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April 2003

Tuesday, April 15, 2003

New England weather can make anyone go crazy, with temperatures in the 30’s, then in the 80’s, then back to the 40’s all in a single week. This is the same place where it snowed in the month of April, not one week ago. And here I am overheating in the 80 degree weather.

I think the best part about spring time is when you put on your favorite pair of pants – for me it’s my seersucker’s – and advertise the nice weather and how appropriately you’re dressed for it. And this year they fit, which is more than I can say for the last decade.

Friday, April 18, 2003

This week I have missed a total of about 10 hours of sleep. It seems like every night another hour to two hours are shaved away from my life from sitting in bed, rolling around awake and desperately trying to fall back asleep.

There’s no explanation why. I know deep down it’s a comfort thing – the mattress, the weather, what’s on my mind – all of it combined calls for a hectic night of sleeping. It’s hard enough to sleep when one of those things are out of line, but this past week it seems like all three have ganged up to cause some serious baggage under these eyes.

And after a whole week of this nonsense it really catches up to me. The stress built up in the shoulders, the weight of my head, the speed at which I’m thinking – are all things that sleep could help fix.

Now all I need are two horse tranquilizers and 12 hours of nothing to do.

Friday, April 25, 2003

Last night I had a pretty crappy night. I wasn’t in a good mood so I went to bed. I shut my phone off, which is the first step to getting a good night of sleep (otherwise I’m treated to wake-up calls every 20 minutes). Then I took a warm shower, made some tea, and put a good movie in to doze off to. A colossal 10 hours later I awoke refreshed, both physically and emotionally.

Turned my radio on. Took another shower. Opened my windows. Ready for the day.

As I sit at my desk and look out of my window I wonder why I don’t do that more often – getting a good night of sleep to wake up refreshed and remarkably happier. For all those nights I have trouble sleeping I will think about last night and wish I could return to that place, instead of tossing and turning while watching the clock tick by.

And they said you couldn’t sleep in a college bed.

Tuesday, April 29, 2003

For the third time in six months I returned to Salt Lake City for a weekend. This time we spoke to doctors, nurses and administrators at the University of Utah Hospital. Our message to the doctors who care for people with arthritis was how important it is to feel better and not just get better. In other words, taking a bunch of pills and getting x-rayed won’t do the trick. Exercising, support, and motivation are also necessary elements in the tricky game of living with arthritis. Fortunately for us, the doctors understood this and were very receptive to our efforts. Programs such as the A-Games help with this, and we had the pleasure of offering them to the good folks of Salt Lake City, and soon-to-be the rest of the US.

As far as the exciting news of the day is concerned, luckily for me I no longer need a map to navigate the streets of Salt Lake City, Utah.

What amazes me most about Salt Lake City is how friendly everyone is. I got to make a whole lot of friends (again) and had the chance to see what it’s like to go out and play in a city with no trash, no cops and lots of mountains to view in constant awe of nature. There is a real sense of tranquility that I can’t seem to describe, but one thing is for certain: this place "ain’t no Bronx". Perhaps that’s part of its appeal after all.

Now instead of using a road map to get around, I strategically place one of my wives at intersections around town. Just kidding. No marriages anytime soon, or so she says.