It has been a rough road this past year. First to understand where I am now, let’s recap what has happened since 2007. In late 2007, while driving back to West Virginia after visiting Tiffani’s family for Thanksgiving, I suffered what has been classified as a near-syncopal episode. Pretty much, my right hand started shaking, I couldn’t speak, and my vision went black. I had been taking a medicine for headaches, which is actually intended to manage epilepsy symptoms (Which I have no history of and wish I had said no to trying the medicine.), for two months. Before this episode I had only headaches, and they were severe enough for me to try this method of management. Within two months of being on the so-called headache medicine the onslaught of ailments began building up to this climactic experience. The following several months I spent trying to ween myself off of the medicine and enduring further problems associated with it. This episode caused me to fail a class or two and delayed my graduation until May of 2008. As of today, no doctor has been able to say what happened or why I’m still experiencing symptoms that should have vanished. I’ve become fed up with doctors, and have decided since they can’t find anything wrong physically it has to be my life style. I’ve started running a few miles a day and maintaining a healthy diet. So far I’m feeling better. Not quite 100%, but it’s getting closer.

After graduating I moved to Tennessee with my wife where she was to finish school. I had promised I would go to Tennessee with her so she could finish school. However, I didn’t realize the economy was in such trouble and that the small town where she was from had fewer jobs than where I came from. As promised I went back with her and pretty much did nothing but clean around the house for several months. Finally, I told her I had to do what I feel is right. A few weeks ago I told her I was going to go stay with my brother and look for work in Charlotte. It is a larger city, I have a place to stay, and I was sure I could find work before she graduates in May. So far it is going well. In two weeks I’ve already managed to gain several contacts, a few phone interviews, and some face-to-face interviews. I am optimistic that as the economy begins to pick up so will companies’ interests in hiring entry level positions.