Recluse

When I am down I shutdown. This has always been the case. (I have several stories to tell here but to give historical examples now will detract from the story I'm trying to tell here.)

In April it became difficult to walk thanks to gout (see the post below for details). That physical ailment affected me psychologically. I declined offers to see friends and I became a recluse.

Fortunately, a few weeks ago the gout subsided. Yay! Now I must claw my way back to doing things outside - long walks at night in near 100 degree heat with Cujo - and reengage my brain. The mental challenge has proven more difficult than the physical challenge.

I have a goal of posting to this blog regularly moving forward. This creative outlet is what I need to reinvigorate my mind.

There is much to write about what's wrong in my world but today is not the day to address that. Instead I'll highlight a shocker:

No alcohol, no caffeine and basically a low-carb diet have helped me reach a weight I haven't seen since 1992.

Hmm. The pic upload feature isn't working. The news: I weighed in at 165 pounds (75 KG).

Goals:

Talk to people I have been putting off, post to the blog every day, and take the steps to return to America.