I swear I used to be a pretty good writer. I think I peaked just before coming home from Iraq, last October. I think long-term lack of sleep has something to do with this. Truth be told, I got way more sleep in War than I ever did (& do) at Home. I run a steady four to six hours a night, and that’s pretty much been the norm for most of the last decade. Sure, there are some good nights in there, but not enough to fully recover from a week of in-bed-at-midnight-and-up-for-work-at-4AM.

I recently saw a neurologist to help explain some bright spots on my brain and minor slips in my cognitive ability lately. (Don’t ever do your own web research on any symptoms you have for anything - I was scared shitless for weeks because I had convinced myself I had MS.) There were, indeed, bright spots, but they were small, and around the outside edges. Migraines were the likely culprit, due largely to long-term high blood pressure, due largely to lack of sleep and excessive stress.

Wait, where am I going with this? Ah, right, my writing.

Fifteen months stuck in the desert of northern Iraq was just the place I needed to realize my creative powers. Regular and frequent writings lead to better style, sharper wit, and more engaging dialog. And there’s no denying the creative push of ANGER. Lots and lots of anger.

But now I’m home. I’m safe, I’m happy. The anger is still there; I’ve found it terribly difficult to get rid of. Trouble is it doesn’t have much of a target anymore, so I just find myself a little angry at a whole lot of things. I’m working on it.

Ok, now that we’re coming to a close on my Thesis of Incohesive Thought Processes, I almost want to do something I know I shouldn’t. Two steps in I feel I should defend myself and apologize for the quality of my work. I want to, but I’m not going to.

Instead I’ll have some tea. And I will do my best not to melt my mug in the process.

Stay tuned; better things to come.

[EDIT: I have such trouble focusing my attention I don’t even remember what that subject line has to do with … what hump?]