My Place Under the Sun:
What's New

UPDATES: June 2002

My group, Shades of Gray recently released our debut album. Check out song clips from the album online. Shades of Gray has been creating and recording music with in a unique flavor of rock, folk, funk, and blues music.

UPDATES: July 30 and September 17, 2001

Just when you thought I had vanished from the Earth, an update: At some point over the past year or two, I was ready to destroy this website and replace it with something new. But until I have the energy for that, I've decided to keep up the current look.

I have been pretty much homebound since having to quit work in February. Who would have thought that a minor bike/car accident would lead to so much trouble over a year later, but it did. After a year and a half of going from doctor to doctor, I was diagnosed with fibromyalgia. This is a neurological and hormonal disorder that involves disrupted sleep, chronic pain, fatigue, etc. I was also diagnosed with chronic myofascial pain, which creates knot-like tension in the muscles which leads to pain, spasms, numbness, etc. Fortunately, the latter is treatable, though it's a long process, through specialized physical therapy which I'm currently receiving. If you'd like to know more about, just ask. There's plenty of info on the web.

I was hit by a car in my last quarter at Stanford University in California. At first, they thought I just had whiplash, bone bruises, shoulder strain...but the pain never went away.

I suffered through my last quarter of my undergrad career. I got a job right after college as an associate editor for an online technical portal. While I enjoyed the freedom, my nature moved at a different pace than the job allowed, I was suffering from too much pain, and eventually I was forced to quit several months later.

After a few months of unemployment and dealing with my still active injuries, I found another job as a research analyst for a workforce group. With great co-workers, freedom, and the ability to get some major publishing of my work, I enjoyed this job quite well. I was also doing a business column for a local paper.

However after five months, my physical health was progressively deteriorating. One evening, I came home from work and realized I could barely walk. I took time off from work and saw more doctors. At first, it was thought I'd need surgery for a rotator cuff tear in my shoulder, so I had to leave my apartment in California and return home. It was there, after a couple months, where I was diagnosed with fibromyalgia.

At the age of 23, being "disabled," temporary or no is a shock to the system. While I still have my not-so-good days and some not-so-good moments in otherwise good days, I think I'm gradually getting stronger. And I'm definitely learning more about myself in the process.

So this is my life, which I am going to live with all the energy and enthusiasm that I can muster. Along the way, I've decided to share it with you, yes you, who may find interest in lil' ol' me.