I'm just a mood swingin'

      Last night I wanted to run on stage, grab an actor and slap him/her silly. I was in the light booth upstairs at the theater, and I was shaking with anger. In case you haven't guessed by now, that's not me.
      Five minutes later, I was horribly depressed, convinced that the play was a terrible failure caused mostly by my inept direction and general all-around yuckiness.
      And then I realized I was a fantastic human being with great talent, and the only reason that the play wouldn't be a success was that one actor that I needed to slap ...
      Whoa, roller coaster of emotions. And that's not me. I pretty much operate at a level plane. I'm not fantastically happy, but I'm not horribly depressed. Moderation, you know, as Paul said. It's how I'm made and what I'm used to. I spend my emotional energy on my writing and plays, not on drama in my life.
      This has been going on since the doctor started me on the diabetes meds and diet, and naturally it concerns me. I called him this morning, and after talking my way through the receptionist, a nurse and his physician's assistant, finally got to speak to him. I said, "I've become a very, very moody person. We're talking mood swings that span continents. One moment I'm flying and the next I'm diving. Happy, sad, lonely, angry, all in five minutes."
      And he said, "I'm sorry to have to tell you that you're becoming a woman." Then he laughed until he realized I wasn't laughing. (I was trying to figure out how to reach through the phone and choke him until his neck bones cracked.)
      "Just a little joke," he said. In his best doctor voice, he explained that almost all diabetes go through an "adjustment" period as their body "adapts" to the meds. And almost all diabetes experience mood swings and emotional distrubances. "It's nothing to worry about," he said. "After two or three months, you'll settle down. If not, we'll need to look at it, but right now, I don't think it's anything to worry about."
      "Ooookay, if you think it's normal," I said. "Well, thanks for talking to me." I hung up and turned to the hostages. "The doctor says it's just an adjustment period I'm going through." They looked at me with their fearful eyes. They were so cute as they huddled on the floor. Like little bunnies.
      I hate bunnies.
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      Okay, yeah, I'm experiencing mood swings. And yeah, my doctor says it's normal during this adjustment period. But man, it's weird. I'm not used this. I find it exhausting. And irritating. And kind of funny, too. Yeah, I'm a mess. But I figure if I hang on, things will level out.
      If not, pray for the people around me. They're going to need it. Every last stinkin' one of them.
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      Did you enter the May 2007 Giveaway yet? We have eight entries as of this writing. I'm hoping for more. The point of the Giveaways -- besides giving stuff to my wonderful, loyal readers -- is to attract new readers to the blog, to build up a base of readers to purchase my books and plays (when they get published). I've decided to hold the Giveaways through July, and then I'll evaluate how they're working.
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      I have to go to work now. Have a good day. Or else ...