've had all of this, and still have some. The vertigo was some of the worst, as that knocks you down hard. I couldn't walk or even stand upright during what they call "episodes". It is often referred to as the falling sickness from years past. Even laying doesn't relieve it, nor does crawling, moaning, or anything that I've tried. These bouts with vertigo started out nearly unnoticed, but as time passed, A big one hit, and then the episodes escalated in frequency, duration, and scale. During these episodes, the hearing also takes a hit and damage occurs that you either recover from or not. In short, I had 30 minute episodes of vertigo say twice a week and they kept escalating to hours long episodes twice a day. I suffered an intense one while I was driving the truck with a trailer behind me on my way to do a job in Santa Rosa one day, while I was on the Yolo Causeway no less, with no place to stop and extreme difficulty staying in my lane. Not only was this the first time I had it happen while I drove, but it was the first time I had two episodes in one day. It happened on my way home from the job too, and fortunately I was able to make it to my daughter's workplace just south of there and she took care of me until I could drive again. That caused me to stop driving any distance and I realized I could not take on any significant work for now. It was a wise choice too, because escalate it did. My wife would come home and find me on the floor where I may have been for hours, because movement during severe vertigo makes it worse. She'd wake up in the night or wee hours of the morning to find me crawling to the bathroom so as not to vomit all over our bed or carpet. And unfortunately, the poor gal was helpless to do anything for me besides facilitate my move between spots of misery. In addition, she had to try and communicate with me while I couldn't hear much of anything

They give drugs like Valium and Antivert to try and buffer the vertigo, but by the time you notice it, you should have already have taken the meds. They prescribe diuretics as a primary attempt to prevent it, but that has left a lot of us with less than desirable results. Supposedly by reducing your body's ability to retain water will prevent the little capillaries from bursting, but this doesn't seem to work for a very large portion of us, and brings side effects that can actually trigger the episodes. Surgical procedures are next, and that usually leaves you deaf, and may only lead to a reduction in episodes, but not stop them. There's not a lot of help on this front from the medical establishment at this time

The likelihood is, that Meniere's disease has more than one cause. From what I've been reading, I'd have to believe that all of us who have the symptoms didn't get it the same way. And I would also have to deduce that all of us don't have all the exact same symptoms, with the exception to the major ones involving the balance and the hearing loss. So that brings us to the hearing loss first. I have, shall we say, significant hearing loss now. And it's a loss that I couldn't afford. I was already completely deaf in the right side from a viral infection back in 1989. That wasn't at all related what's happening now, but having two ears and losing the hearing partially or completely in just one, is not as bad as losing partial hearing in the only good one you have. At this point, I still have some hearing, but things like watching a movie and carrying on conversations in less than ideal conditions are pretty tough. At this time, I have decided to learn sign language while I still have some hearing left. It might make it easier to learn. While before I had perfect hearing in the one good ear, a hearing aid wouldn't help the bad one because the nerves were a total loss. But now a hearing aid in the impaired ear is probably going to help

