Maybe it is Time to Move

The other day I got home from work just after 8 like I normally do. On my way upstairs I remember thinking just how nice it is to work nights since now I am not home when the fire alarm goes off. As it turns out, I picked the wrong morning to be having that thought. Not 2 hours later the fire alarm is going off. Azrael is hiding in my closet and the super is banging on the door... an indication it's a real fire. So I grab shoes, coat, wallet and cell phone and venture out into the hallway. I must say that all those things I learned in school about what to do in case of a fire has long since disappeared from memory. On my way outside I almost trampled some little old lady. Personally, I just chalk it up to Darwinism and "Survival of the fittest." Don't worry I didn't push her down the stairs or anything. Get outside and you can see smoke billowing from a third floor window. Fortunately it was on the other side of the building and away from my apartment. The fire department got there pretty quick. There were 4 fire trucks, the command vehicle, 2 police cars and an ambulance. Lots of activity. After almost an hour (good thing it wasn't all that cold) a bus showed up. It was somewhere to sit that was a little warmer. But, not even 10 minutes later, we were given the all clear and allowed to return home. Seems it was caused by an improperly placed heater. What concerns me most is that this is the 4th fire since I moved in 2 years ago. Granted most of them have been minor but still. I have never had the pleasure (or pain more like it) of being evacuated from a burning building before.... and now it seems to be a regular occurrence. Perhaps it's time to look for a new place to live... or at least get insurance on all my belongings. Pictures to come later, I am currently at work.

Brutal End to a Brutal Day

So the good news was that I got the MacBook Pro. The bad news was that I also discovered I had another infected abscess. That really took away from the day. This time it was on the right hand side and, of course, since that is my dominant hand I tend to use that arm more often. I was just at the hospital a month ago for this... I really didn't want to go back. But I know what happens if you don't get it taken care of. You end up at the ER crying like a baby when they cut it open. So I was trying to be happy about the MacBook Pro (once I got it working anyways) but was exhausted, in pain, and dreading that trip to the ER. Each time I end up having to go in twice and each visit is about 4 hours.... Not exactly how I wanted to spend the long weekend.

So Friday I make my way down to the ER. When I get there it is packed. So I get through triage and take a seat. 30 minutes later not a single name has been called, either for the fast track or for the non-fast tracked. I did get to see the security guards have to restrain someone after they ripped their IV out. I think it took about 2.5 hours for me to make it to the fast track area. How the hell is this fast tracked? By this point I am developing a REALLY bad migraine. Finally get in to see the doctor and he tells me it's too small to drain and puts me on an antibiotic. Now it's good news that they don't have to surgically drain it. But that also means that I could end up having to go back if it worsens. The other bad news is that they put me on an antibiotic. I have no drug coverage currently and am so broke that I borrowed $20 to cover rent. So then I ended up having to borrow another $25 for the antibiotics.

Finally have something to eat while I take the medication. And the migraine is so bad that I am trying not to vomit. It's pretty rare for the pain to be that bad. I get home and lay down on the futon. I wanted to stay up so I could take another round of the antibiotics before going to bed. But it was pretty brutal. I was dozing off and on. It was also hurting my neck.

And just when you thought it couldn't get any worse.... at 2:00 a.m. the fire alarm goes off. So not what I needed. Splitting headache.... and the alarm is not quiet. So I stumble around to get shoes.... keys... phone.... and then head out the door. Now I run into a guy in the hallway that tells me the alarm was pulled on the 4th floor and shows the alarm. But at least it's quieter outside so I keep going. And I am standing out front when the command post arrives. He asks me how I'm doing. My response, "Better if the alarm wasn't going off." Then 2 fire trucks arrive. But they didn't stay long. This must have been the shortest alarm ever which is good.

Today is a much better day. The migraine is gone. So far today the medication has not made me nauseous. I suspect that will be a short lived thought since it made me feel pretty sick yesterday. Went out and got some sun. Now I am relaxing. I am pretty tired from my lack of sleep Wednesday night... and just a culmination of things so I am taking it easy for the remainder of today... and probably the rest of the weekend too.