Goodbye February...

 

This is the last day of the month.  February is typically the roughest month for me in the year.  This year was no different.  It was cold, dark & wet.  The best thing this month ever does for me, is end.

Today's supposed to be this big boycott of major retailers & fast food places.  While I appreciate the effort, it won't solve anything.  It probably won't even dent these companies.  They can absorb a bad day.  They'll rack the lose up for taxes or funnel it into price increases.  Actions like this only work if they're well supported & permanent.   A lot of don't have a choice but to shop at some of these places.  They're the only options. 

The 1st of the month will be busy for us.  We'll have bills, shopping, errands & appointments.   It'd be nice if the weather stayed nice.   That's it for now.  

Take care.

Cya...

Important To Me...

 

I had a favorite hard candy.  I liked them & they were an alternative to cough drops for a scratchy throat.  They were the cinnamon discs from Walmart.  For a while, I just couldn't find them anywhere.  Then they were back, but they weren't.

I opened a new bag last night & tried them.  They were not the same.  Walmart either reformulated them or got a new supplier.  They're horrible.  They have no cinnamon in them.  They don't taste like cinnamon.  They taste like a weird cross of mostly cloves & a little anise.  They have a fairly bad after taste. 

I noticed right off the wrapper was different.  At 1st these things taste like nothing & then the ick hits.  I looked up the reviews on Walmart's site & nearly every recent rating tanks these things.  They won't be gotten again.  

This isn't the 1st time Walmart's reformulated things we've liked & then had to let go of.  Everytime this store changes something, it's for the worse.  It was nice while it lasted.

Cya...

Short Month Winding...

 

Not much going on this morning.  It's fairly bright & going to be warmer again.  There isn't much left in the month.   It's briefness will crunch the 1st of the month stuff a bit.   Next will be bills & appointments. 

The only thing going on today is taking out trash & checking the mail.  Hopefully this will be an easy week.  We need it.

That's it for now, take care.

Cya...

Surfacing...

 

We had a decent outing yesterday, most of my labs are in & it's been more springish.  I've felt fairly good during the last couple of days.  But once the sun went down, I didn't.   I've been fairly nervous & rattled.  

This has been a rough season.  I haven't handled the dark, cold & wet well.  For the last few years, my major SAD issues haven't begun until late February to early March.  

Everything started earlier this time & it's been hard.  I don't think I was registering how severe this had been until we had a few days of light.  I started to relax some & the mess of seasonal anxiety rose up.  This entire Winter has been fraught to nerve wracking.  Suddenly, not having to hold it together so much, things are rising up & slipping.

Hopefully with more light & warmth this will pass sooner than later.  I need to be past this.  Life's rough enough without all this seasonal baggage.

That's all for now, take care.

Cya...

Mostly In...

 

This is February's last Monday.  My labs are mostly in & as expected.  Hopefully, the rest of the month is non-eventful. 

My telemed appointment is the on the 5th.  The following weekend brings the time change.  The equinox is on the 20th.   It's time for Winter to go away.

It's a shopping day & my meds should be in.  We might do a run out to eat.   Other than that, it should be a nothing day.

Take care.

Cya...

Opt...

 

This piece is about a plan Memphis area emergency rooms want to implement.   In most ER's, if STI & HIV tests are done, they're Opt-In.  Many refuse the tests due to stigma, cost, ignorance, etc...  These ER's are wanting to go from Opt-In to Opt-Out.  This would make the test standard care & patients would have to choose not to allow them. 

These ER's want this due to surges in HIV rates.  This would inform patients of their status.  While this is about Tennessee, I've read other pieces noting this approach.  

Opting in for some people is knee jerk.  Opting out will be an actual decision they'll have to make. Being unknowingly HIV+ is a potential community health hazard.  No one should be allowed to endanger others just because they don't want to know.

That's all for today.   Take care.

Cya...

Steps...

 

Things are moving forward for now.  My labs were drawn yesterday.  Over half of the results are back as expected.  I'm still waiting on the actual HIV related tests.  

I called the pharmacy & they said they could handle my Dovato again.  They'll need to have the script transferred back to them.  I'll call later & see if that went through.  If so, I should pick that up on Monday.

It is supposed to get into the 50s today.  That'll feel so much warmer.  15 days until the time change happens.  

Things are looking a little better for the moment.  I'm sure something else challenging will pop up soon.  But, for now, maybe I can be a little bit more at ease.

That's it for now, take care.

Cya...