madbaker: (Bugs Bunny)
Early Monday morning I got out of bed, and because we had not fully unpacked from the weekend yet, bashed my second-smallest toe against my wooden clothes box. It hurt, as expected, and I thought no more about it.

When I got up, the toe actively hurt and was 2/3 purple. I went to work anyway, but I was limping a bit. So I made a doctor's appointment for today and am working from home to make that easier. Today, of course, the toe hurts far less and so I will cancel. (I was pretty sure it wasn't broken - it didn't hurt enough for that. The doctor was a precaution but it would be a waste of everyone's time today.)
madbaker: (scary clown)
I've been a little congested the last couple days, but I figured pollen and/or rain and barometric pressure were to blame. Yesterday I just felt drained all day and couldn't muster the ert to make any dinner (not that I was actually hungry). Then when I went to bed, I was cold. Unexpectedly cold - we still have our winter flannel sheets on. I curled in a fetal position for a while before sleep brain realized I could throw on sweats and a heavier top. That did the trick and I was able to fall asleep.

So yeah, I habe a code.
madbaker: (KOL)
I enjoy drinking coffee. After a brief period as an undergrad of habitually overdosing and then going cold turkey over the summer to counteract, I conceded the psychological addiction but limit my intake to prevent a physical one - I don't like getting a caffeine headache if I don't drink it. What that means in practice is that during the week, I have a single cup of coffee before I leave for work. Approximately once per week if I am really lagging, I allow myself a second cup after I get in to the office.

Our building, in its attempts to retain and attract tenants in a depressed office market, has been updating the 100+-year-old building slightly. The latest amenity is a new lounge on our floor with couches, a couple tables, a microwave... and a free coffee machine.

Part of the way I enforce my limit is that I have to go out of the building and buy a second cup of coffee. It's just enough inconvenience that I have to feel like I want/need to do it rather than just being available. So... I am going to pretend that this free coffee machine doesn't exist.
madbaker: (disgruntled clown)
Not commuting for two weeks got me out of the habit. My trip in to the office isn't difficult, by any stretch, but I am tired now.

At least my cow-orker is out this week so I get the office to myself. That should help the transition back.
madbaker: (Bugs Bunny)
So far this COVID variant is still acting like a medium cold. I'm not thrilled, but it's far easier to manage. Once the symptoms go away - hopefully not that long, as the internets say 10 days is common - we'll wait for a couple negative tests before venturing out again.

Our friend Crystal was immensely kind enough to drive up and drop off a care package. A variety of Trader Joe's prepared foods, which is great for brainless preparation, and stuff from her freezer. I was blown away by the thoughtfulness.
madbaker: (Bugs Bunny)
Jury duty gabe me a code.
madbaker: (disgruntled clown)
In the last set of storms, my pressure-induced headaches have returned for the first time in over ten years. They aren't at the migraine level, thank $deity - just pain pressure that generally can be dealt with a half dose of Excedrin. (Although one was a ballpoint pen cap stabbing me in the temple repeatedly.) I don't know what's changed recently, but I would like it to change back, please and thank you.

Somewhere around twenty years ago, I bought a $50 light black leather jacket at Costco. It was made in India, presumably by non-Hindus, and was perfect for the SF climate. I wore the heck out of it, but over the last year it's been clear that it's on its last cuffs. (General layer shedding and abrasion revealing the lining on the cuffs and sleeves, as well as around the zipper.) The difficulty has been 1) finding the right weight, as I would rarely wear an East Coast weight; 2) finding a similar generic style I can wear with everything; 3) the above at a cost I can live with. I knew $50 wasn't going to repeat itself but I couldn't stomach paying $2k for a designer jacket.

Fortunately, the wife found one that met all three criteria. It arrived last week and... apparently new leather offgassing is a thing. It made the entryway where it hangs smell like overheated electrical wires. So it's hanging in the back porch and occasionally getting rubbed with coffee grounds. We're getting some leather conditioner that's supposed to help as well.
madbaker: (disgruntled clown)
The storms have triggered my trick sinuses. Fortunately, my pressure headaches are not usually at significant migraine levels. They can usually be dispelled with an OTC drug. Time to go take one.
madbaker: (Bugs Bunny)
Earlier in the week I got a text to make a yearly eye appointment. The wife just had hers, so I held off but kept it in the back of my head.

A couple days later, I got a notice to check in for my appointment today at 11:30. I never made this appointment - and couldn't make it, as I have work then - so I responded as such. I didn't expect it to really go through but didn't care enough to call them.

Today, I got a call around 11:40 reminding me that I was late for my checkup. At which point I told the receptionist the story and said I would make an appointment when I was ready. She was flummoxed and vaguely apologetic. I'm not sure she believed me, but whatever. I'm not willing to be rushed into making it.
madbaker: (oxford comma)
  • I made a really good couple pizzas last night (Resolution Recipe to follow). Both the dough and the Italian sausage came from a pizza book that I checked out from the library. This is the second time I've tried its dough recipes and both times they were superior to anything else I've made - even with hand-stretching the dough for both attempts as normally I roll them out with a marble pin. I posted a picture to FB and a couple people commented that it looked professional. Dammit, now I have to consider buying the damn book. That probably means getting rid of another (signed) pizza book I have that I don't use all that much.

  • Our friends Paul & Gwen from Caid are up today, seeing the Tudors exhibit at the Legion. We're planning to have lunch with them, which will be a nice catch-up.  Tentatively planning to walk to the Mission for either birria and other tacos, or a Guamanian place if they're open.

