Halloweenie Whines (Mini-Rants)

The BBQ Pit
81

Thank you for your kinds words.

I think it all plays into the whole idea that Barbra Enrenreich, a breast cancer survivor herself, was writing about in a book of hers:

Breast cancer is not happy. It is frightening and depressing and it ought to be okay to shout it from the hilltops. Before my friend died of breast cancer last month, she was so afraid of dropping the facade of cheerful and brave patient that she often failed to ask for help when it was obviously needed. We, her friends, tried to help her but I know she felt compelled to put on that happy mask. Once in awhile I was grateful she let it slip and let us send her meals or bring her to the doctor when she felt unable to drive. But all too often she had to firmly keep that difficult mask in place.

82

After thinking about it, I realized that I had just wrote a review of your book. I’ll log into my Amazon account and post my first review.

I can’t think of any form of cancer that is happy and fun. I can’t think of any way of dying is a happy occasion…unless you are 100 years old and had a heart attack because your 20 year old lover pleased you in all your favorite ways…and even then, any normal person would want to go fast.

When my rescue director (and very good friend, I worked for her for over 10 years…you don’t volunteer that long for anyone unless you at least like them), was dying, she would infuriate me because she refused to ask for anything for herself. It was always “Would you be sure the animals are getting fed? Could you please get all the cats to adoptions on Saturday and tell everyone that I’m doing fine?”

This still upsets me and its been over 3 years…one day I went to visit her and the nurses chased me out so they could do something to her…so I went out to read until they were done. When they were done and I went back in, she apologized for the wait and I said it was OK because I had an e-reader in my pocket and showed it to her. She said she wished she had one because she couldn’t hold books anymore and then she mentioned that she wished she had a laptop because she needed to check up on the adoption listings.

I was SO mad at her. Dammit, Lolli! We all love you, of course we would have been happy to give you those things long ago. Of course I didn’t say anything like that to her, we talked about normal things and she thanked me for the flowers and then I went home just fuming. The first thing I did when I got home was to order her a Kindle with express shipping and the next thing I did was clean up my laptop and pack it up to take to work the next day so I could give it to her at lunch.

I bitched and complained about Lolli never asking anything for herself to everyone at work, then went to visit her at lunch and learned that she had been transferred to a nursing home/rehab center. The next day, I went to that place and she had been transferred to yet a different hospital in Phoenix.

Her Kindle arrived and I loaded it up with books I thought she would enjoy and planned to deliver her care package on the weekend. She died before the weekend.

I am so full of guilt because I was complaining about someone I loved while she was in the process of dying. I have tears in my eyes now, I should probably go check on the cats in the rescue room.

83

Well, this is small potatoes compared to breast cancer, but I’m going to (mini)-rant about the pharmacy. Can I name it? It has a name that is just initials; I don’t know what they stand for, but the first one is ‘C.’

So… I call in four prescription renewals last night through the automated service. The fourth one, the automated message says, “This prescription is already being worked on.” WTF? I am just now calling it in; how can you be already working on it? So I call back and push the appropriate buttons to get to a real person. The woman who answers says that this prescription is NOT being worked on. It cannot be filled because they need the doctor’s authorization. No, it doesn’t. I gave you a new prescription form about 3 months ago that’s good for a year’s worth of refills. Oh, sorry, she answers. I meant we don’t have any of the 30 mg pills in stock; we have to order them. No, I respond, that’s wrong. My prescription is for the 20 mg pills and I take 1 1/2 pills per day. The prescription isn’t available in a 30 mg pill. Oh, sorry, she answers. Well, we still have to check with the doctor to see if that’s acceptable. And we don’t have any of that in stock either. As soon as we get the doctor’s approval, we can order it. GRRRRR. AAARRRGH.

So, anyway, the other 3 meds are supposed to be ready today at 11 AM. I mosey on over at 3:15. Sorry, says the gum-chomping frowsy chick behind the counter. It’s not quite ready. We’re working on it now. It’ll be ready in 15 minutes. What happened to 11 AM? Well, we’re really swamped today. Fine. I have some other errands to run. I’ll come back later.

