I can see up the tunnel... and there's sky up there

Okay, first THANKS to everyone who sent messages of love and support. Very much. There's a reason my replies were so short, it's 'cause there were too many to reply to. I suppose I'm at or near the end of the depressed phase. (You know, it's funny, my pains knew this was coming someday) YES, I went through a suicidal phase there for two days. BUT, there is no way I would act on that, I would rather just feel horribly miserable. And I was honest with my pains about what I was feeling at the time I was feeling it. And today, (get ready) I WENT TO GO SEE A PASTORAL COUNSELOR. 29 years of being an atheist... and talking with him for over 2.5 hours did actually make me feel better. It turns out he was a member of WCSC , my sailing club, too! That is, until he was in a bike wreck, and couldn't fly his chute any more (spinnaker, landlubbers). So, some of the things I enjoyed may be different or inaccessible now. I get that now. But life goes on, I choose that, and I will continue to choose that. There will be NO early "so long, and thanks for all the fish" from this corner.

more Duke doctors

So, today I went to the arm tremor specialist. I was incredibly surprised when he asked me to take off my shoes and socks and started feeling my feet. He should expect a dictionary in the mail with all the pages ripped out but one, and the word "arm" circled in red. I was even more surprised to find out that he's a fellow geocacher! And when he asked for my signature on a separate piece of paper, I said "enjoy your new hot tub..."

And yes, I'm still very down about my horrible double vision. Feeling like Marvin the Paranoid Android in the Guide. I've been to 4 doctors about it, so one of these days, maybe I'll try believing one. But maybe (just thinking out loud here) the fifth will see something the previous four haven't. BUT, that is not to say I'm stopping vision therapy, as from it as humanly possible.

So, I went to the Asheboro zoo today (on the way home from the home of the greatest basketball team EVER, Duke). It's the North Cakalaki state zoo, so it's HUGE. (so are those letters- huh) While riding the tram from one section to another, I noticed a sign on the tram that said "No fumar." I was like "well, crud, I brought mine," but dad took it to another level and wisely told me to keep it in my pants.

At one of the doctor's offices in the last two days, I and my parents were directed to have a seat in the "sub-waiting room." Since she had a speech impediment, we all three thought it sounded like the gateway to Heaven and Hell: the Soul Waiting Room. And my soul feels RESTED...

While at the zoo, the solicitor's office called. Whatever would they want to talk to me about? I wonder... Well, long story short == channel four called about doing a story on victims of DUI -- since the state just made it's law on DUI's stronger, and they heard about me through MADD. But, alas, no story on me. The solicitor said "no pre-trial publicity." So from now on she-that-wrecked-my-life (and if you believe 4 doctors, my vision) won't be named here, but y'all will know who I mean. However, channel four is also doing another story I think I'm cut out for-- good looking, single, cute as all-get-out guys between the ages of 28 and 30 (exclusive) who are looking for a date. Oh, and said date must have and be able to use a car, I'm not positive yet that I will be able to. But, since APPARENTLY the vision's not getting any better, I'm "on the road again... just can't wait to get on the road again." And "racin' sailboats again..."

DUKE eye doctor

What do you call a deer with no eyes? (theirs) I have no ideer. (all mine) Properly spelled. A side meat. Roadkill. Redneck thanksgiving.

eHarmMe is all about number 8
First you rate
Then you date
And either you hate
Or it's great
And you hope to mate

When astronauts land on the moon, are they aliens?

What kind of pennies do cops carry?

So, I went to see the Duke eye doctor today for my bad double vision where the image is slanted in my injured eye and sorta moves a small amount. That's after waiting around three hours in two waiting rooms and seeing two pre-doctor doctors. And there was a machine on his desk with the buttons P.O.C., O.V.R., and "Fix" on it. Turn off the "Pain On Command" (or "Pee On Chair", it was a pediatric doctor). Turn ON the "Orbital Vision Rectify". Well, duh, just let me press the "Fix" button and the bad double vision is gone! But... not so much... at all. The doctor said "blah blah blah, sucks to be you, technical jargon technical jargon technical jargon, we don't know of any way to fix THAT, medical terminology medical terminology medical terminology, have a nice day now." So I HEAR people with one eye covered up (i.e. no depth perception) can learn to drive cars. Huh. In three months, helloooo Mayo clinic.

Then, after that incredibly depressing news, we went for a walk around a pond on Duke's campus and saw two girls across the lake with two dogs, so I went over to see if they were friendly (THE DOGS). And they let me pet the dogs and it turns out there was a lesson for me to learn. But first, it turns out they got the dogs from a Humane Society. Go Humane Societies! One of the dogs had ONLY THREE LEGS, because he was in a car wreck. (sound familiar?) But the owner said he had learned to be happy and make the best of what he's got, so maybe I should try that, too. One way or the other, that dog's name should be Eileen.

Well, vision therapy's worked miracles so far, so even though the doc was not hot on 'em, I've proven EVERY doctor wrong so far, so I'm gonna "set my hope on fire."

And I think I'm gonna have very exciting news tomorrow, so stay tuned to the same Bat channel, same Bat time...

There's a Duke t-shirt in my future...

Why are coins made of metal?
1) Because change is hard.
2) Because they're a hard currency.

What do you call a deer with no eyes?

GREETINGS from Durham, NC, home of the world's best college basketball team EVER, the Blue Devils.

On the way here, we stopped @ a fast food restaurant to get a ... c'mon ... guess ... strawberry milkshake (imagine THAT) and for the FIRST time, the person working behind the counter actually laughed when I asked my standard question: "Do you take cash here?"