OK, I admit it – I’m now officially a shoplifter! But in my defense, it was completely accidental and entirely the store’s fault. I had a small bunch of groceries and was looking for a cashier, and there was only one lane and it was busy. So I went to the self-checkout. I duly checked out everything but on the way out to the car I realized that I hadn’t scanned the beautiful still-warm baguette that was in a bottom corner of the cart.
You might realistically be able to assess the working of my brain regarding going all the way back to pay for it when an actual human cashier – which they refuse to pay for – would have noticed it – if they hadn’t been so fucking cheap as to have laid them all off. You might conclude that I just packed up the car and drove home. And you would be correct.
Freaking Aldi’s has gone mostly self checkout, which slows things down so much (their checkers are amazingly fast (presumably because they don’t have to bag anything)).
We shopped there Saturday, and only self-checkout was available. I dutifully scanned everything, except that the produce menu (which was not alphabetized and not obviously scrollable (although we did figure that out)) had no entry for bananas or cherries. So I reasonably assumed that they were free and walked out with them.
I probably have sleep apnea. No matter how much sleep I get, I always need to sleep in and I often feel tired anyway. I had a home test some years back that was inconclusive. I just don’t have the bandwidth to mess with another chronic health issue. I’m still trying to get on the right meds for PMDD, I have had to cancel my asthma allergist appointment twice due to work demands, there are yet other concerning things I should be going to the doctor for, it’s just rough. Where the hell should I put this on my list of medical concerns?
Do it. I mean it. I was in your shoes and knew the entire thing was going to be a hassle, and it certainly was.
But getting and using a CPAP changed my life. I am only mad that it took me so long.
ETA: Damn, I came in here to bitch about Olive Garden, but Spice_Weasels comment just reminded me of something I am thankful for. Guess, I am cool for now.
I’ve concluded that I’d rather something hurt than itch. At least then I am not tempted to touch or otherwise mess with whatever it is that’s causing the problem. Itching drives me up the damn wall. Hope the stitches come out soon.
When I was a teenager I had a really bad sunburn. I mean, I had blisters from it. My dad took me to a waterpark all day and I had no sunscreen.
It was a simultaneous burn and itch. I couldn’t scratch because it was too painful.
The pain was bad, but the itch was maddening. I mean, it was so bad that I was literally going insane from it. I could only scream and punch a wall, anything to try to distract myself from it. It was awful.
I’ve had really, really bad kidney stones, so bad that I was given morphine, but that sunburn was worse.
I’m picturing being mercilessly tortured to give up the nuclear launch codes. I could hold out for days of pain, but if they start the itching or the tickling*, I’m yelling them out.
But, when it’s on your back between your spine and your shoulder blade?
( OK, people who can… brag about how you can scratch between your shoulder blades. When you’re done, you can brag about how you can lick your elbow and also the tip of your nose. )
Remember, any kind of back scratcher may pull off the dressing, snag one of the stitches, and possibly rip you right round like a contestant in an old game of ‘battling tops’.
July is just about over!
I hate when summer ends. This year, it doesnt seem to be speeding by though. A good thing.
Somebody start a August thread!( august-a wind blew my hat off!)
From what I understand about apnea and sleep deprivation (probably not as much as I think I do), I’d move it up. A lot of your chronic issues may be tied to sleep problems.
I find a door frame works fairly well as a scratcher (really more of a rubber), and it shouldn’t snag anything.
No live cashiers on a freaking Saturday? As recently as about a year ago one of the major chains used to advertise that on weekends, every checkout lane would be open. I don’t think they guarantee that any longer, but they’re not as bad as that!
If anyone had chased after you about the bananas and cherries, in that situation I would have expressed surprise that anyone actually worked there, and instead of harassing customers who took merchandise that was obviously free, maybe they should be manning a checkout lane.
ETA: I forgot to mention before that among my groceries were two (2) tuna salad sandwiches. And as I was putting one of them into the fridge using just a single paw, the two halves of the container – in a familiar act of treachery – started to come apart (I saved it). I should have heeded the sage advice of @LSLGuy to always use two paws, but it is often said that you can’t teach an old dog new tricks. The package consists of a paper tray with a flimsy snap-on cover, and the only time it doesn’t easily come apart is when you’re actually trying to open it.
@Folacin is correct. You are a lifeguard who’s now drowning yourself. You can’t save anyone after you’ve drowned. As we say in the cabin every flight: Put your own mask on first, then help others.
Sleep problems are endemic in my industry. Folks hate lugging CPAP machines on trips. OTOH, they all report they feel 15 years younger and 1000 percent better than they did before their apnea was addressed.
However large your burdens are, they’re 10x larger versus your reduced capacity when you’re chronically sleep-deprived.
Caregiver care for thyself! Please. For us, if not for you and yours.
I’ll second or third or fourth this recommendation! It changed my life. I fell asleep at the drop of a hat - in meetings, watching TV, or — while driving! I finally took myself to the doctor when I found myself falling asleep while driving, even though I had slept for like 15 hours! It really makes a difference in energy levels, and depression. (For me, obviously. YMMV.)
