Which is to say, Hi, how is everyone?

 I haven't been around for quite some time, it seems. Mainly this is because I'm doing very well these days. Meds seem to be doing what they are supposed to, I continue to put in the hard work of keeping a positive frame of mind, putting negative thoughts in their place, and I haven't had any major stresses in my life to set me off.

 Well, no, wait, that's actually totally false. Come to think of it my grandfather has been very sick (diabetic and he refuses to either take care of himself or move along), and my father was diagnosed with liver cancer. I'm not sure how i kept my mind from spinning out of control with that one, but somehow I did. Somehow I made myself refuse to panic until there was something to panic about. His particular form of cancer being  reasonably treatable and it being caught fairly early, combined with almost immediate and startlingly positive response to  chemo helped considerably. He's totally cancer-free now and although there's always the chance of it coming back, he should be around and healthy for a long while yet.

 Dunno. Dunno. I can only think that my meds were really doing their job, because I definiteliy wouldn' have been able to handle that two years ago, positive mindset or no.

 In any case, the Summer is here and the temperature is up.  I also have gotten a real taste for coffee again lately. And i think i can throw in having to deal with a flood of incoming freshmen and their parents gearing up for the fall semester. These things have managed to get me wobbly on my panicky legs when a life or death situation couldn't. I see it this way: the sudden and sustained increased level of caffeine set my brain up for infiltration, the higher temperatures made me generally more irritable in a background kind of way, and the mass of clueless students and their even more clueless and demanding parents sent me over the edge. 

 Really most of the people i deal with are reasonable and try not to be too much of a pain, but the small percentage who seem to go out of their way to be the opposite kind of overwhelm them in my mind sometimes.

 I've caught myself more and  more lately having irrational negative thoughts and being less able to demolish and defuse them. For example, my wife was late one day and i hadn't heard from her when i expected to and the first thought that comes into my head is that she's had an accident. I make myself go through all the reasons that that isn't likely to be true and i mostly buy it, but the evil thought still lurks just under the surface.

 But on the whole i'm doing well and i hope all of you are, too. I'm going to try to be around more now that life has (i hope) settled down again. 

bc 

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ceejay said:

... Hello Friend!!! It's great to see your posting!! And I"m VERY glad for the update on your dad and Grandfather! I'm going to be keeping them both in my prayers anyway - but I am just thrilled for your dad especially! I'm with you on the heat -- summer is definitely here, and I have to be extra careful not to freak out about my blood pressure, etc etc. We are going to go on a lovely drive though - up to your wonderful Canada! A few nights in Niagra on the Lake, and then over to Stratford for some great Shakespeare! Then we'll move on to Mackinac Island - and some cool Michigan weather! :) We're driving, to see what we think of "retirement" in case he decides to do that in the next year or two! Stay in touch, okay??? I miss you!!!

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June 22, 2008
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ceejay said:

... Hello Friend!!! It's great to see your posting!! And I"m VERY glad for the update on your dad and Grandfather! I'm going to be keeping them both in my prayers anyway - but I am just thrilled for your dad especially! I'm with you on the heat -- summer is definitely here, and I have to be extra careful not to freak out about my blood pressure, etc etc. We are going to go on a lovely drive though - up to your wonderful Canada! A few nights in Niagra on the Lake, and then over to Stratford for some great Shakespeare! Then we'll move on to Mackinac Island - and some cool Michigan weather! :) We're driving, to see what we think of "retirement" in case he decides to do that in the next year or two! Stay in touch, okay??? I miss you!!!

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June 22, 2008
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jaygirl said:

	... Great to hear you are doing well, I love the positive stories because it helps me to see that I can too get to this point. Good health to you and your family. Jaygirl
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June 25, 2008
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jaygirl said:

	... Great to hear you are doing well, I love the positive stories because it helps me to see that I can too get to this point. Good health to you and your family. Jaygirl
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June 25, 2008
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