Be warned, I am not a professional installer. I am on disability, ie. fixed income, and can't even begin to afford a professional installer. I doubt any professional installers in this high rent city, ie. DC/MD, do pro-bono work. So don't ask me for any secret handshake.

A family member got a new TV for X-Mas. I got her used Toshiba 27" CF27G50 Color TV. Post 9/11, that's how I get most things, hand-me-downs and gifts. I was able to move my good things with me after 9/11. Since than this is the nicest TV I ever had in my bedroom. I need to put it as high up in my room as I can. At the hospitals I've stayed at, I have seen those wall mounted TV's, but Mother won't allow any holes in the wood paneling in my bedroom. So that is out.

I have an 8' ceiling. The tv is 75lbs. Width is 27", Height is 25", Depth is 22". Those were rounded up to the nearest inch. What is the highest a store bought tv cabinet or tv stand can be and still be sturdy? I don't need anything fancy. No glass doors, or real wood. Pressed wood or metal frame is fine for my needs. As long as it can hold my TV safely.

I start at no budget so I can end up at low budget. I have saved $150 during 2002, that I can apply to a high TV stand. I have put together the pressed wood bookcases that are in my room. I should still be able to maneuver around enough to put together a pressed wood cabinet, if I can find one tall and sturdy enough.

Paul

This message was edited by pchlpdr on 12/30/02 23:09.03.

Paul:

Who am I donating money to via the links in your post? And who are the names that I see when I click on the links - who is James Paul and who is HungBrandon Inc.? A guy with a big ....?

Please don’t take offense but I am thinking about donating and I’m sure you understand that I want to make sure that I am really contributing to the needy and not falling for an Internet scam. Could you provide me with some means of verifying who I would be contributing to and what their disability is and what the money will be used for? You can just post it here.

Thank You!

You mentioned 9/11 a couple of times and I forgot to ask how you were effected by 9/11. There were a lot of funds set up for 9/11 victims. Are any of them available to you?

you do not say that a ceiling mount is out of the question....

OPPS..

I am James Paul. That's my first and middle name. I hesitate to give my last name online. Mainly for safety reasons. I totally forgot about the hungbrandon thing. I have a good friend who doesn't yet have a paypal account. We were trying to figure out the difference between a Premier account and a Business account and if PayPal would fit his needs. I have nothing to do with that company name. Once we found out what he wanted to know, I never went back and un-did the changes. For all I know I might be stuck with that business name. I'd hate to go thru PayPal verification processes over again.

As for 9/11.. After my father and mother got divorced and when I became disabled, I was living with my father. He ran a small typesetting business in tower 1. I would give him advice on computers and he would give me spare computer parts as his computers became outdated for his business. Together we had enough funds to make ends meet. But afterwards I had no means to support myself in his place. He didn't have much in the way of insurance. Also since I am an adult, I had no claims on any 9/11 funds. The only place I could move to is my mother's house. (She got the house.) We aren't much for govt. handouts. We been trying to keep my needs within the family. So far all the money I've gotten from Social Security Admin. is money taken out of my past paychecks. Money I worked for. My younger brother came to New York and helped move some of dad's stuff.

My disabilities. They are weight related. They are a result of a combination of things. Back in '97 I started using the diet medicine Redux. It is also known as Phen-Fen. I used it with success until the FDA FORCED it off the market. The manufacturer knew it caused heart and lung problems, but had to be forced to remove it from the shelves. Well one of the effects of Redux was a mood lifter. But when I was taken off of it, it made me moody, forgetful and once so lightheaded as to have a car accident. Only one hurt was me in the car accident. Because of the moodiness and forgetfulness it effected my job. I was a computer tech support for a contractor to a federal govt. agency. Good pay, Ok insurance at the time. At the time I didn't know I was acting any different. It felt as if everyone around me was ganging up on me and I got all defensive. So I ended up loosing that job.

In Jan. of '98 while working parttime for KFC delivering lunches to people, I totalled my car. The only insurance I had at the time was Workman's Comp. While all of my medical bills where paid, the only cash I was getting was like 66% of a minimum wage from a parttime job. In other words just about nothing. The workman's comp coverage that companies like KFC have is designed to provide the bare minimum in every way possible. They give you someone with the title Case Manager. They are not looking out for the injuried person. A case managers number one goal is to get you off the books.

When I had the car accident my car was like 9 years old. I was able to buy a 11 year old used Minivan which I had checked out by a mechanic. I later found out it had a major oil leak between the engine and the transmission. Would have cost 1000's of dollars I didn't have. I bought it from an individual and found it useless to get any money back from him. All I could do was use it as it was, keeping a case of motor oil in my van, pouring in a quart before starting it everyday. I lost the car after going on a road trip to Philly hoping to win a free computer. So I been housebound since then. That's been about a year or more.

Afterwards I was never the same after car accident. I tried to work, but it took too much effort. I would fall asleep at my desk between my tasks. Sweating in the middle of winter so badly I needed another shower upon arriving at work no matter how much deodorant I used.

The most serious one is Sleep Apnea. I also can't walk more then 100 feet without a breathing break. My back aches if I stand more than 10 minutes. My feet and lower legs are always swollen. Social Security Admin has been of little help. First hurdle is that you get no Medicare for 2 years. Period! I have now been on for 2 years. And Bush just cut outpatient care which is how I would get the most help for my swollen feet and legs. I went to the county for Medicade help. They say I make too much from SSA. According to their calculations I would have to spend $5,100 every 6 months before they could help me. See they don't take into account the credit card debt. They don't consider it an essentual living expense, but their credit rating don't suffer if I stop paying my credit card. I use every penny I get from SSA to support myself. Basically I have 3 bills. Rent to mother, Food mother buys for me, and my credit card debt which Mom writes the check for. Close to zero leftover. Mom takes pity on me and lets me keep $50 for misc. things. She works fulltime and has her retirement to save for.

I look forward to.. paying off my credit card, So I could save for a electric wheelchair and minivan with wheelchair lift, so I could go to the doctors, so I could get strong and shop for myself, and drive 4 miles down the road to the indoor swim center where I can do non-joint stressful water exercises.. but right now I wonder if it is worth it. Every step of the way I have gotten burned. Bosses, Case Managers, Private citizen car seller, Big pharmisuital company, state and federal Govt. Agencies, Car mechanics, terrorists, all get too much to bare at times. I have to fight everyone, but family, for everything. I have put myself in a safe cocoon in my room. I can trust my computer, my tv, my phone, and other electronics to work and amuse me until something gets better. I'm told things will. I'll believe it when I see it. Well I am tired. I need to get some sleep. Don't worry about me. I'll survive.

James Paul

I wanted to avoid any damage to mom's house. She is fussy about those things. Just hoping to get advice about a tall sturdy cabinet or stand. Like brand name and model with a high tall shelf.