Monday, April 09, 2007

It's Cold, a Cold, and Cadbury Creme Eggs

So, it's April, and that little weather icon under my Yahoo mail account displays a bright, yellow sun unobstructed by clouds. No matter how hopeful this report or the scene out of my window appears, the little number on the temperature guage hasn't gone above 40 degrees, and since there isn't an additional wind icon, after being deceived by the pictoral report and walking out into the wonderland of your back yard, you are suddenly bombarded by bright light transposed over chilly air only exacerbated by a brisk breeze.

At times like this, I am thankful NOT to be working on the Mayflower. The people who work on the Village site don't know how good they have it in their little, one room mud huts with a fire glowing in the hearth until they are forced to do a ship rotation. A ship rotation generally encompasses about four months at either the beginning or the end of the season, so you either start out in the miserable, cold weather or you wrap the season up with it. On the few occasions I have had to be down on the waterfront this year, each time I looked up from the pier to the half deck--the highest point on the ship seen by visitors--and saw a wool-clad interpreter taking the few opportunities to do their thing that the trickle of available visitors afforded.

Of course, out of no where, I have acquired some kind of sinus infection/cold. I felt it coming on the other day when I was out shopping for food at the supermarket. I don't like shopping on Saturday because everyone else is doing the same thing, and no matter how many people there are out there in one place, their lack of awareness of others around them only increases with the numbers around them. In Shaw's, this amounts to people parking their shopping carts in the middle of aisles while they stand in the middle of the now reduced space and have an inner debate about whether to buy Rice-a-Roni or Uncle Ben's. Seeing this over and over again inspires in me what I consider to be a locked-on-focused state of mind. I will walk through the store and have a game plan in my head--knowing what I will pick up, where it is, and determining what the most efficient means of getting all of my items in the shortest amount of time. This time, I was completely zonked out--and it took about an hour for me to get everything I needed. I went home and immediately took a nap. I could feel the beginnings of what I thought was a cold coming on, but I attributed them to my allergies given I had cleaned the apartment earlier that day.

And now, after getting through the whole winter without a single cough or sneeze that could be attributed to a lack of good health, I am experiencing that "rising" effect that happens after something starts in your throat and moves into your head. My choicest form of relief from this state is Advil Cold and Sinus. However, because a tiny proportion of the population somehow managed to make an illegal drug out of medicines like Advil Cold and Sinus or Claritin, I have to wait in line at the pharmacy counter behind a host of senior citizens, ask for the medicine when I finally get there, be scrutinized by the pharmacist, have my driver's lisence inspected, be forced to sign on a screen for the box, and then, ten minutes later, be bestowed with the coveted medicine by a reluctant pharmacist. And when you're not feeling your best, this song and dance is even more irritating than it normally can be.

Oh, well, at least Easter candy is on sale.

8 comments:

booda baby said...

Wow. That's some writing you can do when you're feeling like crap! Impressive!

Jean-Luc Picard said...

I couldn't write like that when feeling awful!

Jennifer Marsh said...

I know this grocery store dilema you speak of. Wow people are more idiotic in numbers. I also like how the barrell out of aisles to make a right or left hand turn, ram their cart into yours and then look at you as if it's all your fault. I've always stood firm that the rules of the road should also apply in situations where shopping carts are used.

The Stiltwalker said...

I'm pissed off that I couldn't find any snickers eggs this year.

M@ said...

What's even worse is when one of those grocery-aisle buffalos looks you in the eye and then turns back to his or her business, knowing you'd probably like to get around them.

I hate the public.

Rose said...

Hope you are feeling better soon.. but question: am I the only person in the world who doesn't like Cadbury Creme Eggs?

I can't believe that you have such strict protocol concerning such seemingly innocuous drugs. Only a matter of time before Australia gets those rules too then..

anonymous jones said...

Well I'm sitting here right now in Western Australia and I can tell you that Australia does have those rules! If you want to buy pseudoephedrine, especially by itself and not in combination with paracetamol, then you have to show them i.d., give them 40 good reasons why you want to take it, deliver a personal history and sign a book with your name and address! And don't those assistants make you feel like a criminal?! I fully empathize. Get well soon!

Kat said...

Can most definitely empathize. Nothing like feeling like crap when the weather is gorgeous. Feel better...nd enjoy those delicious sugar-bomb eggs!