Day: December 22, 2022

Christine Bialczak poetry From my desk Haiku stinewriting

From my desk: 12/22/2022

Being sick is bad
Medicine is worse for you
What do you do now?
(Medical Haiku)

Today was the first day of my new medication, Simponi Aria. It is a very successful medication to treat psoriatic arthritis and other illnesses, but paired with Methotrexate has been life-changing for many people. The medication is given via IV infusion. I had to weigh in, answer tons of questions, hear all the precautions, etc. The infusion would take 30 minutes.

29 minutes was up. How do I know that? Because it was only a minute later that the beeper beeped telling the nurse my injection was complete. So 29 minutes, almost all the medicine right in my blood and I get an itch on my wrist. Then I got a second itch but this one was one hive! So, they rinsed out the IV line, gave me pills for my stomach, Benadryl through IV, a steroid through the IV, some other fluids and one other thing. I now need to take steroids for 6 days and 2 Zyrtec every night for two weeks. I guess I’m allergic to some component. I see the doctor in a few weeks. The nurses said I might feel great for a few weeks and to enjoy it if I do.

I came home from a 2-hour appointment, that was supposed to be 30 minutes, and went to sleep. Now, obviously awake, I have a horrible headache. I have been told to go directly to the ER if my throat begins to close up. Great! Otherwise, I’m fine…I am thankful for that.

Has anyone been on Simponi Aria?

Answer the questions Fandango's Provocative Question stinewriting

Fandango’s Provocative Question #195

Find it here: https://fivedotoh.com/2022/12/21/fandangos-provocative-question-195/

What do you think of Trump’s digital trading cards? Do you think it reflects a sound business and/or political strategy? Do you think it’s ridiculous and is something undignified for a former U.S. President (and 2024 presidential candidate) to do? Or do you have no opinion one way or the other?

When I first heard of NFT’s it was David telling me I should make some with my artwork and/or my miniatures. I looked into it and I still don’t totally understand them, as they are part of that digital world that has me meta-confused. Anyhow, I think it is an absolutely ridiculous antic from a despicable man who still has followers despite his stupidity. I’m sorry to anyone that still likes him, but anyone that does must have a mental problem. He is dangerous and selfish and cares for no one other than himself, well and maybe Putin. People bought the NFT’s thinking that some day they would be worth something well guess what?

I could go on and on and when all is said and done what’s the point? If you want to hold on to some virtual card so you can virtually sell it for virtual money, go for it. In my life I have better things to do and better things to spend my money on!

Random Writings

Christmas Grab Bag Game

Over the years I have been to different holiday parties where it is a Secret Santa thing and you pick one of the others in the group, shop to some stated limit, then have fun watching everyone open their gifts.

At my first teaching job there was an educational assistant that would put a note in everyone’s mailbox (now mind you there were only 4 teachers, 4 ed assistants, 2 social workers, principal, secretary on our small school staff). The note would state that whoever got her as their “person to buy for” she did not want any candles, no bath beads/bombs/soaps, no knick-knacks, no candy (as she was on a program), and no something else (I can’t remember the whole list). Well we would all hold our breath and grimace as we opened our little slips of paper to see who chose her. What could you buy? Most of the time I think people bought her scratch-off lottery tickets or colored pencils, since she loved to color.

For a different work party we had this other gift game called Yankee Swap. Everyone would buy something to said $ limit. With it wrapped you would place it under the tree when arriving at said location. You would eat and have some drinks and when things were starting to get boring it was time. Everyone picked a number. It was best to be the first person or the last person. Anyhow, #1 picked any gift and opened it. #2 would pick. They would open the gift and decide if they wanted to keep it or swap with #1. #1 would have to swap if that is what #2 wanted. #3 went and opened, etc. and then got to choose which of the three open gifts they wanted and trade if they wanted someone else’s gift. It went on and on and if you had something you really liked you would silently pray that no one took it from you, especially if they had something you really didn’t want. So by the time #18 or whatever opened they had 18 gifts to pick from! It was fun but one year I got Snuggies after someone swiped something I had previously unwrapped. Not a big deal but when you have three big dogs a Snuggie isn’t really anything but a hair collector.

So a few years back I “invented” my own grab bag. I say “invented” in quotes because I don’t know if I am the one who invented it or not, but it was the first for our group of friends. It was called Dollar Store Swap. Each person went to the Dollar Store and bought any one item to wrap and give. It was hilarious! My son got a pregnancy test! I want to say one of the male participants got feminine maxi pads. It was great because no one had to spend a lot of money, it was just fun to give.

Now, this year, as it was last year, it is only David and I. Lindsay will come for a visit when airfare gets more affordable,