Getting back to the cause and symptoms, I mentioned that all of us were not reporting the exact same effects and symptoms. There's a culture of sufferer's out there who have pooled our resources and are beginning to see some similarities which have seemingly led to help. Meniere's has more than one associated driver. Soldiers have been diagnosed with it after being nearly blown to death by explosives, but people not having been the victim of such a tragedy get the same symptoms. What many of us are finding is successes by changing diet. Now doctors will say that too, but only so far as salt is concerned. They tell you to eliminate all salt intake. But we are finding by practical experience, that it is linked to your digestive tract in some form, and that salt is just a minor player. I remember telling my doctor that this thing started out in my stomach, but they treat that as two different issues as opposed to one, and no matter what I said, they weren't listening to me about that, until I got a bit forceful about it. I wasn't eating, and lost the desire to drink too, and food was moving through my system at what seemed a geologic pace. My stomach always felt swollen, acidic, and bubbly. Unfortunately the doctors tend to believe that is a result of the Menier's Disease as opposed to the cause. Not that vertigo wouldn't make you sick, it sure can, but I was only a little sick at first and had no real vertigo, and the hearing loss was so minor as to be an annoyance. The GI tract problem was first. Anyway, the short story here is, I started a log of my daily intake, and read up on anything that looked like a significant link. Over the past two months I have been able to get my GI tract on track a whole lot better than it's been in a year, and my symptoms of Meniere's have planed out significantly. I'm still pretty deaf, but the damage during the bad period is likely permanent. Those are tough nerves to heal, which I learned when I lost the first ear decades ago. But the vertigo has subsided. It's pretty minor at this point, and I feel some strength returning. Three months ago I was unable to work a whole week, and sometimes a whole day. I wasn't sleeping a whole night for waking up dizzy and vomiting. When those episodes happen, you are left drained of energy so much that your facial muscles would droop. Now I'm able to perform exercises every day to the tune of 150 plus windmills, 40 push-ups, 40 sit-ups, 50 deep knee bends, 40 leg lifts and more. I previously had this internal strength I used to tap into to move equipment that weighed as much or more as a car. I lost that, but I think it might return now. The recovery has not been easy, as I had to pay a lot of attention to what I eat, and give up a lot more than I already have. It's hard, and takes will power to beat hell, however that vertigo gives you one hell of an incentive.

I'm not cured by any means. And as some stories go, people have reported getting better for years and having it resurface doubly so. I'm not ruling anything out, but I see an unmistakable connection to my Meniere's symptoms and my GI tract improvement. I still have some balance issues that must be planned around, as there is still the eye to balance thing that can trigger vertigo, and some positions that are uncomfortable in that regard. Maybe they get better, and maybe no, but I'm more confident now about venturing out alone again, and soon I'll be driving truck and trailer. This malady has left my business, what was already left of it anyway, in shambles. As many people know, my wife had to have major heart surgery right in the middle of my own problems. Fortunately the worst of my suffering was not during the worst of hers, as I was able to take care of her while she convalesced, and then she was strong enough to care for me while I couldn't walk, or cook, or even eat. But I feel hopeful about the future at this point, and feel the need to resume some battle position here at Save Our State. Life is short and you have to fight when you're able, because it's even harder to do when you're dead or dying.

Keep fighting, and keep watch for our efforts out there. We'll be back

Sincerely,

Davi Rodrigues
AKA AyatollahGondola

[LAPhil]

$username,

A Life Interrupted

Many months ago, I let it be known that I had became ill, and that it was a somewhat life altering illness. I also mentioned that I was withholding the information regarding this malady because I am normally a street activist, and that I was a little fearful making my weaknesses public could increase the chance that they might be taken advantage of in situations where passions run high, and personal combat surfaced. I have changed my attitude about this now, partially because I've gained some footing on my problem and have felt a little better lately, and also because if people don't know what's ailing you, it's hard for them to be of any help when you need it. And I may need it, because while I'm not cured by any means, I'm not too sick to just hang up my credentials for good, and sitting here while our country gets ravaged by corrupt politicians and greedy, power lusting entities as opposed to doing something about it while I still can is working against my health by way of stress and anxiety.

I'll start with the diagnosis. The medical establishment's diagnosis. (More on why I clarify this later).
Meniere's Disease.
It's been around for a century or more. It's a condition that affects the inner ear (balance and perception), hearing, and eye to balance coordination. Those are the primary parts of the body that are affected according to the medical establishment. But many of us diagnosed with Meniere's are reporting a wider and commonly occurring range of symptoms. Meniere's Disease is more a consistent set of circumstances as a diagnosis than anything else. They rule out other associated causes such as tumors, syphillis, and anemia. They don't know what causes it, and there's no cure at this time. When I mention no cause, I should say they do know some reasons for some of the symptoms, but don't know what propels that in the first place. Tiny capillaries in the inner ear burst, and those are the things that control your balance, and the nerves they service are well connected to those that feed the hearing information into your brain. The medical establishment reports the following consistencies:
Intermittent or constant hearing loss ranging from mild to severe
Tinnitus ranging from mild to severe
Vertigo ranging from mild to severe
Loss of balance ranging from mild to severe
Eye to balance coordination ranging from mild to severe
Sound sensitivity ranging from mild to severe
Vomiting during episodic recurrences
Fatigue during or after episodic recurrences
Hearing loss from mild to severe, and ranging from temporary to permanent

