[Klondike]

If you all don't mind, i would like to relate one more story for you to just give you an idea of what things can be like for me out in the world. Back in 2007, I suffered a severe health crisis which turns out was due to malnutrition. Thats malnutrition owing to obsessive traits linked to computer use vs shopping, eating right, etc. I am not stupid, just preoccupied. Anyway, i could barely brush my teeth, sit up in bed, or lift a pitcher of water for three weeks. I survived on tuna fish and rice, fetched during 10 minute dashes to the kitchen, while trying to figure out how to get admitted to the hospital. It wasn't easy. Twice i called 911 complaining of severe heart palpitations. They came and got me, did all the tests, and then discharged me while telling me to relax and reduce the stress in my life. The second discharge was humiliating. The nurse and doctor thought I was perhaps a homeless man. The doctor said to me "you can go home now.....uh......you DO have a home, don't you?" It was the most humiliating experience i have ever had. When the nurse told me I could get up and leave, I stammered that I didn't know if I had the strength to get a cab. She snickered and said "OF COURSE you can get a cab". They simply did not have a clue. At night for two weeks, the palpitations would come, and i would frequenty wake up brain dead. Literally - a very weird state of existence due presumably to oxygen starvation. The heart simply was not pumping blood. In three months, I was back at work, but it was six months before I could go full time. In 2008, this happened all over again. I have now got things under control, but for a while, it was pure hell. Anyway, a normal person would have had more social connections - friends, family, etc to help them get through this. But since i can hardly speak, it just makes matters far worse than they might have been otherwise. The worst thing was not being able to do anything physically, and not really knowing why, nor having any sense that things could ever improve. Do you call your boss and say "I'm really tired and so I won't be back to work for three months?" Just try it sometime. The moral here is don't ever think you can survive on 250 fast food meals a year for 25 years. You can do it until you hit 50 perhaps, but after that you better get your act together. My doctor told me he had suspected malnutrition during an exam back in 2006. It is hard to diagnose. But the irregular heart beat I've had now for four years is one clue. So, but not to drag this on too long, my time at OCC has come with some costs, but this was by far the biggest. They say boomers will not live as long as their parents due to computer use. Believe it! Last weekend, I actually went jogging. Jogging! I WILL be able to get out to beaches, events etc for some years to come now. At Fremont in 2008, I practically collapsed walking to Gaswork Park, and took a fraction of my usual pics because I had to spend all my time sitting down. Beside the fast food, it is everything they throw at you at the marts - the energy drinks, snacks and everything else. It is all pure garbage, and it angers me so much that milliionaires are made pedaling this "food". Enough, I guess for now. End of rant! but I will probably start carrying a card around with me now saying i am autistic (with a master's degree!), not homeless!!!!

Klondike