I’ve got the new medications right in front of me.

No major changes…for now; dosages adjusted and a shift in timing…for now; a plan to ramp up slowly over the next 4 weeks with existing meds. The new guy is cautious, wants to tweak existing things to see the result and work from there.

But once we see how that goes…there may be big things in store farther down the line. My diagnosis has shifted from cyclothymia to bipolar II, with the emphasis increasing on the depressive side of the cycle; and that implies a shift, eventually, toward Lamictal, Zyprexa, and Depacote.

Lovely. More weight gain in store.

On the other hand, the new doctor is really really good…and surprise, he’s made a specialty of really getting the link between creative ability and this illness. Has read all the various memoirs and books of essays, and runs a group for depressives in creative fields.

I’m still scared, but I think this bodes well for the future.

Here we go:

1. The trip down: quick and uneventful. Left Framingham at 1:30, and was comfortable ensconced on a bar stool at the club by 5:45. That included 2 stops — once for coffee, once for pisscall — and half an hour trying to find a garage that had room for me.

2. Everybody and their distant relatives showed up! aurorabell was a great host; mstegosaurus was there, as was loudpoet, dura-luxe, new lj friend lordrexfear, half of twosnoos behind the bar, Taylor, Roger, Lynne, Oscar Bermeo, Fish, Edward Garcia, Eric Guerreri, Rich Villar, George McKibbens on the door…wow. Much drunken revelry ensued…

3. The open mike was s’alright. A Japanese film crew was filming it for some sort of documentary. Taylor’s new poem about high school history class fantasies was pretty funny…ditto Shappy’s searing political screed on George Bush and Star Wars. (I kid here, I’m a kidder…it was damn funny, though.)

4. The set I did was short and a real mix…

Getting Ahead
Song of the Twirling Accountants
Cindy Moses
Suicide Notes
Political Art
DIY

and it was pretty well received, I thought. Great sound system, and a cool experience…really enjoyed myself.

5. The slam was…a slam. With all that entails. I leave it to others to chime in.

6. Oh, it was SO good to catch up with these people, most of whom I haven’t seen since Nats!

7. The drive home: a bit slower, but similarly uneventful.

Thanks everyone who came out…let’s do it again!!!!

I’m in great mood…because of course last night but also because today is NEW MEDS DAY!!!

I feel something akin to hope again.

I’m home, everyone.

More tomorrow.

T