I've had all of this, and still have some. The vertigo was some of the worst, as that knocks you down hard. I couldn't walk or even stand upright during what they call "episodes". It is often referred to as the falling sickness from years past. Even laying doesn't relieve it, nor does crawling, moaning, or anything that I've tried. These bouts with vertigo started out nearly unnoticed, but as time passed, A big one hit, and then the episodes escalated in frequency, duration, and scale. During these episodes, the hearing also takes a hit and damage occurs that you either recover from or not. In short, I had 30 minute episodes of vertigo say twice a week and they kept escalating to hours long episodes twice a day. I suffered an intense one while I was driving the truck with a trailer behind me on my way to do a job in Santa Rosa one day, while I was on the Yolo Causeway no less, with no place to stop and extreme difficulty staying in my lane. Not only was this the first time I had it happen while I drove, but it was the first time I had two episodes in one day. It happened on my way home from the job too, and fortunately I was able to make it to my daughter's workplace just south of there and she took care of me until I could drive again. That caused me to stop driving any distance and I realized I could not take on any significant work for now. It was a wise choice too, because escalate it did. My wife would come home and find me on the floor where I may have been for hours, because movement during severe vertigo makes it worse. She'd wake up in the night or wee hours of the morning to find me crawling to the bathroom so as not to vomit all over our bed or carpet. And unfortunately, the poor gal was helpless to do anything for me besides facilitate my move between spots of misery. In addition, she had to try and communicate with me while I couldn't hear much of anything

They give drugs like Valium and Antivert to try and buffer the vertigo, but by the time you notice it, you should have already have taken the meds. They prescribe diuretics as a primary attempt to prevent it, but that has left a lot of us with less than desirable results. Supposedly by reducing your body's ability to retain water will prevent the little capillaries from bursting, but this doesn't seem to work for a very large portion of us, and brings side effects that can actually trigger the episodes. Surgical procedures are next, and that usually leaves you deaf, and may only lead to a reduction in episodes, but not stop them. There's not a lot of help on this front from the medical establishment at this time

The likelihood is, that Meniere's disease has more than one cause. From what I've been reading, I'd have to believe that all of us who have the symptoms didn't get it the same way. And I would also have to deduce that all of us don't have all the exact same symptoms, with the exception to the major ones involving the balance and the hearing loss. So that brings us to the hearing loss first. I have, shall we say, significant hearing loss now. And it's a loss that I couldn't afford. I was already completely deaf in the right side from a viral infection back in 1989. That wasn't at all related what's happening now, but having two ears and losing the hearing partially or completely in just one, is not as bad as losing partial hearing in the only good one you have. At this point, I still have some hearing, but things like watching a movie and carrying on conversations in less than ideal conditions are pretty tough. At this time, I have decided to learn sign language while I still have some hearing left. It might make it easier to learn. While before I had perfect hearing in the one good ear, a hearing aid wouldn't help the bad one because the nerves were a total loss. But now a hearing aid in the impaired ear is probably going to help

