It was several months ago when I finally said, enough of this procrastinating. My teeth were in bad shape, especially the back ones. Two wisdoms that hadn't been pulled out back in 1982. Twenty-five years later, after an unmeasurable amount of occasional pain, I went to the dentist (same one) and started the process. That included getting two teeth out on the same day, then covering a game that same afternoon against the specialist's advice. (I did fine, the painkillers didn't make me dizzy, and my bosses were happy.)

Today, with my left eye all messed up because I had been wearing the same (disposable) contact lens for too long, I headed to Walmart on Keeaumoku Street. I walked in, got an appointment and had two hours to kill. No laptop on me. No plan. I headed across the street to the Thai restaurant that caught my eye. But along the way, yep, I got distracted. This little Korean place across Walgreens had always intrigued me, but was always closed by the time I was in the area. This time, it was open. Don't know the name, but it's right between a vegetarian Vietnamese restaurant and another Korean restaurant.

Odd to see two Korean places next to each other. Anyway, I went in and ordered a combo plate of kal bi and chicken. The lady was quiet but loud in a nice way. Not to me, but to her cook. Surprising? Not for me. Spending a lot of time in my friend Peter's church back in the day around all the halmuni ladies was always fun and loud. They made some killer kal bi.

At this place, the kal bi was pretty good and the chicken was very tender. The veggies were crisp, no sesame oil (which I like but don't require). The pile of meat was unbelievable. I almost couldn't finish it. It was well worth the $7.50. I enjoyed the food and relaxation, paid the bill and left a tip, and the lady smiled as I left. Cool.

Dr. Lim at the Walmart Vision Center is probably the best eye doctor I've had in terms of explaining the danger that poor eye care can cause. My eye was red and just messed up badly, but he said I'd probably be OK as long as I stop wearing a contact lens for a month. Fine with me. So I have new glasses now and new contacts next week. Of course, I should mention that all this took about 4 hours between the time I walked in and the time I got the glasses. Not a complaint, though. Next time, I'll call in for an appointment. Service was great. In fact, they had my glasses ready in less than 30 minutes.

That gave me a very, very incredibly clear view of today's baseball game between Saint Louis and Punahou. It took me about an hour to get used to the sharpness of my new specs. Insanely good. I could almost see people in their condos across the Ala Wai Canal from the baseball field.

(More about the game in tomorrow's Star-Bulletin.)

On the way home, I stopped by this plate-lunch place on King and Coolidge Streets, the one next to the liquor store. I ordered the chicken katsu curry and couldn't finish half of it. It's massive, and it was good, and it was cheap (think it was $5.75). They have an extensive menu there, both local and Chinese food. I'll be back soon.

I'm still feeling fried, but it's that time of year when everything in prep sports seems to collide, and I'm in the eye of the storm. Between all the hoo-haa with online comments and grumbling adults who sometimes forget that the focus is one the kids and not their agendas, I realize that there's a better way to spend my free time. That's why I'm more than happy to stay off-line in the mornings, which I did today.

After revolving my life around work and family for all these years, I'm finally, happily aware that it's just too much. Not just for me, but for everyone else. I pull back, everyone is happier and I'm just as productive. The whole theory that diving fully into work is the right way ... it's bullcrap. Might work for a few people (hello, John Gruden?), but not me. Everything I've ever given my all to, it's been good, but eventually becomes a source of frustration. Why?

Because one person is never supposed to give his or her everything to a job, or to a family only and nothing else. I need to go find my life, my other passions, and stay there some of the time. And let the people in charge be in charge, no matter what I think.

In other words, have a little fun with the bit of free time that I have earned. At least now, I'll see it a little better.

As for root canals and eye exams, somehow they didn't piss me off as much as my car repairs last month. Oh yeah, nothing like a $50 job on a CV boot turning into a $270 bill while the Sears sales guy bails out of sight. I won't forget that anytime soon, Jeff.

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