It has been oh so cold today, with a bitter wind. It is to be cold overnight tonight, then hopefully the temperature will begin to rise.
Things have been busy here at Mist Cottage the last few days.
Yesterday I had an appointment at the bank, it went well, but it was very complicated. The last time I met with the bank errors were made (by them) that complicated my account. Yesterday was finally the day to sit down and remedy the situation. I think it went well, but since I haven’t received the “paperwork” yet, I don’t really know. It seems it will go well this time, I hope I am right. I was experiencing a bit of stress over that situation, and am glad to have that appointment behind me.
Today I needed a blood test, for my upcoming appointment with the endocrinologist.
The local lab is someplace I’ve come to loath. It is crowded, and even with an appointment patients sit for a half hour or more in a tiny crowded waiting room. I seem to always get the same woman drawing my blood. In my opinion she has an unstable personality, and has taken a particular dislike to me. She had lectured me on not wearing makeup, not wearing nice clothes, and at the last appointment she was throwing the vials of my blood down on the table with a clatter. She seems more aggressive every time I have a blood test. The bruise on my arm spanned right across the inside of my elbow, over two inches in diameter, it hurt and took a long time to heal. And whatever she did affected the muscle in my upper arm, very weird, which after more than six months has not completely healed. I have decided that if humanly possible I will not return to the local lab for a blood test again. There is no other local option.
I made an appointment online at a lab an hour’s drive away, but that is very unsatisfactory because I had to fast for twelve hours, and really wanted a relatively early morning appointment. There were none available, at all, so that I would have to wait until at least noon to have the test, and before I could have a bite to eat.
So Attila suggested we set the alarm for 5:30 a.m., get ready and drive an hour to a lab in the city to line up there for a “drop-in” blood test. That is what we did. At 7:30 a.m. I was fourth in line waiting for the doors to open, seen within ten minutes, was attended to by a lovely, lovely woman who took my blood painlessly, expertly, and pleasantly. I have NO bruise, the muscles in my arm are no worse for the experience, and we managed to do a few errands in the city while we were there. I ate my breakfast in the car on the drive home.
The appointment made online was cancelled.
Later this morning we ended up grocery shopping and dropping by the drug store to pick up medications.
Then it was back to kitchen stuff.
I decided to have a tuna sandwich for lunch. After opening the can of tuna I pressed the lid down as usual, to squeeze out the water in the can, and suddenly it squirted a forceful stream of tuna water into my face, glasses, hair and across my sweater. An interlude of face washing, glasses washing, and a change of clothes followed. Attila and I had a good laugh.
The rest of the day was spent on the computer, taking care of administrative stuff. Things like responding to the email I received from Canada Revenue Agency, suggesting I should login to my account and read a message left there for me. I never ignore suggestions made to me by the Canada Revenue Agency. That was one of many little digital tasks. A list of what needed doing was made, and each item crossed out upon completion.
And the very worst thing about a few busy days… ask Ginger… with all the activity and preparations I forgot to refresh his water bowl yesterday morning. Panic! Horror! The world had come to an end. The water bowl was refreshed as soon as he lodged his complaint. It was checked frequently by Ginger all yesterday afternoon and evening, accompanied by strong verbal reminders of my misdeed. I think I am forgiven now, he is sleeping, having aired his views and satisfied himself that I’ve seen the error of my ways.
Worldly
Weather
-4°C
Date: 7:00 PM EDT Friday 27 March 2026
Condition: Partly Cloudy
Pressure: 102.6 kPa
Tendency: Rising
Temperature: -3.5°C
Dew point: -13.5°C
Humidity: 46%
Wind: SW 7 km/h
Wind Chill: -6
Visibility: 24 km
Quote
“Give what you have. To someone, it may be better than you dare to think.”
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
1807 – 1882
Glory be, Maggie, the woman at the local lab does seem unstable. I’ve heard medical personnel raise issues about people wearing too much makeup in a medical setting (remembering a woman who showed up for eye surgery with multiple layers of paint!) but ragging on you for not wearing makeup? And what do clothing choices have to do with anything as long as the clothing is clean and tidy? What the actual fluff? So glad to read you had such a good experience at the “drop-in” lab.
As for Ginger and his water bowl–priorities! I’m sure he thought he had you better trained.
Wendy, the woman at the lab is certainly someone to avoid. I didn’t care about her opinions as long as she did her job, but the last visit was concerning. I wonder if she is suffering from oncoming dementia, that might explain the freely expressed judgments and the deterioration of quality care. Avoiding her is my best option, and thank goodness I have options!!
LOL, Wendy I am sure Ginger is much disappointed with my performance! Perhaps he feels a little embarrassed by his trainee’s failure? 🙂
“Perhaps he feels a little embarrassed by his trainee’s failure?”
Nope. It’s all your fault. And he’s very disappointed because he knows he trained you better than that. 🙂
Hilarious!
I’d travel to avoid that nurse, too! We are fortunate in Yuma to have choices. One nurse at the place near the hospital isn’t as skilled as their old pro, but the bruise isn’t that bad. (And no lectures, either.) Also, the Primary Care branch does the blood work, too. The nurses there are skilled. I think there’s another lab, but it isn’t in the ‘mycare’ network.
I hope your weather soon improves. As always, I’d love to send you a few degrees.
Joan, it it great to have choices, you are indeed fortunate. We are lucky to have a vehicle so that we can travel to the city as an alternative. Even if we did not have a vehicle, it would be possible because there are services for seniors here that allow you to book transportation two weeks in advance, there is a cost, but it is not unreasonable. I registered with them when Attila was working and took the car every day, they are very reliable and quite nice to interact with.
I would gladly take those few degrees! It would be win/win!
Last time I had a blood test, instead of a lab tech it was an EMT who entered the room. Taking her community training, she said. I’ve done lots of these, she said. Oh! The vein moved! she said. I ended up with a purple bruise the size of 2 toonies.
I hope you consider making someone in charge at the local clinic aware of that woman’s attitude and behaviour before she actually hurts someone. I mean, hurts more than their feelings. She doesnt belong in a job like that.
-Kate
Kate, I sure hope she doesn’t do any permanent damage to anyone! I have complained to the company, and written a negative and descriptive google review that was liked by many. No joy. I am unwilling to take it any further, and am relieved to have sufficient resources to make the journey to a well run lab for my tests.