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January 2002

Monday, January 07, 2002

I wish that somehow my doctor could prescribe "vacation" in either a chewable or liquid form. I want to go to him and tell him IÌm not feeling well and I want him to take out his fancy pen (that he stole from another doctor at a conference) along with his pad, and write out a prescription for "vacation to the Caribbean". I believe this would help the pain and suffering of millions of people with arthritis.

After spending a week down there with the whole family on our annual "vacation" (if you can call it that, itÌs starting to have the makeup of a reunion), I am feeling really good. I think a lot of it has to do with the fact that no homework was due, no calls needed to be returned, and no other trips were scheduled for that week. In other words I stayed in one place and tried to do as little as possible. My objective was to do as much damage to my skin via the sun as possible. I believe I succeeded in that and a whole lot more.

And the payoff has meant feeling relatively good. I mean I certainly remember times when I felt a whole lot worse. So the key is not to think about those times, but rather to be happy for how I feel now, and to enjoy the rest of my break. A college student on winter break is like a union worker on lunch break. It's a sure thing and it's well deserved.

Thursday, January 17, 2002

It's been a roller-coaster week, getting ready for a trip out to Reno for the weekend while tying up loose ends back at home before I return to school. Hard to believe the winter break is over. I mean it feels like yesterday when I finished my management final (back in December). And now I do it all over again. My blood pressure just went up.

I had a really interesting visit to the allergist on Monday. It was my first time going to one, and while I wasn't looking forward to a 3 hour appointment (even though a third of it was spent in the waiting room), I was really glad I went. She ran all sorts of tests. Some skin tests but lots of blood tests too. We're trying to get to the bottom of the sweating problem -- that pain I get when I sweat -- and it's reminding me of what it's like to search for answers with doctors when you have a weird problem. They (doctors) do everything but tell you they have no clue. I think their egos prevent this from happening. "Running tests" was the best we could come up with at the time. But the good news is that I got a chance to run tests on other allergy problems, like pollen and seafood. We'll see what happens with that. I've always been interested in finding out what I'm officially allergic to.

Bottom line: I wasn't feeling it. It still really hurts to sweat and I really want to figure this thing out. I mean it's pretty annoying to have to rip off your clothes in the middle of a mall because you feel a sweat coming on. What is that all about?

But until we figure that out, I'll be in the medical purgatory -- not sure which way I'm headed and where the answer will be. And thank God for co-pays.

Monday, January 21, 2002

Reno came and went. It seems as though I am quickest to do diary entries while on an airplane. I would like to think it's because I am focused and nobody can bother me (except the snotty lady peering over my shoulder). Or maybe it's out of boredom that I just sit and speak my mind.

What an experience this weekend was. I spent five days in a hotel. And not just any hotel: the John Ascuaga's "Nugget" in beautiful Sparks, Nevada. Whatever picture just came to mind is EXACTLY what type of hotel it was. Which made it even better. I saw so many things that I don't get to see in Boston or even New York (if that's possible). Like the couple I met from Reno, who had been married for 54 years and three times every week they go to the casino to play the slots together. What was odd about this couple was the fact that they weren't speaking. The only time they talked was when the wife hit a four of a kind. She leaned over and said "I hit the 8's again Morty" and "Morty" replied "yea". And they returned to their trance staring at their nickel video poker machines. I walked away wondering what my parents will do when they're married for 54 years. Hopefully not playing the nickel slots. Then there was the guy who sat on top of us (I was with a friend) on the bus and 6" from our faces explained that he had just finished a 12 hour shift of scrubbing pigs and was ready to go party with us. I think he liked Kevin. I never felt more uncomfortable wearing a J-Crew sweater vest in my entire life.

The presentation to the professors attending the conference was about how I go to school and run a company at the same time. I wasn't in the mood to talk about business (even though these were all business professors at different Universities. So instead I took the opportunity to talk about what it's like to go to school at the same time as having a disability. Kevin did a good job talking on the subject that they flew us out to talk about, so I took all the liberties I could. The plan was to touch the professors in a way that they would understand next time one of their students came to them with a problem or a flare-up. Afterwards Kevin said that on two separate occasions he started tearing. The part about my mom and I sharing the same pills really got to him. Some people just aren't cut out for those presentations I guess.

The whole time I was in town I kept thinking to myself that a single pill that I take costs more than an all-you-can-eat buffet. I didn't know whether or not to be depressed or impressed, but in the end I just laughed it off. Nervously.

And if you're ever in the Reno neighborhood, I suggest you take the Number 11 bus downtown. It's a buck and a quarter per ride, but the show you'll get will fulfill a lifetime of memories.