Turning 34...and Older

I just turned 34 years of age today...and worked at my usual full-time job...and decided NOT to do anything after work except just rest at home. Life has been so busy and what-not lately that it's been hard to do almost anything. Oh well.

NEW GLASSES!

This is one of the two pair I got on Wednesday, February 7th...and maybe I won't be dealing with headaches anymore!!! It had been almost six years since I had my eyes last examined.

Quick Update on my Health...January 29th, 2007

Hi All,

Hope you're doing well. Thanks to those who replied back to me in regards to my e-mail on January 25th about my health. I apologize for not individually doing personal replies back yet. (I need to soon!)

I just wanted to give you a quick update. I'll be going to see my personal doctor later today (Monday, January 29th) at 3:15 PM and will have an eye exam on Tuesday, January 30th at 9 AM. Might as well get it all done, right? Besides, it's sort of long overdue...especially the eye exam. It's been since June of 2001 when I last had my eyes examined and was prescribed new glasses (before that it was November of '95 and February of '93)....and it's been since May of 1988 when I started wearing them. No contacts for me....yet. (I really would like to do laser eye surgery...when finances allow.)

As for how I've been over the past few days, I've been okay. Still tired and sleepy at times. No more chest pain or heartburn, with the exception of a brief episode on my right side. I've been doing my usual work schedule...in fact, I even have done a little bit more. I worked on Saturday...and this was the FIRST Saturday I've worked at my current full-time job in the seven-and-a-half years of employment there. I've done other work and things on other Saturdays, obviously. It just seems as though there has been quite a bit going on at work and elsewhere. It's challenging to keep up....not only for me at work, but for other people at my job as well. These past twelve months have been interesting because of a higher than usual turnover rate, especially among some employees with three, four, and up to nine years of service. I'll not go into detail, but it's been full of change at my job.

Some of you suggested to me that STRESS could be my problem...and it probably has been. At my job, maybe??? The photography too?? (No way!) My family? I will admit that I've felt snippy about all of it within the past few days. This past summer was extremely trying with some of it, but that's over now. Fortunately, I will admit that I have not experienced anxiety/worry or even panic like I had in the past to the point of physical nausea and weakness. It's been rare now for a "breakdown" to occur. I think the anti-depressant medication more than likely has helped in that area along with prayers, encouragement, and overall support.

Anyway, I need to go now. I'm tempted to write more, but I won't. Time to go to bed and I'll do just that. I've been attempting to get more rest and it's been successful even though there have been a few times within the past few days which I almost didn't get enough rest it seems and I just felt lazy and not feeling like doing anything, but forced myself otherwise. Ironically, it was hard to go to sleep on Friday night even though I was sleepy. (On Saturday night, I just conked out.)

Thanks again for the prayers and concern. When all is done at the doctor's office as well as with the eye exam, I'll update again. Have a great day!

Sincerely,
Gregory <><

PS - I'm only sending this e-mail to a "few" people...not an extremely large list where I'll have to send this e-mail out more than once.

Prayer Request for my Health...January 25th, 2007

Hi All,

I'm requesting prayer for me...actually my health. I'll spare you the minute details, but I will share some. Lately, I've been feeling run-down, etc....even a little bit narcoleptic at times. But, I've also been dealing with some slight headaches as well as some pain in my upper right chest. In fact, for the past thirty minutes or so (from the time of this e-mail), I've been dealing with some shortness of breath with some tightness in my chest. It feels as though I've strained something, but I think I haven't. I've experienced this pain another time within the past twenty-four hours, but not as bad.

As some of you might recall, I experienced some chest pains in October of 2005 and even went to the ER only to find out I was dealing with stress, etc. My heart was fine....and I went to my doctor after then to be prescribed an anti-depressant. I've been to the doctor for check-ups a few times since and even have had my anti-depressant meds changed. The last time it was changed was in the spring of last year....and when I don't take the meds, then I actually feel rough.

I was out of work for two days last week due to a sinus infection and felt lousy and even dizzy. I usually take my anti-depressant and allergy meds at night as well as an occasional Aleve and even a tablet for heartburn. I will admit that I hadn't experience heartburn (from what I know) until six or so weeks ago. It was horrifying and I woke up at 4:30 AM and couldn't go back to sleep without voicing my discomfort. I really didn't know what to do. That was when I started taking occasional meds for heartburn. I don't think that I'm experiencing that now since the pain is not in the center of my chest...only the upper right. I've already taken my meds...and I'm getting ready for bed. (I almost didn't even want to send this e-mail.)

There are a few other more "personal" health issues (or just plain concerns which don't need discussing due to their potentially embarrassing nature even though they're probably more common than I think) which I'll not share, but have been dealing with on occasion.