Getting back to the cause and symptoms, I mentioned that all of us were not reporting the exact same effects and symptoms. There's a culture of sufferer's out there who have pooled our resources and are beginning to see some similarities which have seemingly led to help. Meniere's has more than one associated driver. Soldiers have been diagnosed with it after being nearly blown to death by explosives, but people not having been the victim of such a tragedy get the same symptoms. What many of us are finding is successes by changing diet. Now doctors will say that too, but only so far as salt is concerned. They tell you to eliminate all salt intake. But we are finding by practical experience, that it is linked to your digestive tract in some form, and that salt is just a minor player. I remember telling my doctor that this thing started out in my stomach, but they treat that as two different issues as opposed to one, and no matter what I said, they weren't listening to me about that, until I got a bit forceful about it. I wasn't eating, and lost the desire to drink too, and food was moving through my system at what seemed a geologic pace. My stomach always felt swollen, acidic, and bubbly. Unfortunately the doctors tend to believe that is a result of the Menier's Disease as opposed to the cause. Not that vertigo wouldn't make you sick, it sure can, but I was only a little sick at first and had no real vertigo, and the hearing loss was so minor as to be an annoyance. The GI tract problem was first. Anyway, the short story here is, I started a log of my daily intake, and read up on anything that looked like a significant link. Over the past two months I have been able to get my GI tract on track a whole lot better than it's been in a year, and my symptoms of Meniere's have planed out significantly. I'm still pretty deaf, but the damage during the bad period is likely permanent. Those are tough nerves to heal, which I learned when I lost the first ear decades ago. But the vertigo has subsided. It's pretty minor at this point, and I feel some strength returning. Three months ago I was unable to work a whole week, and sometimes a whole day. I wasn't sleeping a whole night for waking up dizzy and vomiting. When those episodes happen, you are left drained of energy so much that your facial muscles would droop. Now I'm able to perform exercises every day to the tune of 150 plus windmills, 40 push-ups, 40 sit-ups, 50 deep knee bends, 40 leg lifts and more. I previously had this internal strength I used to tap into to move equipment that weighed as much or more as a car. I lost that, but I think it might return now. The recovery has not been easy, as I had to pay a lot of attention to what I eat, and give up a lot more than I already have. It's hard, and takes will power to beat hell, however that vertigo gives you one hell of an incentive.

I'm not cured by any means. And as some stories go, people have reported getting better for years and having it resurface doubly so. I'm not ruling anything out, but I see an unmistakable connection to my Meniere's symptoms and my GI tract improvement. I still have some balance issues that must be planned around, as there is still the eye to balance thing that can trigger vertigo, and some positions that are uncomfortable in that regard. Maybe they get better, and maybe no, but I'm more confident now about venturing out alone again, and soon I'll be driving truck and trailer. This malady has left my business, what was already left of it anyway, in shambles. As many people know, my wife had to have major heart surgery right in the middle of my own problems. Fortunately the worst of my suffering was not during the worst of hers, as I was able to take care of her while she convalesced, and then she was strong enough to care for me while I couldn't walk, or cook, or even eat. But I feel hopeful about the future at this point, and feel the need to resume some battle position here at Save Our State. Life is short and you have to fight when you're able, because it's even harder to do when you're dead or dying.

Keep fighting, and keep watch for our efforts out there. We'll be back

Sincerely,

Davi Rodrigues
AKA AyatollahGondola
Boy do I feel for you. This sounds horrible! For what it's worth I may have a milder case of that disease, although it was never officially diagnosed as Meniere's. Most of your symptoms are really familiar to me because I've also experienced them over extended periods of time such as the loss of hearing in my left ear, ringing in the ear, vertigo, and the nausea resulting from the vertigo. I also had some scary experiences with it while driving and it was terrifying, like I was driving in outer space on the freeway, and I would end up vomiting, sometimes in the car. Fortunately, the only symptom I still have consistently is the loss of hearing in my left ear, which is not total. The hearing loss was pretty disorienting for a long time, and I found I had to keep turning toward the person talking to me if he was on my left, but I seem to have adjusted to this now. I really wish there was some way I could help, but I'm no doctor. It sounds like you're doing better right now, and I hope that continues.

[Ayatollahgondola]

Boy do I feel for you. This sounds horrible! For what it's worth I may have a milder case of that disease, although it was never officially diagnosed as Meniere's. Most of your symptoms are really familiar to me because I've also experienced them over extended periods of time such as the loss of hearing in my left ear, ringing in the ear, vertigo, and the nausea resulting from the vertigo. I also had some scary experiences with it while driving and it was terrifying, like I was driving in outer space on the freeway, and I would end up vomiting, sometimes in the car. Fortunately, the only symptom I still have consistently is the loss of hearing in my left ear, which is not total. The hearing loss was pretty disorienting for a long time, and I found I had to keep turning toward the person talking to me if he was on my left, but I seem to have adjusted to this now. I really wish there was some way I could help, but I'm no doctor. It sounds like you're doing better right now, and I hope that continues.