Twenty-five minutes later I’m back. Oh, sorry, says the gum-chewer. It’s not quite ready. We’re working on it now. It’ll be ready in 15 minutes. Um, yeah… And have you spoken with my doctor about the questioned prescription. She doesn’t know but will ask the pharmacist.

Well, they also have flu shots available, which I need. Okay, I say foolishly. Suppose I get the flu shot while I’m waiting. Oh, sure. Not a problem. The pharmacist is right over there. She’ll take care of it. By the time you’re done the prescription will be ready.

So, I go over where the pharmacist is. And I wait. And wait some more. Finally it’s my turn, and I ask her about the flu shot and my problem prescription. Oh, yes, I left a message at your doctor’s office myself but they haven’t returned my call. sigh She gives me a form to fill out for the flu shot.

By now it’s about 4 PM. About 10 minutes later someone from behind the desk calls out my name. I respond and go to the desk, to be ignored for another 5 minutes until I shout over "Someone back there called my name! "

The gum chewer comes over and I get the prescriptions that are ready. I continue to wait for the flu shot that was going to be given while I wait for the meds.

Finally the pharmacist comes over and proceeds to prepare for the shot. I roll up my sleeve. She proceeds to wipe the TOP of my shoulder, where the bone is, not the upper arm where the muscle is. “Wait,” I protest, “That’s not the right place!” Yes it is, she replies and proceeds to inject the vaccine into the area around the shoulder bone. I have never had a shot hurt so much. Never.

To console myself, I went home and called the customer service number for the pharmacy chain and proceeded to rip them up, down, and sideways.

As a side note, I have never seen an actual live woman with a unibrow as complete as that pharmacist. Goodness gracious! And you work for a drug store, where there are all kinds of personal grooming products! Have you somehow not noticed how truly bizarre it looks to have only one eyebrow that stretches across the entire width of your forehead? Not only do you lie, you’re ugly, too!

Just to make it more interesting, guess what the missing medicine is. Paxil. The stuff that keeps me from being depressed, from thinking suicidal thoughts, and from wanting to **rampage through drug stores with a chain saw! ** (Just kidding about the last one. )

84

I’m tired of my fiancee and myself hurting all the time. We work 10 hour days, on our feet all day on concrete. By the time we’re both limping, our feet cramping. It’s ridiculous. She’s spent $180 on shoes and insoles so far, and her feet are still killing her. I haven’t gone so far as to do that yet, but I’m to the point where I’ll try anything to make it stop.

It’s really not worth the $9/hour we’re making, and unfortunately getting a different job is out of the question. This was actually a step up for us.

85

I once had a job that required me to be on my feet most of the day. I would take long bathroom breaks because that was the only time I could sit down (where they couldn’t tell me not to sit). When I would get home, I would take off my shoes and lay down on the sofa with my feet elevated, and they would throb for an hour before I could get up again.

I didn’t last at that job, and although it paid pretty well for what I brought to it, I had to resign. That’s when I realized I have very flat feet and standing a lot even with good arch support is just not in the cards for me. I can walk all day, but don’t ask me to stand in one spot or stroll slowly around a museum or something.

I hate my feet.

86

Dammit all to HELL, I’m so upset right now. I just found out my Godmother’s in a coma, with no idea what’s wrong. We were pretty close when I was younger, but we’d lost touch the last ten years or so (I’m 50). Then last year when my Grandmother died, I reached out to her again, and we’ve been having an incredible correspondence. She’s very old-fashioned, doesn’t “do” email or computers, so I’ve been actually writing (typing) letters and mailing them. I had cancer and surgery at the end of July, and she wrote me the most beautiful, supportive words that really helped me get through all the horror (I’m fine now). She’d had cancer a few times herself.

