Viceland - HOW I SPENT MY VACATION? - Going to Florida on a Whim's Notice

When I'm on a manic spin, I'm ridiculously impulsive and I'm barely conscious of what I'm doing. The part that makes it especially confusing is that I feel totally normal when it's happening, even though most people would look at me and see a derelict. I stop shaving and I don't shower. I'll just run out of the house wearing whatever. Also, I like to drink beer when I'm on an upswing. I make sure to stick to only three beers, and then I always have something to eat with them. That way my wife won't smell it on my breath. So I guess it's sneaky drinking. I like Miller Genuine Draft, or sometimes I go to this Mexican place and get Corona and a shrimp cocktail. If I'm at my regular bar, I have a mushroom Swiss burger.

I just had a pretty high manic episode where I took off to Florida on a whim's notice. I got in a fight with my wife, she went out after we argued, and I guess I just packed my bags and went—headed out to the airport and hopped on a plane and took off without telling her. It turned out to be OK in the end. My wife said it was good to have me out of the house for a couple of weeks. But I was in such a state that I was barely aware of what I was doing. It was like going into a fog in Chicago and waking up in Florida.

I was manic for the preparations, but I got depressed as soon as I got there. It was kind of a vacation, though. I hung out with my parents, who retired down there, went for a few dinners, played golf a few times. I never drink on a downswing, and my parents wouldn't let me anyway. They live in a retirement community down there for people 52 and over. They even have a separate wing in their place where I can stay, with my own bedroom and bathroom. I sit back there and go online to mess around with my eBay auctions. My wife's always selling my old clothes on there—Nike sweatpants and Polo shirts.

I went to a doctor in Florida just to get a physical, and I had a completely clean bill of health. It's my mental health that's the issue. That's why I started coming out to this day program. I need to learn more about being bipolar, and there's something new every day here.

JEFF SAUL

Comments:

Subject: ER(rrr)
Date: Apr 20 2005 09:15:54 AM
Author: Voiceover Artist

Lots of talk about being bipolar in this issue. This is good. Wow, it affects loads of people, not just those with "Mental issues" think about it yourself, I bet you know one person who exhibits bipolar tendencies huh?..............................ok? There bet you have one. They are some whacked out shit-creeps. But maybe I am too harsh. What about Abbie´s mom in ER? You remember, she was played by Sally Field. Man I used to think Abbie was so hot, not so much now as she seems to fuck every intern that shows any interest in her. Abbie´s mom was a real handful, it wasn´t like Abbie didn´t have enough to deal with, her brother was fairly whacko too. Shit! she had to study to become a doctor and deal with all the thinly veiled discrimination that went with that and remember all those big words, anatomy, names of drugs, medical procedures and still get laid. Wait, I still think Abbie is great, what a gal.

Subject: bi-polar bears
Date: Apr 15 2005 04:09:58 PM
Author: boredinthenorth

ya had a roommate once, he was all suped up and ready to be the us coast gaurd. So he goes and he's all right through the first training part, then once he's in a bit of service he steals a jeep drives it through a fence then jumps into the ocean. woke up the day and he did'nt understand how he did it.
pfu

Subject: sukkah1
Date: Apr 14 2005 11:24:57 PM
Author: sukkkahz

wwww.sukkahzizkrazy.commmmmmmm

Subject: ebay
Date: Mar 25 2005 03:44:01 PM
Author: dave

selling old clothes on ebay....genius.

Subject: Good Call
Date: Mar 20 2005 01:56:24 AM
Author: Bob Odenkirk

Miller is a great tasting beer.

Subject: pretty tame shit
Date: Mar 18 2005 06:57:27 PM
Author: mg

This guy doesn't sound so crazy, no wonder he's only on the day program.

Subject: Ad Magic
Date: Mar 15 2005 12:53:49 PM
Author: Reggie

Thom Jones has a good short story in which a character has a pretty similar experience. Due to a manic episode, the guy winds up on a beach in India. I seem to recall that it was semi-autobiographical.

Subject: Terry Benedict
Date: Mar 12 2005 11:44:07 PM
Author: Uncle Leo

Hey Seinfeld, were you taking the cream or the clear when this photo was taken?

Ay, I miss Mexico. I miss my wife and 8 kids in Tijuana.

Subject: Head! Move!
Date: Mar 11 2005 07:53:02 PM
Author: Dr. Gonzo

That is one fucked-up photo. All the body parts are out of proportion. It's like doing too many mushroooms and acting like you aren't worried that your friend's head keeps detaching from his body.