Home again, home again...

Well, hello all.
Don't worry- I'll actually have something real to post on Saturday night- because I'm PICKING UP MY CAR ON SATURDAY!!!
Seriously, I can't really explain just how fucking excited I am!

1.) See, here's the thing: I'm 21. (as of last week, bitches!)
2.) This car I'm going to be finalizing payment for and picking up is a hatchback, has full-leather, heated, Recaro seats, dual-zone automatic climate control, a touchscreen Navigation system, Bluetooth (and steering-wheel-controls for both systems). It has a 2.0L, turbocharged engine that puts out 252HP and 270 lb-ft of torque, estimated 23mpg city and 32mpg highway, comes with standard 18in alloy wheels, and has HID headlights. (oh- it's a 2012 Ford Focus ST)
3.) This car is new. BRAND-NEW. As in, "I had to order it; when I placed my order, the model trim I bought (the top trim) was not actually available at the dealership yet."

Now, combine those three things, and then think: How many 21-year-olds are capable of purchasing a brand-new vehicle on their own? I don't think I know any. I know quite a few who managed it with their parents' help, but not a one who had the means to buy a new vehicle on their own.
Well, not paying the full amount.
See, I have $18,900 from the VA (because I'm a Wounded Warrior, and they're very- very- grateful to us for being hurt) And then, there's another $5,000 from the Semper Fi Foundation.
But, really, I could have put down cash on this car.

It's just... a nice feeling. It's nice, to know that I'm young, but I've been well-set-up for the future. I have the money to buy this car twice over; I have the Post-9/11 GI Bill that will completely pay for school when I resume and finish college (since I'm planning to attend a State institution); I have connections now in the FBI and CIA, and I've been to Federal Internship fairs, and spoken to NCIS and NSA representatives there- and I could, if I tried, have an internship in any of those organizations.

So yes. Life is good.

Unfortunately... Except for... this...:
I've written before about how I am in constant pain. Primarily it is still nerve pain, but recently I've been experiencing more 'real' pain in my leg as well.
However, today, I was in PT, and two other guys I was working out with gave our therapist their current level of pain. (this is a question we answer several- many- times a day)
I answered with a "Three" (on the 0-10 scale that all hospitals use, so far as I know)
Both of the other guys answered "Zero." And then, one of them said, "Isn't is *always* zero?!" and they both laughed.
... To which, I said, "Um... no, no, it isn't always zero. In fact, it's *never* zero." The guy looked at me funnily. "Really? You guys don't have pain?"
He continued to stare oddly at me, and said, "Uh, no... no, not really. Not anymore."
They have both been here for less than half the time I have.

... I'm just left wondering how long I'm going to have to deal with this. I have enough trouble getting up every day, let alone getting through the week.... let alone getting out of bed every day for the next seventy years. I have trouble falling asleep; sometimes it's difficult to stand up in the morning; it almost always hurts- *hurts*- by the end of the day, especially if I've been doing something strenuous on it (like, say, standing on one foot for a few minutes...)

Sorry, that went from "Really-HAPPY-and-EXCITED" to "kind of depressed and moping". I'll try not to do that any more.

Aaaaand I'll try to remember to write an update, maybe a short review of the car, and.... well, that will be that.

'Til then.