I was supposed to go visit her early next year, she’s in San Francisco and I’m in Seattle, but now I may not get the chance. I guess I should be grateful that at least we were in touch, but FUCK. :frowning:

87

We fired the three letter people a few years ago, and went with the letter that the Clinton staff defaced keyboards with. That lasted a few years, but not only were they in the Mos Eisley part of town, they were developing customer service issues also. We wound up at the supermarket pharmacy, where we are not only on a first name basis with the two main pharmacists, but we are on their personal (NOT work) Christmas card list.

88

I used to go to the supermarket pharmacy, but they have horrible hours and also are not real great on customer service. There’s another drugstore literally across the street from my current one, so I’ll try them out.

BTW I love your “Mos Eisley part of town” ref. LOL.

89

Can I just say that I love Barbara Ehrenreich? I know it’s the Pit and all, but really, I love Barbara Ehrenreich.

I pit the fact that I currently hate my life. I’m going on vacation in less than 48 hours and I am going to make every effort to spend time imagining the life I want to build when I get back. Because honestly I do not give a shit anymore. To feel excited about something, one thing, I’d take it.

90

Only got 80% on a test last week. : (

91

Sorry for crying all over the thread. Dang, I still miss Lolli every day.

Sketchers. Seriously, I used to walk on concrete floors all day and was in so much pain. These are now the only shoes I’ll wear for walking. The best part about ordering them is if they don’t fit/make your feets feel good/look good…they will pay the return postage. Don’t just buy them, though…look online for coupon codes first. The codes change and depend on which shoes you want to try, so I didn’t give you any links for that. Also, be sure to look at the widths. I have wide feet and have to buy a smaller pair when I get the widths right.

The black work shoes I’m currently wearing were $40 and shipping, which I think was less than $5…but its been so long that I’ve forgotten.

Now that I’m not crying about Lolli…I’m laughing at my husband.

He’s gotten several worried messages from co-workers about my face. I guess the story about a bar fight would have worked better than the (tripping over a hose) truth. I told him that I had lied to everyone, including him because I was trying to rescue a grayhound at the races and he just sighed and then agreed that it was a better story than the truth…then wondered how and when I was going to supply the proof.

Hurray, Buttercup is going to get a buddy soon! Crap, I forgot what his name should be. Hurray, another excuse to watch The Princess Bride. Crap, its too late to do it tonight.

92

Was it a Wasserman test?

P.S. flatlined, probably Westley, but don’t let that stop you from watching the movie when you get the chance.

93

I’m pretty sure I got fired today.

94

No, it was school. :smiley:

I’m thinking Inigo for the new pooch.

Emtar, OUCH!!

95

I’m so sorry to hear that. I’m curious why you are only pretty sure as opposed to not actually certain.

96

My rose garden is not where trash goes, OK? There is never a whole lot at once, but it’s fairly constant and I’m getting tired of pulling the shit out and putting it where it belongs.

97

Oh no! I’m sorry to hear that. :frowning:

I once had a job where I stood on my feet all day. It really is no fun.

98

A long and nasty series of events unfolded and I’m suspended pending investigation.

If I send out resumes and go on interviews and their phone is ringing off the hook for verification of employment dates and such I’ll petty well eliminate my chances of being brought back on. But if I burn down my savings for a month and they say “yeah, your fired” then I’ll feel pretty stupid for having wasted time.

Today I’m playing with power tools and day drinking.

99

I’m so sorry to hear about this. What a bad place to be in :frowning:

Be careful with the power tools and beer…it would be really hard to fill out applications if you cut fingers or something else off.

I don’t know about all job applications, but I do know that ours have a place to check if you don’t want your current employer contacted. Ours are pretty boiler plate, so maybe you can start applying now…just be sure to click that box.

100

My vet asks me to drop off my cat in the morning (on the weekends) and then calls me in the afternoon when she’s ready to be picked up. I don’t spend any time there except for the intake and picking her up. Maybe ask if that is possible with yours.