So today I'm thankful for knee jerk reactions; you know, those tiny subconscious reactions that keep us from dying.
I did stupid stuff that could have caused me to bite the dust a couple of times today
It was weird.
I'm not feeling very well. It's hard for me to breathe.
This morning, I felt sick to my stomach.
Now, because I run into a large number of hungry, homeless folks...
I always carry water and protein bars on my person.
I don't eat the protein bars anymore due to the fat content.
I just give them out to hungry folks.
Needless to say, there are stashes of food and water in both of the offices in which I see clients.
Yep, my recording studio is now my Covid office for teletherapy appointments. I hate working from home. I'd rather work from one of my offices -but- I have crappy internet in the Centennial office and they kick me out of the other one in at 3:00 p.m.
So, if someone wants to do a telehealth visit with me after 3:00, it has to be in the recording studio. I don't keep food there because I'd just stuff my face with it.
Anyway,
I always buy the healthy bars with the most protein in it. Since I never plan on eating it, I don't look at the ingredients. I do buy several different kinds and put them in a tray on one of my bookshelves (or cabinet, depending on the location).
Today, I was hungry and sick. I grabbed what was supposedly a blueberry almond protein bar from Nature Valley and took a bite before promptly spitting it out
It was too late....
my throat started to swell....
and I scratched my arms, my neck and my torso so much
that a patient asked if I was okay.
Of course, being the lying wimp I am because I didn't want him to worry....I said, "I'm fine."
I think he knew better.
He offered to reschedule for tomorrow.
Upon walking him to the elevators, I caught a glimpse of my reflection in the mirrored surface.
Yeah - I wasn't alright.
(Here is a life lesson: Never lie to people recovering from addiction, they'll notice - and they are often too kind to say anything. Most people I've met in this realm worry so much about other people, their needs go unmet. I wonder if the stigma would be lessened if the truth about this population would be more universally known.)
You probably guessed it, that blueberry almond protein bar had peanuts in it.
That was at 7:00 this morning. I'm still having trouble breathing.
Tomorrow, I'm packing Benadryl.
Tonight, I'll find a way to bathe in it.
*****
As if that is not enough,
I got lost on my way home.
I'm probably the only Denver native who gets lost 15 minutes from her house trying to avoid traffic jams.
There was a thought that I needed to get a white board and paper for one of the offices, so I pulled off into a Walmart with a lower level parking garage.
I get out of the car, struggling with my stupid cast. I hobble over to the elevators to learn that they are broken.
At this point, I wind up hopping up two flights of stairs to get to the main level.
BIG MISTAKE!
I didn't buy very much -
just a stash of candles,
some paper,
a small clock for the office,
two inspirational signs,
a new ankle brace because mine is starting to wear out,
some ibuprofen (for my swollen ankle),
and Benadryl (for encounters with peanuts),
fake pizza (with a cauliflower crust) for me,
real pizza and breadsticks for the teenagers,
and some water for the patients.
After paying for everything,
I learn that Denver has instituted a .10 cent tax on plastic bags
That's what the receipt says....a TAX...which is ILLEGAL in Colorado as lawmakers cannot institute a tax without a vote of the people. Stores are not supposed to charge for bags when people purchase medications. I think the spirit of the crappy law would make it illegal to charge for bags carrying medical supplies. I'll double check that one.
My ten cent plastic shitty bag broke before I left the check out lane.
I take my sweater off and wrap everything up in my sweater.
Yeah, only this weirdo wears a sweater on July 7 in Denver.
I'm trying to walk down the two flights of stairs with my stuff in hand.
I FALL!!!!
Miraculously, I caught myself quickly before I hit the bottom. Somehow my injured ankle didn't get twisted. Both my knees, my hips and my arms hurt, though.
Best of all...
NO ONE SAW ME!
Man, if I had fallen to the point of being bedridden, guess who would have fun putting together a ballot initiative to mess with an illegal tax?
I've got some investigating to do.
Yeah, I know Colorado lawmakers are calling it a fee - but - uh, that's not what businesses are calling it.
Too bad the political establishment railroaded Douglas Bruce. He would know exactly what to do.
The problem with knocking down one man is that ten other foes will replace him.
Lawmakers will soon reap what they sow.
I can't imagine what Denver is going to do when their sales tax revenue starts to dwindle. Other counties are going to take their time instituting this tax, so people who can drive will wind up driving to the next jurisdiction to make taxable purchases. Like I predicted nearly twelve years ago when the Democrats first started this shit, the only people stuck are elderly folks and impoverished people who cannot drive. They are just paying another regressive tax.
I kinda wonder who the fabric bag manufacturer is that is pushing these laws.
Come one....it's not about reducing waste because it's just going to lead to more online ordering and boxes. It's a way for someone to make money. We just don't know who that someone is - yet.
There are no secrets that keep very long.
Love ya,
S.