My advice: Regroup. Find a small cave, cheap, take the kids, get a stable job (1), quit trying to

Medical transcription is not a "living" - it is a sideline anymore, unless you can find a doctors office or hospital where you can count on an income and count on medical insurance.

Leave the BF - they are dead weight. They wear you out and rarely help you find any solid footing. If your's did you wouldn't be here asking for advice.

I used to think I need to be married - then I began to ask myself: WHY AM I MORE BROKE AND MORE TIRED WITH A HUSBAND?

There were more hours in the day and more money in the bank when I was on my own with my children. We may not have had fancy things but we were happy because their mom was happy - ME.

Again, don't use 3 PT/transcription jobs or even 1 FT and some PTs to say you are making it. Either bring your budget down to living on the 1 FT and let the PT be the discretionary income (extra for savings, emergencies, etc), or leave transcription entirely. MTing is a losing proposition at this time. Unless of course, like I say, you are in a stable place like a hospital. And don't COUNT on the PT to carry you through - these nationals and side jobs are playing fast and loose with paying people or providing any security at all.

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I need a software program similar to GearPlayer, free or cheap. Is there one that anyone can recommend? I want one that would work with the GearPlayer footpedal I have or with easy keyboard commands to start, stop, rewind, etc.

I ran across a site months ago that had older versions of Stedman's spellchecker for $30 or so. If anyone knows that site, or one similar, please share that info, as well.

I also need WordPerfect, as new a version as I can get, but as inexpensive as I can get, also.

Hi Frustrated, I'm not sure why some people got down on you for what you were asking, but here's my 2 cents. I have 2 small kids and I am a single homeschooling parent to boot. My daughter is 4 and my son is 5. I have been doing MT since before they were born.

I have tried the jobs with the strict shift schedules and I even tried a split shift. None of it worked for me. It was totally and utterly impossible. Then I started looking for the "flexible" jobs which, by my definition, are the IC positions with 24 hour TAT. That is what works for me. I get my work at whatever time I get it, sometimes they send in the morning sometimes in the evening, and then I have 24 hours to get it back to them. I can take care of my kids, do their schooling, run errands, sleep, whatever I want.....as long as I have the work back to them in the 24 hours. I also have 2 accounts of my own and those are flexible as well. I'm not sure if you need benefits, I didn't have time to read through all the posts, but if you can manage without the benefits, then get an IC position with one of the MTSOs that offer 24 hour TAT. Best of luck to you, I know it's not easy with small kids. But I am sure you are doing your best. Take care.

Finally, I've had more than I can swallow at you-know-where and have accepted a job with a better company. I already feel a huge weight lifted off my shoulders!! The ESLs and constant account changes were just ridiculous.

I once saw posts with advice on how to quit without burning any bridges (e.g. what to say, how to say it), but I have spent an hour looking for them and cannot find them.

Would any of you care to share some advice again please? Appreciate it... thanks!!

That's not advice, that's rubbing salt in her wound. Your other piece of advice about getting a loan is basically stating the obvious. I'm sure the OP realizes she may have to borrow some money. I think she was probably asking what should she do about the employer treating her unprofessionally.

Basically, you gave lousy advice and your only intent was to kick her when she was down.

I'm looking start up my own small bus., just a couple accounts, but I need to know if there are any HIPAA contracts or anything else that I should be providing for the doctor and myself to sign. Any advice would be truly appreciated!!

or can just use clear ones if you can't find green. I got a red bottle of stained glass paint that they sell just about anywhere they sell crafts (even Wal-Mart) and got one of the plastic boards that you use the paint with. I made green jello and put in the cups and then took marschiano cherries and punched down in the jello against the front of the cup for eyes. I made scars on the board with the paint and after they dried I pulled them off and put them on the cups. This stuff makes like a static cling thing. I then crushed plain chocolate cookies and put on top of the jello and this creates a Frankenstein. Smaller kids are probably the only ones who would appreciate this. It was fairly easy, though depending on the # of kids takes lots of jello.

Something else I did for a decoration - take a picnic table and turn it on end longways. Take a green plastic tablecloth and cover the table. Cut black plastic for hair and attach to the top of the table, either on top of the green cloth or just above it if your cloth isn't long enough. Take aluminum pie pans and then take a styrofoam ball and paint it and attach to the pans and attach for eyes. Use the above board and paint and make some really big scars and then attach those. Get some of those popcorn buckets from the movies, or sometimes you can find them in the stores, cover with aluminum foil and attach to the table on each side for the bolts. If it will be dark you can add glow-in-the-dark paint to the eyes and use a black light.

I did this a couple of years ago and everyone stopped to tell me how cute it was. I saw it in Family Fun magazine I believe so I can't take credit for it.

Does anyone know the best way to find small MTSOs? I have found that I would much rather work for the smaller ones than the nationals.

First of all, I have worked for several nationals in the past few years, and equipment has always been provided. I currently have a f/t position with a national that I use my own personal computer for, they just put their software on it. I had what I needed already, as far as foot pedal, Expander program, etc.

I have just been sort of rolling ideas around in my head about possibly starting up something small perhaps on a p.r.n. basis just to bring in a little extra income. As I am still just mulling this around in my mind, my questions are: How do I go about getting started? Do I try to purchase equipment first, or start out using tapes? I am worried about spending the money and not having any takers, so I am thinking, I should send out some sort of letters first; but, without having the equipment already, how do I tell them I plan on doing their transcription. Maybe mention tapes first, and tell them I have plans to go digital after I get up and running? These are all just things I wonder about. If anyone has any ideas, please feel free to email me with any advice.

I have been an MT for 16+ years, but as I said, I have always had all of the stuff provided for me and just don't know how to start.