I really need to call my family doctor when I get up for work. I'll try to update you when I have the chance. I'm not sending this e-mail to many people...just a few. My "personal update list" had gotten so big that I really don't think I need to send out too many mass e-mails too often...especially more than one a week.

(Actually, my personal e-mail accounts won't let me do it unless I have a shorter list...and there was this while when I didn't feel like sending e-mail, etc.) [Oops, I guess I need to mention that I haven't had my eyes checked in a few years...and probably need to do that soon, too. They've even been bothering me some as well. They might be causing some problems???]

Well, I need to go now and try to go to sleep. Have a great day and thanks.

Sincerely,
Gregory <><

[SANSDADDY] Christmas Greetings, Automobiles, and the SpeechEasy Saga - December 25th, 2006

Hi All,

Hope this finds you doing well. I just wanted to wish all of you a very Merry Christmas! I'm not sure if you might be reading this after the fact or not.

For those of you who are used to my LONG e-mails, I'm really don't need to do one this time because I'm short on FREE time....and I know I haven't been sending out e-mails like I used to for the past seven or eight months...with the exception of a few things and lists I'm on. I'm sure that probably some of you are looking at the right scroll bar to see how long this e-mail is, right??? :-) Come on, I know who some of you are! (Just kidding. I don't blame you.)

Honestly, I haven't been in the "e-mail mood" like I used to be. I've been extremely busy and even somewhat behind in several things, including photography for friends, family, church(es)/ministries...both paid and non-paid. I went to the 2006 NC State Fair and took several hundred pictures there. I have yet to do anything with those pictures yet. The same goes for some pictures I took over the Fourth of July, etc. Regardless, I'm still enjoying the photography and not getting as stressed about it (among many other things) like I was earlier this summer. This summer was not the best one, but it was manageable. :-) Some of you know that I had computer problems (all resolved now) as well as a few car problems toward the end of the summer. Besides, it was a hot one and there were some yard projects which needed completion! Ha!

AUTOMOBILES AND SUCH...

This past month, I encountered even more car problems...all within weeks of each other. I'll spare most of the details since I've mentioned this to several of you already. My car (a 2001 Olds Alero GLS) started leaking antifreeze and the week after Thanksgiving I had it repaired. I was told it was the exhaust manifold gasket and it was replaced. So, I went along my merry way and the antifreeze gushed out of the car on Saturday evening, December 16th....just little over a week ago. I had the car towed back to the shop and I was told that it was the head gasket this time. (Again, I'm skimping out on some of the details....to save time...and some of you know about this already...and I'm getting sleepy. I'm watching the scroll bar - and clock - too.)

Well, the car is still "dead" and it's been a money pit for the past seven months or so. It's like I've got another car payment again. Speaking of which, I've been car searching for the past week and almost consumed with that. I guess it's better to go ahead and get rid of the Alero while I still can. The clear coat paint on the front bumper and hood has been seriously peeling to the point of ugliness. The Alero has 88,000 miles and I'm surprised the transmission hasn't flown out from under it yet. I will admit that the car searching has been a little bit exciting...and I'm ready for it to be over with as well....much like this e-mail, right? :-) I've still got to go to sleep, get ready to go to my Grandma's (mom's mother) house as well as see some of my dad's side of the family, eat loads of food, ache from eating the loads of food, take hundreds (literally) of pictures, become overwhelmed with that, etc. The annual cycle of traditions never end...and that's good in a sense because it's something to look forward to each and every year. Really, it seems as though this year has FLOWN by quickly. I can't believe that it's already Christmas and 2007 is practically here!!! Where has the time gone to? Whew!

SPEECHEASY, ETC...

Anyway, there is some good news...and again, some of you know about this already. Forgive me. I know that some of you have been wondering about how my "ear" has been doing, etc. since I had ear surgery to correct otosclerosis in my right ear earlier in January (eleven months ago). Well, I had my hearing tested back in May and last month. The hearing has gradually improved!!! But, wait, there's more.
In the past I've mentioned the SpeechEasy (http://www.speecheasy.com) device to help alleviate/correct my stuttering. Well, after months (and years?) of waiting....and waiting....and waiting, I finally received it on Sunday, November 5th. It certainly has been a long wait...one full of unexpected delays and trials, but well worth it. I did have the evaluation for the SpeechEasy way back in April and didn't receive the device until six months later. The device does work, but it's not a cure-all. There are limitations to it and there are certain situations and conditions in which it doesn't work very well. But, it works rather well when I read out loud, am calm, or on the telephone, etc. Again, it's not a cure-all and I still am adjusting to it. It's good though!!!

