Run free, wild snot! Run free!
Posted on October 30th, 2009 –
I finally managed to get my ass out of doors early enough this morning to walk instead of taking the streetcar, and I ran into a giant roadblock.
And that’s not even the worst of it. I initially woke up feeling a bit off but I attributed that to a lack of sleep. By mid-day, I was suspecting the company pumpkin carving contest (we won!), had done me in. But at three o’clock, I excused myself and went home.
Now I’m panicking. Did I eat any pork recently? Oh my God! I had bacon for breakfast last Saturday! Islam and Judaism had it right all along!
If I’ve got the pork flu, it’s way too late for a vaccination. And one of my cubicle buddies had something unpleasant for the past few days; went down suddenly last night and never made it in this morning. :O
And *gasp* look at the lineups for H1N1 shots this morning!
(big!)
Oh, wait, that’s just the starting spot. I followed the line down the sidewalk at right. It made another tight snaking pattern into an adjacent courtyard in front of Metro Hall, and wound it’s way back out onto the sidewalk.
I took to the sidewalk again and walked to the end of the block, turned around, and started side-stepping in an ill-conceived attempt to montage the line:
(biger!)
In places where people aren’t obviously lined up, they’re just behind something. You can sometimes just make out their cute little heads poking up over bushes.
But most of them may be doomed because there are an awful lot people there and, according to some accounts, clinics are only managing about 20 per hour. People were being turned away in the hundreds yesterday because they hadn’t gotten in by the time the place closed. And, *chuckle*, people are not gonna be happy to hear that now there’s a shortage of the vaccine. Dopey bureaucracy may have killed us all.
It wouldn’t have made any difference for me. Whatever I’ve got has already made itself at home and a shot yesterday would’ve been too late.
All I have left now is a thermometer, electric heating blanket, and Oliver to apply pressure to the sore areas. Luckily I’d splurged recently and now have a healthy collection of tissue boxes (with soothing aloe!) to accompany these small comforts. Dear reader, the snot’s running wild and free tonight!
... with pictures
... with sounds
... with videos
... with opinions
... that's shorter
... that's longer
October 31st, 2009 8:08 am
Screw the flu!! Grab your Kleenex (I used the brand name because I want to make bonus) and your scotch (if you have any left from the other night) and just drink yourself into oblivion. I hope you are feeling better soon.
Btw ~ I love the pictures on your site they are so crisp and sharp, what kind of camera are you using
November 2nd, 2009 2:41 pm
Thanks, Mom. Kleenex in hand and fighting!
About the camera, it's a Canon Powershot SX10 IS. I love the entire Powershot series but this particular model has just outrageous specifications. For print or high-res stuff it's not the best camera, but for the web it's great. A little Photoshop and the magic of size reduction help to bring out the final punch.
October 31st, 2009 5:39 pm
Hi. The way you tell it is hilarious.
I'm a Muslim but that doesn't mean I'm safe from H1N1 risk either. It travels through air.
It's interesting to read how different countries handle this problem. When Mexico death toll reached 68, the government declared a state of emergency. In my country, when the death toll reached 64, the government declared that things were under control. Makes me wonder which planet that my country leaders come from….. xD
November 2nd, 2009 2:46 pm
I think it's all relative, Syarlilady. I'm willing to bet that the regular seasonal flu kills more people than H1N1 will. And considering that new flu vaccines come out each year, I can't see how H1N1 could be worse than anything else out there. One country's pandemic emergency is another country's mild annoyance.
November 1st, 2009 9:32 am
Well…on the upside you can now eat all the damn bacon you want!
November 2nd, 2009 2:47 pm
Ha! Yes, Tanyia! I've always said there's an upside to all the crap we endure, and you've shone a light on this one. And it tastes salty and good :)
November 1st, 2009 8:39 pm
I love those aloe tissues! Hope you are feeling better and the snot flow is slowing…
November 2nd, 2009 2:49 pm
Thanks, Jaya. Actually, the flow's increased, but that usually means it's house-cleaning time, doesn't it? I sure hope so.
March 9th, 2011 3:55 pm
I have never been Vaccinated or plan on being vaccinated. For some reason I heard that it might make you sicker, and as it turns out I never get sick (knock on wood)…and 33 now. I might have a change of heart one day, but for now I feel alright about not having to stand in long line-ups and feel the side effects. Am I wrong here?
March 10th, 2011 7:43 am
Nah, I agree with you, Jarvis. Especially when it comes to the flu … if they need to bring out a vaccine every year it means the virus is changing at least as often, so anything you stick in your body to get an immunity is a guess at best. I dunno if it'll make you sicker but I frankly can't see the point. Besides, I like the opportunity to stay home for a few days every winter and watch bad daytime TV (being sick). Why people would want to eliminate that is beyond me!