I'd encourage you to get that looked at. This started out for me with just very minor hearing loss. Just kinda felt like it was "plugged up" from time to time. If it's intermittent, it could signal things to come. It also doesn't bode well that you're having both hearing loss and vertigo. As it was described for me after my first serious episode of vertigo, they called it a classic escalation. they can give a hearing test to monitor and chart the condition. Certain sounds will aggravate it or go first. They can also give you a balance test, although that can be hell...or not.

[StokeyBob]

Davi,

Sorry to hear about your illness.

Sounds like a real bummer.

I hope it clears up for you.

Carson

[Patriotic Army Mom]

You and your wife are in my prayers. Get well real soon, and hopefully we all will be in the street soon.

[LAPhil]

I'd encourage you to get that looked at. This started out for me with just very minor hearing loss. Just kinda felt like it was "plugged up" from time to time. If it's intermittent, it could signal things to come. It also doesn't bode well that you're having both hearing loss and vertigo. As it was described for me after my first serious episode of vertigo, they called it a classic escalation. they can give a hearing test to monitor and chart the condition. Certain sounds will aggravate it or go first. They can also give you a balance test, although that can be hell...or not.I guess I left out the fact that I haven't had any episodes of this in about 15 years, so I don't really feel the need to get this checked out at this time. I still have the hearing loss and slight imbalances, but this is hardly my biggest problem right now.

[Rim05]

Gee, AG, I am just blown away.The most valuable thing I have had all my life is my health. At this time all I can say is, I will be back soon. My family had a death in the middle of March, and it was INCOME TAX TIME. Good luck.
Rim05

[Ayatollahgondola]

Gee, AG, I am just blown away.The most valuable thing I have had all my life is my health. At this time all I can say is, I will be back soon. My family had a death in the middle of March, and it was INCOME TAX TIME. Good luck.
Rim05

It is a most valuable asset Rim. It's not the first time I stumbled with it, but I guess I needed reminding about that.

Income tax :mad:
Illegals look forward to it because they get more than they pay. Quite a difference the way American actual taxpayers feel about it, isn't it? Gee, why don't Americans look forward to tax time like these wonderful ,,,uh...immigrants do?:(

sorry to hear about the death in your family. We had one too just a couple weeks back. Stepfather. We were kind of estranged for the past ten years, pretty much over something they were responsible for, but I actually liked the guy. I did have a decent day with him before he went, even though I had been injected into the situation under unfavorable circumstances. I was helping my sister remove firearms from his possession because of his somewhat unpredictable behavior. He was mad at first, but after a few hours, he was treating me pretty well. However......he had a secret that may have buoyed him in that regard. He left me 1.00 in his will ;)

[ilbegone]

I'm glad to see you back, I know that you and your wife have suffered a lot.


Family politics...

We were kind of estranged for the past ten years

However, I do like the old man's humor in the way he extended his middle finger

He left me $1.00 in his will

He was probably giggling when he put his pen to that one.

[Ayatollahgondola]

I'm glad to see you back, I know that you and your wife have suffered a lot.


Family politics...



However, I do like the old man's humor in the way he extended his middle finger



He was probably giggling when he put his pen to that one.

Yeah. That's not working out entirely as he planned, but he might succeed partially, but certainly not fully. Thus far, two of my sisters are not standing for his treachery.

[Ayatollahgondola]

Good News,

I haven't been very active lately due a troubling glitch in my recovery. I had a birthday last month, and that triggered a driver's license renewal. Didn't think that would be a big deal, but it turned out that Meniere's Disease can disqualify a person from renewal. I send in my renewal and they sent back a letter demanding a current DOT physical before they would process it. To get past the DOT examiner, he demanded a letter from the treating physician that I wouldn't be restricted from driving. I had to go back to that specialist and get current on my treatment and condition. All that has taken about 8 weeks. I obtained the documents and passed my DOT exam today!

I wanted to go out with the mobile billboard during all of this recent amnesty talk, but obviously that wouldn't have been a good idea with a driver's license in limbo. They might let illegals off with a ticket, but I'm thinking they might just seize the truck and trailer in my case.
Now I still have to raise some funds to get back out there. One step at a time :)

PS: Even if your license is out of date for a few days, many businesses and government officials don't want to accept it as ID. I had to renew my passport during this period, and the post office didn't want to accept my license because it was one week past the valid date. Be forewarned. Just because illegals get by without ID, doesn't mean bureaucrats and public officials extend the same courtesy to citizens.

