Tuesday, Aug. 03, 2004 - 2:09 p.m.

I cant believe I did that! I asked my bossaroo yesterday if I could stay til the end of my contract afterall. The walking and eye situation have helped me deal with all the stuff I hate about this place. And it would be nice to stay until my eyes hit the 3 month stabilization mark. He said he would think about it, will let me know in about a week. Yikes. I cant believe I am even considering it! But I actually think I can finish my year now. Only I may be too late in this revelation.

Yest I hit a break in the eye pain arena. So far only 2 bad days, and they were kinda my fault. I knew that AC dried the eyes out, and I was using mine an entire week after surgery. And I wasnt using the meds he gave me enough. Stubborn ass that I am.

To live with the non-AC temps I have gotten creative. The walking in this heat is helping me to adjust. I have my fan on, but not facing me (the eye drying issue again), and last night I made an icepack. I watched TV with this ziplock baggie of ice on my stomach and throat. It sounds weird but it really helped keep me cool. I even stopped sweating a lot. Nice. I will try it again tonight.

My pre-surgery daily schedule went something like this:
*Wake up around noon-1pm
* putz around for a long time and leave for lunch/work at about 2pm
* go to lunch somewhere and read for about 1-2 hours
* go to work til about 9:30pm
* go home and do stuff online and watch some TV and/or read some more
* go to sleep between 3-5 am

NOW.....
* wake up at noonish
*leave for work by 1pm
* walk to work, stopping for an hour of internet and lunch (at the internet cafe)
* work til 9:30pm
*walk home and stop for internet for anywhere from 1-3 hours, usually 1.
* at home, if still not tired, watch tv. havent started reading for pleasure yet, I am doing a lot of reading at work, and dont wanna push the eyes too much yet, although I am sure they could handle it.
* go to sleep at about 3-5 am, closer to 5am most nights.

I would love to go to sleep sooner, but at least now with all the walking I feel rested when I wake up. Didnt have that before. Progress is all I ask. I am real happy with the change in habits, and almost feel content at the end of the day. Still miss fresh, light food and clean air. But I am trying to be flexible here.