I guess I better get going now. But, before I do, some of you do know about my Dad's 1969 International Scout SUV (which I've inherited). Well, the Scout started backfiring quite a bit within the past couple of months even to the point of the muffler being blown out. I've since replaced the muffler and some of the spark plugs. It actually seems to be running fine overall now....and no, I'm not going to start using it as my daily driver. It's been in the family since 1977 and it's more of a seldomly-driven vehicle for short distances. I most certainly don't want anything to happen to the Scout and if something were to occur to my car or the Scout, I would choose my car. Little did I know. :-) (And, no, I didn't do the "annual" Christmas Eve drive with the Scout. I might decide to take it out for a spin before heading to see my extended family.)

(My! What about Dad? It's been two years and three months since his earthly passing and I've gotten used to it mostly. Really, with the recent car problems (and searching) I've been dealing with lately, there have been a few times which I - as well as several other members of the family - could've used his assistance and advice. :-) But, he's not here and that's life...and that's okay.)

Oh, am I going to mention anything about my job since I've got your attention/time and that some of you might be wondering? (Just a little.) I'm still at AlphaGraphics in Cary as a delivery driver and have been there since August of 1999. There have been quite a few changes there within the past many months....with quite a bit of turn-over (higher than usual and almost as stressful). It wasn't very easy to deal with some of the changes since there were a few "other" things going on "outside" of work. Fortunately, I think that all has calmed down overall now and I think that 2007 will be a brighter and better year. :-)

CLOSING!!! (YES!)

Okay...I've looked at the scroll bar and clock...and now I think it's time to close and get ready to go to bed. Seriously, I do hope that all of you will have a very Merry Christmas and New Year. I'll be in contact with you again later and forgive me if I don't reply back to you quickly...and I needn't spend too much time doing too many mass e-mails. They're good every once in a while. Have a great day!

Sincerely,
Gregory <><

PS - I also know that some of you might be anxiously waiting for some more photography of mine to appear online. It will, Lord willing. :-) For those of you who know my photo web site address, etc...just keep looking.

Extremely Short E-Mail From Me Requesting "Prayer"

All,

I'm requesting prayer for peace, wisdom, and guidance in regards to handling a few things which have come my way lately. I've been dealing with computer and car problems as well as strife with my mom. It's been difficult and not too encouraging for me. I've been agitated....and I know I'm not perfect and probably have some of this coming my way because life is life and life goes on even in the midst of itself with its stress and strain.

Some of you probably know that on Friday, August 18th, the driver's side window on my car went down and failed to go back up...then a few hours later my computer died on me. All that occurred right as I was getting ready to go visit my Grandma Thelma for the weekend and see some of my dad's side of the family as well. As of now, the car problem is fixed minus $400...and I took my computer to a friend of mine this week. He called to tell me the hard drive on my computer is failing and I need a new hard drive. (I did back up "some" of the files, but not everything.)

I bought the computer in November of 2004 (shortly after my dad died) when my other computer started having problems. Therefore, the computer isn't that old, but it's been working hard, especially since it's the computer I use for my digital photo editing, etc. I think the digital photo editing probably stressed out the system and burned it out. Or maybe not? :-) (I also had an external hard drive burn out on me in March of 2005...and that's not been fixed as of yet. I have thousands of photos on that particular external hard drive.) Fortunately, I can do e-mailing on other computers since e-mailing doesn't strain the system like digital photo work can. I'm using my mom's (and dad's) computer to send out this e-mail message.

So...currently, I'm still taking pictures even though I'm getting behind in editing and working with them. I was behind before all this occurred because of other more urgent priorities at home and what-not. I know I could attempt to do some of the digital photo work on other computers, but I would probably bog down the system....or whatever. My computer's processor is one of the best...and I did purchase one of the better systems. Digital photo work takes a tremendous amount of time...and energy! Not only do I show up at the place to take the actual photos, I then have to spend the time to actually edit them on the computer, etc....and resize/upload...all of that! The majority of my digital photo work is volunteer and I don't get paid for it. My mother wishes I did and we've had several heated arguements over it....and I'm slowly beginning to agree with her....especially since I've been at my full-time job for seven years and haven't had a pay rate increase in four. Extra income from my photography services would come in handy in dealing with unexpected expenses. No need to go into more detail there.

Well, I probably need to go now. Time to take care of other things. Thanks for reading this. I'll write again later.

Gregory <><

Why Bother???

Oh well...I don't know where my "mind" is these days. It seems as though life is either disappointing or a little disgusting at times these days. At times, it doesn't even seem real...except for the pain and aggravation. I haven't been posting (or even sending out e-mail, etc.) like I used to.

Heck! I now take pictures still...but don't work on them or post them like I used to in a timely manner. It seems as though there's this irritating family crisis (from the pits of Hades) which has been testing me...and I've been failing a time or two. That's not good! Ugh!

Anyway...I need to go now. I have this major headache and the bed is calling out my name. "Oh, Gregory!" More later...that is if I don't forget to do this blog again.

G- <><