Pharmaceuticals

My doctor sent in a prescription for a NSAID for my recent knee injury to help with the recovery sans surgery. Now I am not going to name names or list products so to protect the so-called "innocent" in the medical world, but here is what transpired...


First they were backordered on the first RX sent in by the doctor, so the pharmacist suggested an alternative, but my insurance would not cover her suggestion (I was informed I could pay for this out of my pocket--wonder who is getting some kickbacks on this one?) My doctor's office was contacted and another RX was recommended, also out, so another alternative was found. (Relax, we will eventually find something that fill the need)

The alternative they found causes reactions similar to reactions that coincide with aspirin allergies, which I have been told I have. The conversation between the pharmacist and I went something like this...

Pharmacist: "Our records show that you have an allergy to aspirin."
Me: "Yes.'
Pharmacist: "What happens when you take aspirin?"
Me: "Don't know, it is an allergy that dates back to my early childhood."
Pharmacist: "So you haven't taken aspirin recently?"
Me: "No, I avoid it, because I have an allergy to it."
<thinking to myself, she did not just ask that question, like I occasionally test my own allergic reactions>
Pharmacist: "Do you use ibuprofen?"
Me: "Yes."

She then goes through a long scary list like the television commercials of all the possible side affects and outcomes of use of this medicine, including death. Staples the instructions to the bag and hands it to me and tells me to call my doctor if there are any issues.

I tried the NSAID and have had no adverse reaction, and it has helped with the inflammation. But the medical field can not possible be run like this with a try it and see method, or have all the great minds avoided the field and gone elsewhere...

End of a Good Run: A Double Entendre

I have been a biped for 50 years now (first couple I was happy with being carried or crawling), give or take a few months. During that time I have played competitive sports for at least 35 years, officiated for 25 years, and have never had a serious knee injury. Well that streak ended today.

I have had plenty of other serious injuries in my life; wrist, shoulder, hand, ankle, ribs, and toes, but nothing knee related. Thought I had knee troubles, but it turned out to be Lyme disease.

I slipped down three steps but my left leg decided to stay on the top step and I torqued the knee sideways doing damage to my MCL. Currently in a brace and waiting to see what the final verdict will be...

I can officially say my plans for any kind of a come back have been put on hold...

Do Apologies Still Have Value?

I have had to seriously apologize on three different occasions this week, but I have noticed that the apology does not hold value like it used to, or that is the way it seems. Have we become that anthropocentric in the microcosms of ourselves to embrace something from a heartfelt position?

I will admit that I am not one to apologize often, it is just not who I am, with the exception of if I stepped on your toe or bumped into you by accident or dropped your Ming vase...I am much more calculated with the things I say or do, so there is not much room an apology.

I am not going to name names or mention details about what I had to apologize for these past few days (have to protect the innocent, as they say), but on all incidences the berating continued after the apology for the offense, even with strong cause and effect to support the malefaction. So what good is the apology if you are going to be chastised for the infraction against someone? They brought it to your attention and why they were offended, you apologized for the transgression, everyone moves on. Don't treat me like a child who repeatedly went against the norm or pet who pooped on the rug. I am a fairly intelligent person, I get that I vexed you in some way, end of story....I should have just kept my mouth shut and taken the tongue lashing...does that hold more value nowadays, does that solve or correct anything?

Sad thing I was trying to be sincere, (Those that know me are probably chuckling at this point.), but I was truly unfeigned in my attempt to eat humble pie. And they say nice guys finish first...

Society is f*cked, and I am not going to apologize for mentioning that, honesty is no longer a value, your word holds nothing, integrity is gone and now so is remorse. Just look around us, bigotry and racism is on the rise, "common sense" is on the decline, reasoning has been gone for a while...we now sit and wonder why there is so much hatred in everything we do. Once again civility is f*cked. No apologies...

HBM Update #13 and AB Moment #1

It has been a while since a HBM update and now I get to add an AB (Awesome Beard) moment.

The lights are on at the local Dairy Queen and the Maeve and I decided to stop and get our first of the season. I was quick to discover that I am going to have to learn a new approach to eating ice cream cones. It was not pretty but amused the Maeve to no end, or I just need to grab a fist full of napkins and deal with the mess.

Note: combing out dried ice cream in facial hair hurts...

Thanks but No Thanks...

My daughter is doing a project for school and needed some steel ball bearings (tough to find because everything now is German sealed bearings). So I went on line and searched for what we needed and the big orange box company said they were available locally at their big orange box. So a short ride later we arrived at the big orange box.

We tried searching on our own (like anyone has every found anything in big orange box doing that), gave up and finally asked for help in locating the ball bearings. After a puzzled look and some head scratching we were told they did not carry them. Explaining to them that their website listed them as being in stock at this very store, we were led to the computer kiosk and the worker looked himself...yes it said they were available, but checking store computer inventory, they were not...but wait they could order them for us and we could pick them up at the store. Not ideal, but whatever...

Now here is were it gets interesting. The bearings come in a bag for $.96. the charge for shipping them to the store is $4. That is more than 4 times the cost of the item.   Now I am looking puzzled and doing some head scratching. If the order is over $45, I get free shipping, so I would need to order 46 bags for no cost shipping. So, I ask how many are in the bag. Some searching on the computer and no answer can be found. Now we are awkwardly looking at each other...

The clerk then informs me that if the order comes in and I am not happy with how many are in the bag, I do not have to pay the restocking fee because the item is at too low a cost for them to charge. Me, being who I am, ask what about the shipping charges, am I responsible for that? He is not sure. More awkwardness....

"You can do it, we can help." Sure you can....I just walked away.

Cool Jobs

Jobs that sound cool if you don't know what they actually are:

• Bouncer
• Branch Manager
• Web Master
• Key Grip
• Boom Operator
• Sports Anchor
• Plastic Surgeon
• Parts Inspector
• Apple Genius
• Child Wrangler
• Satellite Installation Technician
• Special Agent
• Bus Boy

There are probably plenty more feel free to add...

Ding Dong Ditch

I had to drive through the local university (UCONN) today, twice. I witnessed a new twist on age old prank of Ding Dong Ditch.

It may have not been intentional, but I saw it three times. So it makes me wonder...or is everyone just oblivious to world around them and the consequences of their actions...I am going to stick that it is a new age prank.

Students come to an intersection and press the button to get a walk light. Then they don't wait and 'jay walk' across the road. Then the cars have to wait through the cycle of the crossing lights. All the cars stopped and no one in the crosswalk. Just waiting...awkwardly...

Thank you for wasting my time.