Howdy!

Howdy Everyone!

I am a brand spanking new member and just wanted to introduce myself. I am a, going on 14 yr, Disabled Vet that started “collecting” Hand Blown Art Glass 14 years ago. My fascination started going into almost anything that caught my eye and looked OLD! I learned how to peruse thrift stores from my younger brother, who was a natural whiz at it, and got hooked when I saw my first real signed glass Murano paperweight, after becoming Permanently Disabled. I started to purchase Art Glass guide & worth books like a fiend. Within a year I had a pretty good handle on (or rather EYE) for the real treasures I was searching for and became totally hooked!
I hope to provide a bit of learned knowledge of Art Glass, Paperweights, and anything old, strange, or unidentifiable. I hope I can count on the same from most of you. I would be glad to share some of my treasures that I still have not identified. Maybe someone here may know what I have, but I have found things other Collecting Sites have not a clue about! But, isn’t that the FUN of collecting THINGS?
I have a degenerative medical condition that has left me unable to drive, much less ride along with anyone, so I don’t go searching locally anymore. But, I do try to keep up on the WWW when I can. I have been finding this newer App, Letgo, very intriguing, although it is more like a Megalithic Garage Sale.
I am glad I ran into this site and hope to provide a small service for those of you I can help. I still have a garage full of bubble-packed boxes reaching the ceiling full of “finds” I have to go through, since having to move. It is going to be a REAL chore to even start.
Thanks, in advance, for any help and Happy Hunting!

 

Welcome!

 

Hi KC! Welcome!

And....thank you for your service.

 

Welcome to the forum, KC. Looking forward to your treasures.
Like you, I have a condition which makes going out and finding treasure impossible, but the WWW is full of beautiful things.
A word of advice from another housebound disabled person, don't look at the finds thread. I stopped looking because it started to depress me that I can't go out and find the bargains some others can. Not jealousy, just part of mourning the loss of health. But maybe that's just me. And everyone here is just so nice, a wonderful compensation. We have a great little community here.

 

Thank you for your heart-felt reply! I look forward to interacting with you here!

 

Much appreciated!

 

Welcome KC

 

Welcome Kc,I cant wait to see some of your treasures. I love art glass!

 

Greetings, KC! Lots of Glassies here, but there's always room for more!

 

Thanks for all the warm welcomes, everyone! My wife and I just got a Tiger Oak curved glass curio cabinet that we love. Don’t know much about them, but pretty sure it’s antique. I will be posting an inquiry and photos in Furniture Section, if anyone can help with info or just want to check it out.
Stay safe!

 

Welcome! I have a progressive disability myself, MS, so I'm going to be in your boat eventually. I've already slowed down; there's only so far I can get. it shouldn't stop you from keeping an eye peeled.

 

Wow, sorry to hear that! It seems that at 57, I am definetly feeling more like 77. But I try to keep a stiff upper lip and roll with the punches! The Medical System has recently let me fall through the cracks and I now have to pay for my pain Meds, as my Health Insurer dropped coverage. It’s a shame, b/c I’ve been on the same narcotic for 15 years, by the same Dr. It has been a real struggle with the V.A. too. But, my wife and kids are still my reason for smelling the coffee every morning!
Hoping you stay in relative good health and manage to have a “quality” of life that surpasses mine.
KC

 

Yuck. I'm not on anything at all for the MS at the moment; the drugs out there aren't effective for my version of the disease. You and Mansons may have to compare notes on the pain meds; I haven't used anything but Ibuprofin since the last time I had surgery, and even those weren't opiates.

The current hitch in my giddyap is new glasses that don't seem to be right ... and this was the third try at fixing them. Argggh.

 

greetings
thank you for your service....

 

The Medical System let me fall through the cracks since childhood. I was only diagnosed with two types of porphyria, the root of all my health problems since childhood, at the age of 50, after a whole list of complications including recurring encephalitis.
They call porphyria an 'orphan disease', and boy, don't I know it. Most doctors haven't a clue what it entails, and I always have to check that they are not giving me another 'harmless' pill or anesthesia which will be life-threatening.
Because of the porphyria, I can't take most of the usual meds, they exacerbate the condition. The only pain and anti-convulsion med I can take, is cannabis oil capsules (THC-free).
My doctor agrees with the medication but is not allowed to prescribe them. Here in The Netherlands that is only permitted for cancer patients. I take a high dose, and other costly porphyria-friendly meds as well, so the cost goes through the roof.
My husband is also housebound through medical issues, and has a bad reaction to most meds, except the ones not covered by any insurance....
Luckily I have some knowledge of certain antiques and jewellery, so my husband opened a shop on Etsy to cover the medical bills. I assist with the expertise and take most of the pictures, all great fun, and at a very leisurely pace.

Ok, end of my rant, sorry to go on for so long.

 

Unless you told us, no one would ever guess your health issues.

Always helpful, upbeat and and smiling.

I have not heard of porphyria so I shall now google.

 

Google Acute Intermittent Porphyria, that's the main one.

 

My goodness......I can't imagine being so afflicted.

"Acute porphyria generally causes nervous system problems, including high blood pressure, breathing problems, or red or brown urine discoloration, notes Mayo Clinic. Some people with acute porphyria may experience anxiety or restlessness. Acute porphyria may cause mental shifts, including hallucinations, paranoia, confusion or disorientation. Acute porphyria may cause paralysis, numbness, tingling or weakness in the muscles."

 

Luckily I don't have the psychological instability, but other nervous system problems and severe abdominal pain etc, yes. And when I have hallucinations, I recognize them for what they are. With me that's mostly 2dimensional things looking 3dimensional, to err on the side of caution I take a huge step over a tiny piece of paper.
But you never know which symptoms are going to be next. You think you have a reasonable day, and then the next thing rears its ugly head. A nervous system gone haywire.
I find that looking at beautiful things and adding a bit of humour are the best ways to cope (apart from cannabis oil capsules), so that's why I am here.

 

Consider us, pleasant medication !