Today is a day of .... VENTING

Yesterday I didn't get to bed until around 3am in the morning and then had my first phone call around 8. It was Gladys Moore wanting to book the Seniors' hall as her husband Dennis died around 2am. So I made the necessary calls - to our President, the lady who organizes the Memorial tea, the activity leader for the Bridge players who would normally use the hall at the time Gladys wants it, the Pool players who usually play snooker at that time downstairs but can still be heard upstairs, the paper and so on.

Then Esther called me and we had a lengthy talk. I had just read my horoscope and boy was it right on the money. [ A glut of planetary conflicts may well make this day a tricky one, so be tactful with a family member or close friend. Don't allow a petty disagreement to develop into more. If you feel that the atmosphere is beginning to turn a little sour then take yourself off somewhere for a brief cooling off period!] She cleared the air and for a change was calm about it. I now have a better idea of how she feels and how I need to change to be around her and her new family.

Talking to Esther so long put me behind and I was five minutes late for my doctor's appointment. He was ready to see me just minutes after I arrived so at least I didn't cause them any delay. Dr. Eliason and I talked about pain management and I am going to try a new drug called Tramadol. I went to get it from the pharmacy at Safeways and they needed to confirm with him what he wanted because he said Tramadol and she said he must mean Tramacet but couldn't give me that on her own.

I told the pharmacist that I would be back in a couple of hours and I went to see Robert and April at my favourite seafood restaurant. I had a lovely lunch there and then went back to Safeways. They couldn't talk to the doctor because he was busy. I knew that the office would soon be closed for the weekend. Grrrreat. I still have lots of T3s but I need something better and was hoping I could get started on it. Oh well.

I went home and had things to do before donning my Red Hat Regalia and heading to Peachland to ride in a convertible in the Christmas Light-up parade.

The Pharmacist called again and said they WERE able to reach the doctor. My prescription was ready and I could come and get it. First though she wanted just to mention a few things about the drug and make sure I understood the directions etc. So she told me that I should take one pill a day around the same time of day preferably. I said "WHOA, my doctor said I would be taking 1 or 2 pills every four hours as needed up to a maximum of 8 a day." "Oh," she laughed, "this is long acting so you only take 1." "WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON" I bellowed, "MY DOCTOR AND I DISCUSSED LONG ACTING VERSUS SHORT ACTING AND WE DECIDED UPON SHORT ACTING!" I, needlessly to say, was angry.

At this point the pharmacist (one I don't know well yet) said "but it is the only one that comes without Tylenol and you said you didn't want Tylenol." (SHIT) Me: "I didn't mention ACETAMINOPHEN, which is Tylenol, it was you who said it came with or without and I told you I would prefer without if I was given a choice. Can you not read a prescription? Does the amount he ordered plus the number plus the frequency not enter into this? HE ORDERED SHORT ACTING AND IT IS SHORT ACTING I WANT!" So now the pharmacist was having to phone him again and I was wondering if she was going to be able to figure out what he was prescribing.
Half an hour later she phoned back and had my prescription ready for me. I had Marcy pick it up on her way to Vernon (to take Cassidy to her grandma's). Damn, I was weary by this point. I had this pharmacist once before and she made a mess of things that time as well. I usually take prescriptions in and give them to whoever is there but I think I will wait until there is a pharmacist that I like (Tanya, Susan, Adam or John).

I was a tad late getting to Peachland thanks to all of this but as I had figured, the parade was late getting started. It was quite a short parade but fun. I rode in the front seat of the convertible wearing the awesome hat with leopard trim (that Esther gave me). Lots of folks yelled that they loved that hat. We drove from the Bliss Bakery to the Blind Angler. There we left the vehicle and walked back to the Gausthaus. It is not that far but a fairly long walk for me. Four youths came by. 'What the HELL are YOU wearing?' asked one with a snicker and a smirk. "CLOTHING", I replied and drawing myself up added, "furthermore, I am MRS. CLAUS and if you don't behave, I SHALL speak to SANTA." I think he called me a F**KING Bitch as he hurried off with his pals.


At the Gausthaus I went into a little shack they erected just for the season. There were thousands of ornaments for sale - hundreds to choose from. I bought a little cuckoo clock with the acorn weights. It cost $14.50 which is about 3-4 times it should have cost but they were all imported from Germany. It is tiny and weighs nothing but it is cute and a memory of the night.
I had a pint of Okanagan Springs Pale Ale and joined my friends at the firepit outside.

When I got back home I was exhausted and went almost straight to bed. I had a good sleep and went out for breakfast with Marcy and to a Craft Fair at the school. Came home for a while and took one of my new pills. Seems to work a little better than a T3 but time will tell. The most ridiculous thing though was that right on the box it said Tramacet 37.5 [Tramadol 37.5mg plus acetaminophen]. What is written in brackets was what my doctor had ordered for me. Duh!

I had a quiet afternoon before heading out again. Like I said in my last Blog - I am a social butterfly right now. In fact I am pretty much booked up until the 20th. I am guarding my Christmas by not telling anyone where I will be. I need a rest from people.