[StokeyBob]

Sounds like your feeling better. A new license can do that.

They seem to have a million and one hoops to jump through now. I'm glad to here you made it.


Carson

[Rim05]

Good to hear that the license went well. Being with out the ability to drive would be the end of the world.
Sure hope that health thing will get better.

I have noticed that I can not post with the bold print lately. Can some one correct that, or at least tell me why it will not print?

[StokeyBob]

Good to hear that the license went well. Being with out the ability to drive would be the end of the world.
Sure hope that health thing will get better.

I have noticed that I can not post with the bold print lately. Can some one correct that, or at least tell me why it will not print?

Maybe it is because you touch yourself?:D

Just kidding. I'm not sure. I was able to get it to write bold by highlighting my text and hitting the "B" button at the top.

[LAPhil]

I have noticed that I can not post with the bold print lately. Can some one correct that, or at least tell me why it will not print?Maybe you wore it out, Rim. :D I don't know either, as you can see, it worked for me.

[StokeyBob]

Rim05,

I just noticed on another message board bold can be turned on or off. Maybe there is something in your control panel?

It says what you can do at the bottom of this page on mine.

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

[ilbegone]

Good News,

I haven't been very active lately due a troubling glitch in my recovery. I had a birthday last month, and that triggered a driver's license renewal. Didn't think that would be a big deal, but it turned out that Meniere's Disease can disqualify a person from renewal. I send in my renewal and they sent back a letter demanding a current DOT physical before they would process it. To get past the DOT examiner, he demanded a letter from the treating physician that I wouldn't be restricted from driving. I had to go back to that specialist and get current on my treatment and condition. All that has taken about 8 weeks. I obtained the documents and passed my DOT exam today!

I wanted to go out with the mobile billboard during all of this recent amnesty talk, but obviously that wouldn't have been a good idea with a driver's license in limbo. They might let illegals off with a ticket, but I'm thinking they might just seize the truck and trailer in my case.
Now I still have to raise some funds to get back out there. One step at a time :)

PS: Even if your license is out of date for a few days, many businesses and government officials don't want to accept it as ID. I had to renew my passport during this period, and the post office didn't want to accept my license because it was one week past the valid date. Be forewarned. Just because illegals get by without ID, doesn't mean bureaucrats and public officials extend the same courtesy to citizens.

I'm glad to see you back.

Do you have a class 1 license? Otherwise, how did the DMV get wind of your illness?

Personal experience: There is twice that I was not in possession of valid government issued picture id, even though I had a valid right to drive. It took some time to get the card, and it really screwed me for employment or doing any sort of business.

[LAPhil]

I'm glad to see you back.

Do you have a class 1 license? Otherwise, how did the DMV get wind of your illness?

Personal experience: There is twice that I was not in possession of valid government issued picture id, even though I had a valid right to drive. It took some time to get the card, and it really screwed me for employment or doing any sort of business.
"Never, ever, wear a bright colored shirt to a stand up comedy show."

I just noticed this. Why not, is it because it might make the comedian pick on you?

[Ayatollahgondola]

I'm glad to see you back.

Do you have a class 1 license? Otherwise, how did the DMV get wind of your illness?.

Yes. Class A, with endorsements. I'm required to have a DOT physical every two years, however thanks to Meniere's, it's going to be every 1 year now. They had me either way. Take the physical to renew, or downgrade the license and have to fill out a new application where they ask the same question, which would have brought the same result, except take even longer(DMV is not dumb.Why is he downgrading his license? ;) ). I was fortunate to have passed.
Plus, without the commercial class A, I would be out of class to tow the mobile billboard

[ilbegone]

"Never, ever, wear a bright colored shirt to a stand up comedy show."

I just noticed this. Why not, is it because it might make the comedian pick on you?