  • Assuming that my sudden-onset cold is just a cold; two people in the GSP rehearsal last weekend have COVID. My tests yesterday and today were negative. I think I'm going to work from home tomorrow anyway so that I can take a couple naps during the day.

  • A local small chain of super-premium ice cream shops is opening up on the other side of the hill from us - easy driving and parking. It's in a former Quicky-mart that closed during lockdown (no great loss). I checked their website and they're fairly old-school, founded in the '50s in Oakland. They have some newer flavors, like ube and salted caramel, so they're willing to move with the times. What makes me stupidly happy though is that one of their flavors is my absolute, hands-down favorite: Mocha Almond Fudge. Which I have not been able to find easily or nearby before now. I just have to wait another month or so for this place to open...

  • My Laurel scroll is framed! We picked it up yesterday afternoon and it looks even more fabulous (we didn't skimp on the frame job). We're going to have to move at least one scroll around on the wall to make room. I'm okay with that.  I will have the wife take a picture of it this week so I can share (and send to the artist).

madbaker: (Default)
The wife and I have been suffering lingering colds for the last two-three weeks. Or possibly two separate ones, as the symptoms had gone away and allowed us to go to WCCS. But ever since then we've been sneezing, coughing, and hacking.
COVID tests have been negative. The wife even got a chest X-ray to make sure it wasn't pneumonia, because that was how it started. That was negative too. So it's either a low-grade flu that didn't get vaccination protection, or a really bad cold.

I stayed home from work last week. No one else is in the office right now, but I didn't want to make the trek. I am (knock on wood) feeling better today and came in, but I am trying to take it easy anyway.
madbaker: (mammoth garlic)
I have a cold. I'm in the "heavily congested and coughing quite often" phase. The wife and I came down with this a couple weeks ago, but it was mild to start and went away before WCCS (or we wouldn't have gone). Either the colds roared back with a vengeance, or we caught another from someone there. Either is plausible.

The wife called the Kaiser advice line, because she is skittish about this not going away in the normal time frame - that was how our pneumonia cases started. I am pretty sure this is just a cold (COVID tests have been negative) but we're going in for X-rays tomorrow just to make sure.

I was vaguely amused when I had my phone appointment with the doctor: I mentioned my penicillin allergy, and she confirmed that my file said I got a rash. Sort of - it was actually full-body hives, and I stopped breathing. She updated my file to mention the anaphylactic shock because that's a slightly different risk profile than a topical rash.
madbaker: (oxford comma)
Yesterday during my physical therapy appointment, the guy was making small talk while stretching my shoulder. Upon learning that I work in finance, he asked me what advice I would give.

I was tempted to say "Never get involved in a land war in Asia," but sensibly refrained and instead replied "Max out your 401(k)."

Flu Bye

Oct. 23rd, 2022 10:35 am
madbaker: (Pulcinella)
While I was at the medical center for phys therapy, I spent another ten minutes getting this year's flu shot. No side effects noted.
madbaker: (disgruntled clown)
I've been having sporadic, but re-occurring, shoulder pain. Occasionally to the point where I can't use my arm to, say, tuck in my shirt behind my back because that rotation hurts too much.

I've been applying a menthol rub which seems to help. I suppose I should schedule a GP visit so he or she can give me exercises and tell me it's an inevitable part of getting older.
madbaker: (mammoth garlic)
Friday we went to see "The Treasures of Ramses II" at the DeYoung. I didn't feel strongly about it but the wife really wanted to - and unfortunately the membership is in my name, so I have to attend with her as my plus-one. Last time I renewed I tried to switch it to her, since there are more exhibits she wants to see without me; but no luck.

Anyway...Read more... )
madbaker: (Galen)
I got a COVID booster yesterday. In and out pretty quickly. I forgot to bring my vax card (duh) but the tech filled out a new one for me. No side effects so far except a slightly sore shoulder, which is consistent with my previous reactions as I only got them from the first shot.

Miss Beatrice jumped onto the bed during the night and slept on my chest for a few hours. She left and then came back later to settle on my shins for an hour. I'd like this to be a regular thing, but it hasn't been in the past. I didn't sleep well but I can't blame that on the cat; she did her best to emit snorons.
madbaker: (Pulcinella)
I stupidly sliced my right index finger on an empty can last night during dinner prep. Twelve-plus hours later, it still hurts with any pressure. So I'll be bandaged and/or bleeding for the next week. At least it's at the base of the pad, so typing doesn't affect it.

Gal-athea

Jan. 24th, 2022 01:24 pm
madbaker: (Pulcinella)
Yesterday we performed Galathea, a 1583 English play, for a small group of people. In person - no one wanted to do a Hollywood Squares Zoom production. Both the audience and the actors wore COVID masks. That made it harder for the actors, of course, but such is life. We may try to perform again when we can either be outdoors (and so unmasked/unmuffled) or perhaps for Twelfth Night (whenever that happens again).

This has been in the works for a while. It was what we had planned to do for Twelfth Night 2021; we had cast back in July 2019 and read through once, but not gotten any farther before Things Got Cancelled.

I have quite a few thoughts on this, but they are jumbled and I don't want to spend a lot of time getting them out and editing. So I will just say that I am glad we did it. It wouldn't call it one of our top three productions, but a fine performance and the audience enjoyed it. It was much better than our last in-person production. No serious line drops, awkward pauses, or anything else of the like. (I completely spaced on one line at the end of a monologue, but I dropped something else in that worked okay.)
madbaker: (Galen)
Due to the various medical visits, I have been working from home more the last couple weeks. Miss Bea is taking advantage of me using the office by sleeping in her spare carrier stored here. The soundtrack of kitty snores brightens the office immensely.

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