What is going on with me? I never thought turning 30 would have such an adverse effect on my philology. I rarely have any medical problems and I haven't been to the doctor in the past 4 years. But now several problems are surfacing, the worst of which is a constant pain in my right wrist. It started about 3 months ago and will not go away. I finally promised Nicole that I would go in and have it checked so when the doctor asked me what brought me in, I cleverly answered "my wife". Turns out about half of the guys who come in say that. Not so clever after all. He asked if I play any musical instruments that may cause the problem. I laughed because I've played my acoustic guitar for about an hour total this year. I later realized that the last time I play, for about a half hour, was when my wrist pain started. If that was the cause, I am a total musical wuss. I remember when I used to play the euphonium for as many as 12 hours a day and then do it again the next day. Now thirty minutes and I'm in pain for months. Wuss.

I switched to a different doctor since I'd only seen my doctor here in Columbus once and my wife's doctor seemed to be fairly personable. Since I was a new patient, I was given a full, take-off-your clothes examination. The doc joked how I would probably go home and complain to my wife "I went in to have my wrist checked and had to have these other things checked as well." I thought about all of the jokes I would have to suffer if I had a problem "down there" that was found due to a wrist examination. Everyone knows of my wrist problem due to the brace I've been wearing for the past few months. Luckily, everything was OK and I can joke about it on the Internet. However, he did notice an ingrown toe nail problem and referred me to a podiatrist. Problem number two.

My eye sight has started to bother me even more lately — more headaches. My vision is bad but generally correctable except for the astigmatism in my right eye. Maybe it is time for lasik? Problem number three.

I guess I've had the second two problems for a really long time and I'm just gloom-and-dooming myself due to the approach of the first "negative" decade anniversary. Also, the next 4 months of my wife making fun of me for being old (before her birthday kicks-in) are going to pass slowly. Oh well, I guess I just have to keep counting — and hopefully healing.

So it's been a long, long time since I've posted. So what? I've had a decent amount to drink earlier tonight and I'm still feeling the after effects. Let's write.

I had a couple of people from work over at 4:30 today. We enjoyed some beer that my wife brewed and played some pool. After that, my wife and I went out to dinner at a local Italian restaurant (DiVinos) and had a bottle of Merlot. Since it was the two of us, we ate at the bar. A guy named Kent sat down beside us. He seemed to be a nice guy, so I introduced Nicole and myself. He lived in Germany for the past several years and was moving back to the US to expand a company here. His wife and 3 kids were moving to the US for the first time in the next couple of months. I was glad to have met someone new and to have talked to someone I would have not otherwise known. My friend Ken Stevens has the ability to introduce himself to anyone and strike up a conversation. I gave it a try tonight and it worked. So did the beer and the wine. I could go on about the evening, but I won't.

When I was very young, I remember big events, such as someone in my elementary school class moving to another city of even another state. This was usually due to their parents getting a new job or getting a new divorce or a death in the family. Then it was me moving to another city after my parents were divorced. That location 15 miles away was tougher than it seems it should have been. Several years later, it was me moving off to school (1 hour away) and then off to my full time job (2 whole hours away!).

I remember the first time one of my close friends started dating in high school. Later, both of my close friends (Nate and Kev) started dating frequently and I was alone on Saturday nights. I had a few girlfriends along the way but nothing too serious. In college, I remember when my first close friend became engaged and then married. I was in a wedding! Then I was in several more. Then I was in my own!

Next, my friends started having kids. Most of my friends now have kids. Nicole and I are in no hurry because we've only been married a year and a half but I guess it's made me at least start thinking about it.

I just found out a couple of weeks ago that one of my long time friends got a divorce about 9 months ago. Yikes! I was in their wedding! I feel a bit awkward because the divorce was several months ago and I knew nothing about it. It also reminds me of my parents divorce and how a cycle of various life events seems to be repeating. What next for me? I'm sure it's not divorce because Nicole is great. But it has to be something. The tide doesn't stop. Will it be a new job? A new city? A new baby? Hopefully, it won't be a death of someone close, but I'm painfully aware of my own mortality as well as that of everyone around me — I need to make some phone calls tomorrow!!!

I'm feeling the winds of change starting to blow the way they did just before I graduated from college, when change was inevitable but the result was completely uncertain. The way the winds changed when the relationship with my wife became serious. It's scary, being aware that you don't know what the future holds besides changes.