To all my Spark Friends...

I'm still here and plugging away. I'm just feeling very beaten down right now. It's been a challenging end of year and start to the new year. I'll explain; but first I'd like to apologize.

Normally over the holidays I reach out to all my friends on Spark to wish them well and a good start to the New Year. I still wish that for you all and I'm sorry you're hearing from me late.

It started just before Thanksgiving when I got the flu. For the first time since I was a small child, I actually had a fever of 100+. It was not fun and I don't recommend it to anyone.

The flu was quickly followed up with pneumonia. I had to cancel our family plans and all. No fun there either.

I went back to work and noticed I was having some trouble with my back. I just assumed it was an old injury acting up on me. Guess what, I was wrong. After some new and frightening symptoms I went to the doctor to follow up and it turns out my back pain was due to a kidney infection. So there went another week... and all my Christmas plans.

I got a phone call about 4 days into being treated when I found out that the infection was resistant to the antibiotics I was on at the time. So I switched. I was also by this point barely sleeping and barely eating. Not a weight loss method I recommend.

I thought I was over it and went back to work again. After several days another fever kicked in on my. Turns out I wasn't quite over the infection. So, back on antibiotics I went. I was also put on bed rest.

I'm doing better now and finally back to work full time. But to add insult to injury, I just found out last week that our research program has had it's funding cut right out of existance. So, after 16 years I'm going to have to find a new job. At my age it's going to be challenging. It's been so long I'm not even sure how to start.

So, right now, I'm just feeling a little beaten down. I'm trying to stay positive and keep moving forward. I just wanted to let you all know I'm still here, still thinking of you and sending out positive thoughts!

Spark on my friends!
Chris