I have been feeling really blue and as you have noticed by now, not been doing any writing over the last week or so. At one point last week I was taking six different medications including some steroids. I think I am suffering a slight detox effect from the steroids now. I will be drafting a post specific to the meds soon.

I am typing this letter into the memory, double spaced and will carefully edit it before printing the final copy.

I have been struggling with a whole bunch of emotional stuff. I am pleased to confirm that I have kept up with my New York Times reading. As much as I hate to admit it by reading the papers as they come in, and doing the crosswords each day also some of the words and phrases are beginning to stick into the old gray matter. Not only are specific words sticking but also the general ability to "see" words when I have a few of the letters written in is sharper. I have never been one to take on any task that requires daily practice and where progress is measured in baby steps. I have to admit it does work.

I have not been doing much else besides reading. It is great to not have accumulated a backlog of papers, as I have in the past when feeling blue.

I realize I have let my typing go all to hell in terms of providing you with error proof OCR-ready text. Not even close lately. I apologize for getting so sloppy. This again is the old Pete, taking the short cuts and allowing second class work to suffice when I can and should strive for a higher standard.

I did receive two letters from Mom and Dad (but nothing else!) in the last two weeks, but they were not at all warm and fuzzy and could have been written to anyone. This is all part of the funk I am in. I am working on a way to excise some of the pain by writing about it. Maybe even writing why I can not write about it will help.

I do have plenty to write about and will get cracking on it soon.  ¶ 7:41 AM