I just moved to a new neighborhood last month. There is a family of 5 kids in the neighborhood that have been playing with my kids, and they are very sweet kids. They are really good kids, never in trouble, and it is very endearing how they look out for one another and never fight with each other.

However, these kids come over every day, and they constantly ask for food, money, toys and Band-Aids. They always want to borrow my son's bike or scooter, and they all ask for food daily. My kids say they have a lot of food at home.

At first I did let them borrow some of the toys, but it quickly got out of hand. I sat the kids down and told them that they were not allowed to ask me for food or money, that it was their parents responsibility to provide that. I told them that if they were hungry they had to go home to eat. They were good for a few days, but went right back to asking again. I also told them that they could not borrow any more toys or bikes.

Today their mother told my kids that they were "mean children" because they didn't know how to share.

I'm livid. I want my kids to take care of their things, and they can't do that if these children constantly borrow their things. I also don't think "sharing" is a life skill they need to learn. You certainly don't see adults sharing their trucks, boats, jetskis, etc. I think it is more important for kids to learn to take care of what they have, not share it with the world.

I feel like I need to talk to this mother, but I'm not sure how to say it without being confrontational. Any ideas? Am I out of line on this one?

Strength in numbers though. I'd never let one of my kids go to the playground on the next street over by themselves, but my parents never let any of us wander off too far by ourselves either. It was always with a bunch of other kids.

Your childish statements including the one about "editing my reports with your eyes closed" just prove my point. Secure, adult professionals do not require a daily affirmation to make us "feel better". I don't need a "job well done pat on the head". Obviously you do.

Researchers from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem have announced today the discovery of eight previously unknown, ancient animal species within "a new and unique underground ecosystem in a cave near Ramle, Israel.

In a press conference on the Mt. Scopus campus of the Hebrew University, the researchers said the discovery came about when a small opening was found, leading to a cave extending to a depth of 100 meters beneath the surface of a quarry in the vicinity of Ramle, between Jerusalem and Tel Aviv. The quarry is operated by cement manufacturer Nesher Industries.

The cave, which has been dubbed the Ayalon Cave, is "unique in the world", said Prof. Amos Frumkin of the Hebrew University Department of Geography. This is due mainly to its isolation from the outside world, since the cave's surface is situated under a layer of chalk that is impenetrable to water. The cave, with its branches, extends over some 2� kilometers, making it Israel's second largest limestone cave. It is to remain closed to the public to permit further scientific research.

The invertebrate animals found in the cave � four seawater and freshwater crustaceans and four terrestial species � are related to but different from other, similar life forms known to scientists. The species have been sent to biological experts in both Israel and abroad for further analysis and dating. It is estimated that these species are millions of years old. Also found in the cave were bacteria that serve as the basic food source in the ecosystem.

The animals found there were all discovered live, except for a blind species of scorpion, although Dr. Dimentman is certain that live scorpions will be discovered in further explorations and also probably an animal or animals which feed on the scorpions.

The underground cave includes an underground lake, in which the crustaceans were found. The lake is part of the Yarkon-Taninim aquifer, one of Israel's two aquifers, yet is different in temperature and chemical composition from the main waters of the aquifer. The lake's temperature and salinity indicates that its source is deep underground.

Among the interesting features of the discoveries thus far in the cave is that two of the crustaceans are seawater species and two others are of a types found in fresh or brackish water.

This can provide insights into events occurring millions of years ago regarding the history of ancient bodies of water in the region.

call her by her first name. The little neighbor girl next door from the time she could speak called her Aggie (my mom's first name), and they were great buddies until the day my mom pased away.

I don't think there really is much in a name, but more in the respect you are given and the way you are treated. Personally, I kind of cringe inside when someone calls me Ms. Anything or God forbid, "maam" (makes me feel like Methuselah!) ... I'm always just plain Merrie. :-)

But, as someone pointed out, to each his own. If you want to be addressed a certain way, you have that right, and people should respect that. I'm glad you corrected the child ... hope it "sticks."

I have been an MT for over 10 years. I also am getting burnt out, tired of my job, day in day. However, I do love transcription and make excellent money at it, have grossed over $50,000 per year the last 5 years. I decided to go back to nursing school and am very happy with my choice. However, over these 10 years of transcription I have had my ups and downs. My biggest issue with being at home working is lack of socialization, being home day in and day out with just the kids and the animals really gets to a person, sure hubby is home at night and thinks working from home is the easy life, thus the return to school and boy has my overall enjoyment of life changed once I realized I was the problem, not everyone else and I needed to find myself again.

1. Get into counseling for yourself, find out who you are and what your needs are, whether or not you think you need to, I sense you are feeling overwhelmed and need someone other than your family to talk to that can be nonjudgmental to your feelings and needs.

2. If you're only making $100 after you pay preschool you can either keep doing it and be miserable, or quit because you are lucky enough to have a husband who can support the family without your income. (See how fast his mind changes just by losing the income you do have as to whether your job means anything.) Or look for a different company or office that you like more and are more productive if you really want to do transcription (lots of fish in the sea as far as companies).

3. Find a local "mom's" group where you can get out and socialize. MOPS (mother's of preschoolers) is an excellent one that is nationwide, they have a website. Also Mom2Mom is in a lot of areas. They provide a once a week time for moms with kids the same age to get together, socialize, (some offer spirtual guidance some don't) and each week a different mom takes a turn watching everyone else's children at the facility that hosts it so the other moms can talk about things they have in common. Every stay-at-home and work-from-home mom needs to socialize with adults, without their kids, or they will have a nervous breakdown eventually no matter how much they love their kids.

Sorry so long but it does get better but you have to take the first step at making yourself happy.