I put the admonition up for fun, but there is one time I did show up wearing a bright, red shirt. Every comedian who came on was all over me like white on rice.

For a lot of things, it's best to just blend in with the crowd or not fit prejudemental profiles, like driving a car that looks like a tweekermobile.

[ilbegone]

Yes. Class A, with endorsements ..

...Plus, without the commercial class A, I would be out of class to tow the mobile billboard

I have a CDL Class A as well, I've had it since 1978.

I'm not a "truck driver" in the full sense of the term, there are some trucks I may have to drive in the course of my employment, but that is incidental to the occupation. I used to like doing it, but I'd just as soon have the apprentice drive anymore.

And, actually, its all a pain in the ass now. The DMV is all wrapped up in weight instead of whether a person can safely drive the vehicle or combination thereof. I knew a guy who branched out into teaching and qualifying drivers for the DMV test. He had a trailer which was long but didn't have the weight requirement, so he bought a trailer which had a higher unladen weight, but was shorter. Which doesn't make sense to me, because both trailers are unloaded and the longer one requires wider turns and is a little more difficult to make safe lane changes with heavy traffic. I suppose it's better than what it was, 40 some years ago I heard stories about people getting a "chauffeur's license" with a pickup truck and a horse trailer - in the days of the narrow power band, brownie box and pyrometer no less.

Besides, the DMV burdens class A license holders with unequal treatment under the law, and everyone who sees my license - for whatever reason - thinks I'm some sort of 60k, long haul, professional truck driver - an occupation it's difficult to make a living in anymore.

And, it's not just the driving. Everything has changed, there's loads of chickenshit corporate crap you only heard about from people in other occupations in the past. It would be really nice if I could just find someone to pay me to stay away.

Enough grousing,,,

Is that pickup / little trailer combination you have really heavy enough to require a CDL?

[Ayatollahgondola]

Is that pickup / little trailer combination you have really heavy enough to require a CDL?



commercial vehicle is a motor vehicle or combination used for hire to transport passengers or property or which:

Has a gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of 26,001 pounds or more
Is designed, used, or maintained for carrying more than 10 passengers, including the driver
Tows a vehicle or trailer, which has a GVWR of 10,001 pounds or more
Transports hazardous materials, which requires placards
Tows any combination of two trailers or vehicle and trailer
The Billboard trailer has a GVWR of over 10,000 lbs, although its' unladen weight is only about 4,000. It's the rating that matters to them, not the actual weight.
The first is arguable because there is no compensation involved in many instances, however if they challenge me I'd have to provide proof I wasn't compensated. And argue all you like about innocent until proven guilty; this is an infraction and a licensing issue, not a criminal charge, so the judge/commissioners etc would base their decisions on my co-operation and willingness to provide evidence. (welcome to the quasi constitutional state)
And lastly, I am compensated sometimes; not lately though :(

The last one is something I could live without, if I had to, but it does provide flexibility and convenience. I can tow two billboards, or one billboard and one other trailer, and the other trailer hasn't been disclosed yet, as it is in the design and hopeful funding stage (sorry, classified :) ). And we have an RV trailer, and a boat trailer that can be hooked in combination to go for fishing trips. Otherwise, you have to make two trips each way.

[Ayatollahgondola]

And, actually, its all a pain in the ass now. The DMV is all wrapped up in weight instead of whether a person can safely drive the vehicle or combination thereof. I knew a guy who branched out into teaching and qualifying drivers for the DMV test. He had a trailer which was long but didn't have the weight requirement, so he bought a trailer which had a higher unladen weight, but was shorter. Which doesn't make sense to me, because both trailers are unloaded and the longer one requires wider turns and is a little more difficult to make safe lane changes with heavy traffic. I suppose it's better than what it was, 40 some years ago I heard stories about people getting a "chauffeur's license" with a pickup truck and a horse trailer - in the days of the narrow power band, brownie box and pyrometer no less.

