I can't say it's the end

I apologize to all of you who are still devoted readers of this blog for my extended absence. Grad school has taken a great deal of time and brain power. I am now done with my first quarter and have nothing but rave reviews. Call me crazy (but not to my face), but I love school. I never thought I'd say that, but it is very nice to back in the academic environment. I have met some amazing people and know that the next year and half will be time well spent. I'm sure that the plethora of experiences that await me will be both novel and diverse.

Next Thursday, the 6th, I'll be having eye surgery where they'll unsew my right eye (it's about freakin' time) and straighten both eyes. The recovery is about 3 months and then they'll decide whether a second, and final, surgery is necessary. The reason for the long recovery time is that the doctor will transfer pull from the outside muscles, which are shot, to the top and bottom muscles which will cause the eye to pull out. Then, the inner muscle will be shot with Botox causing it to become paralyzed. As the Botox wears off, thus the 3 month time line, the eye will be become straight. Hopefully, that explanation made sense. I find this stuff extremely interesting, so I'm hopeful that my loyal readers do as well.

I start the next quarter January 3rd, so I'll have to find a way to once again adjust to change. I am just so ecstatic that a monumental event is taking place and that the next step in this process is occurring. While it has been difficult I have had so much support from everyone around me and I've discovered that with a positive attitude life is a bit easier. I don't want to preach, but... I am a Fatalist by nature. I truly believe that every event is predestined and this experience has only strengthened that understanding. I have never, and will never, regret any event or experience I've had or will have. They have all made me the man I am.

I leave you with thanks, and a quote from the Tao Te Ching:

Knowing others is intelligence;
knowing yourself is true wisdom.
Mastering others is strength;
mastering yourself is true power.

If you realize you have enough,
you are truly rich.
If you stay in the center
and embrace death with your whole heart,
you will endure forever.