Some random snippets of my day

• jusDan has had a cold for the past two weeks. A pretty typical cold with symptoms that included headache, sinus pain and stuffiness and evolved into a dry cough. If you asked him, he would tell you he was DYING. He took four days off of work. He even went to his general practitioner, who teased him and said, "Poor baby! You got a cold." I have always suspected men were the weaker sex, but now I have proof. I caught this cold. I'm stuffed up, clogged sinuses etc etc. But, it really isn't even enough to stop me from doing anything. Now, its turned into a competition: Who's sicker. Clearly Dan is. He wins that competition, hands down, but yesterday we had to have  a sit down talk about this situation. If you go around acting like you are dying and saying the doctor must be wrong because you are sure you have pneumonia when all I see is a case of the sniffles and I have THE SAME COLD then God help you if you ever really do get seriously ill.
• Another thing. When did Sudafed become a controlled substance!?! Is it that way everywhere, or is it just Oregon and our blessed meth lab problem? I had to go to three stores before anyone would sell me any sudafed. Then, I had to stand in line behind all the people buying prescriptions and while they got their meds and walked off, I had to show my driver's license and sign a log they keep of everyone who buys sudafed! Starting next July anyone with the sniffles or clogged sinuses will need to go to the doctor and get a prescription to get it. So, my $5 box of sudafed will cost $15 with my co-pay. Insurance will pick up the rest. I'm tempted to stock up before this kicks in, but I am afraid the police will show up at my door.
• Speaking of insurance, thank the stars, the saints and all goodness in the universe for annual maximum out of pocket expenses! Yesterday, after the sudafed adventure, I came home to no less than EIGHT envelopes in the mail from my insurance company. EIGHT!! It really extended the anticipation and fun by being able to find out eight times if I was lucky or going to be charged for the well over $10,000 worth of lab work, pharmacy and surgery I had a few weeks ago. Kind of like riding a roller coaster. Only three of the envelopes included a number next to "member responsibility" and in all it totaled $90.63. Not bad. But, I'm not exhaling yet.
• Last night, I had yet another 30th birthday party to go to. All these shiny, beautiful 30 year olds feeling old. They have no idea. Anyway, it was at this bar that had tiny little bathrooms. One toilet each, one for men, one for women. Well, I got TIRED of waiting for the women's room while the "men's" room stood empty. In my younger, bar-hopping days I was known to use the men's room and lord knows I've peed in some strange places. I have no shame about finding a place to go if I have to go. The only disadvantage to using the "men's" room is that it usually stinks. So, I went into the "men's" room and breathed through my mouth. It had no lock, so I went quick. Just as I was buckling my belt, a guy (kind of cute, I might add...) walks in. He didn't even have the door shut and he was unbuttoning his fly. He looked up, saw me and just kind of froze, half-amused, half shocked. I explained, "the other one was full and I really had to go." He smirked at me and proceeded to pee (with, I might add, a hint of arrogance). I got kind of embarrassed and quickly walked out. Then, he said "don't you think you should wash your hands?" Normally a scrupulous hand-washer, I did feel kind of gross and he made me feel so ashamed! So, I said to him, "Well, I'm just a little embarrassed with you in here." He answered, "Honey, I'm sure you've seen a penis or two in your lifetime." So, now I'm an unhygienic slut.
• Someone recommended I read an article this month in Conceive Magazine about unexplained fertility. So in between searching pharmacies for "cooking" supplies, I stopped at Barnes and Noble.  Basically the article said that beyond the basic tests I've had there is nothing that has been proven to explain a cause and that anyone who says they can is a huckster. One study shows couples with unexplained infertility have as low as a 13% chance of having success with IVF. So, not telling me much I don't already know. But there was one article that I found amusing, all about how pets are good for you if you are trying to conceive. Reduces stress, blah blah, good practice for kids, blah blah blah. And then the side bar How to Prepare Your Pet for the Arrival of Your First Baby. Among the assvice:

Carry a swaddled baby doll around the house to get your pet used to the real thing; you can also take the doll in a stroller when you walk your dog. And the doll can be used to familiarize your pet with activities such as diaper-changing and bathing.

And tell the neighbors you forgot to take your meds so you have lost touch with reality!!! Is there anything MORE pitiful than an infertile woman taking a DOLL on walks and changing its diapers,  pretending it is a real baby?! And I'm sorry, Dexter would not be fooled. Hello!? He can tell its not HUMAN! He'd smell the vinyl and think why isn't she throwing that toy for me

• One more thing: if anyone out there who is from Oregon knows the name of a good, skillful, reasonably priced contractor they would recommend, let me know. We are ready to start a major improvement project on a pretty moderate budget and would love some recommendations.

Comments

[korin]

1. The whole 'need a script for cold medicine' thing is stupid. Absofuckinglutley stupid. Since it's an OTC, I'm hoping to find out if chiropractors and naturopaths can write this script. If so, call me when you need them. :) I won't make you pay your copay, just meet me for coffee when you fell better !
2. carrying around a fake baby? Um. No. My cats will find that weirder than a real one.
3. Good contractor.. ask me in a few weeks! We are getting a few referrals to have a room skimmed (redoing the drywall basically), and should know some good people soon. Ryan does most stuff around here, but absolutely hates drywall work.

[MsPrufrock]

I think the ailment you are referring to in the first paragraph is "man flu". Seriously, for allegedly being the tougher sex illness really puts them out of commission far more than it should.

Also, I would not absorb anything an article said if they advocated pushing a doll around the neighbourhood in a stroller. That's just creepy.

[DD]

We're going thru the same b.s. here with the cold medicines. I'm thinking the docs are going to be doing some lobbying on that. Do you really think they want to be writing scripts for COLD medicine with all the free time they have? Please, let me just say *scoff*.

You think they'd get you for mock-child abuse if your neighbors saw your "pretend" baby being buried in the yard by the dog?

[Amanda]

I laughed out loud at the thought of the doll idea. That's too much. And yeah, what is it with men being total himps when it comes to being sick? My DH is the same way.

[thalia]

I cannot imagine doing all that with a doll - and even before you are pregnant? Wierd. Do animals have memories that long?

[Cate]

Meth is apparently everywhere. I've never understood how kids who couldn't pass fifth grade science can become chemists to make the stuff. It's all in the motivation I guess.
Men's bathroom lines are totally unfair. I, too, have used the men's bathroom (but never one without a lock on the door, that's kind of scary)

[Joie]

More likely than bury it, Dexter would probably shake it vigorously and tear its limbs off.