There is a length limit to trailers you can tow with a class C non-commercial license. It's pretty complicated to understand, because one section of the code deals with licensing class, and the other with definitions of motor carriers, ie "A commercial carrier is a vehicle weighing over x, but less than x, and is over 45 feet when coupled together". Once again, you can claim exemptions because the two portions of the code seem to be at odds, but if you get cited, you'll have to go in each time with your proof, and sit through countless idiots trying to plead stupidity, ignorance, pauperdom, or denial before they get to your case, and still with no certainty that the commissioner won't just uphold it simply because they have also sat through the previously mentioned other cases, and are just tired of people trying to escape the system's grasp.

I suppose it's better than what it was, 40 some years ago I heard stories about people getting a "chauffeur's license" with a pickup truck and a horse trailer - in the days of the narrow power band, brownie box and pyrometer no less.

Back then, it was easier with less classes to choose from. All you had to do get the all encompassing chauffer's license was to bring the minimum vehicle to take the test. A 1 ton pick-up truck with two small trailers in combination would do it. Now there are so many that it's confusing even to me. Class A, class B commercial; Class A, class B commercial without Air brake endorsement. Class A, B, C, non commercial, with air, without air etc. So many endorsements too. P for passengers, T for triples, Haz Mat, and more. Gawd...A guy7 can get cited for driving out of class for picking up a load that he didn't know contained a couple crates of bottled gasses or chemical substances he wasn't made aware of on the BOL

[ilbegone]

but if you get cited, you'll have to go in each time with your proof, and sit through countless idiots trying to plead stupidity, ignorance, pauperdom, or denial before they get to your case, and still with no certainty that the commissioner won't just uphold it simply because they have also sat through the previously mentioned other cases, and are just tired of people trying to escape the system's grasp.


What the real issue concerning "infraction" traffic tickets is that the court system is financed by those fines and associated "fees". Only something like 3% of those receiving tickets fight their cases, if everyone fought traffic tickets the court system would collapse.

There is no appeal, except for procedural issues, and the judge, who is is also the prosecutor and jury, has a vested interest in finding the defendant guilty - it's ultimately how his system is financed. He's probably not going to hear cases in a roped off section of the park downtown on a reduced salary.

And the bit about having to wait all day is by design to punish the unwashed rabble, which is unprepared and unrepresented, and to convenience and reward fellow attorneys, the cases with representation are first to be heard. It's a racket with one hand washing the other.

Furthermore, to win, the defendant's case must be really good or the officer forfeits his case by not showing up. There is also prehearing negotiation with the officer to reduce the infraction to a non point offense while paying the full fine, but it seems many jurisdictions are now disallowing that option. I'll hire an inevitably over priced attorney and hope the officer doesn't show, try for the non point option is available if he does, and if I do get the full conviction and whole fine (as well as being fleeced by the traffic attorney) I take comfort in the fact that I have cost both the issuing agency and the court in terms of time and money for the following reasons:

Part of unequal protection under the law is that non commercial drivers get 1 point per conviction, whereas a CDL license holder is slammed 1.5 points for non commercial driving convictions. 2 tickets and a CDL holder is virtually unemployable - unless he's an owner operator and can afford the insurance hike. Plus there is a defacto ticket quota. If an officer doesn't consistently write so many tickets per month, he won't be promoted, might not get raises, and may even lose his job. Plus, the fine is often a fraction of the monetary penalty. If you look at it, there's lots of other stuff tacked onto the fine.

Besides, I'm not a "real" truck driver, I don't want to be, nor do I want the liability for all those endorsements, and I may never drive another truck ever again. But, I have to have a CDL license to get the job and I have to eat all that DMV BS just because I need the frickin license. They couldn't pay me enough to haul genuinely hazardous material, and there is more than enough grief available for an inconsequential, minor mishap with material no more hazardous than an otherwise normal, everyday urban environment but is classified as "hazardous" by unelected bureaucrats operating more from ideology rather than factual consideration.

Another thing that gets me is that the money machine in Sacramento has classified everything with a cab and a bed as a commercial vehicle. So, the owner of a tiny family mini pickup is slammed for higher fees than if the vehicle is a family car, but no one in that legislative three ring circus in Sacramento has yet made the equally preposterous argument that a CDL is required to drive the vehicle. However, I have no doubt that some day one of those elected village idiots will do so and the reasoning will probably have something to do with "climate change".