The process meeting sucked today. I left work at 3:15 to make a 3:45 appointment at the NCSU health clinic to get my follow up MMR shot.
They said to check in at medical records. “Take this form down there to where it says, ‘Urgent Care’ and put it in the mail holder on the wall, and wait for them to call you.”
“Mr. Martin? Take this form to the pharmacy, pay for your shot, and then come back.”
“I have to pay again? I thought I paid it all the last time.”
“Uh-huh, you have to pay every time.”
I walked down to the Pharmacy, which is back past medical records. I handed the form to the pharmacist, expecting her to ask me for a credit card or something. “Go have a seat around front; we’ll call you when it’s ready.”
“Mr. Martin? Here you go.” She handed me to two little vials with the vaccine in it. “Take this back to the urgent care place.”
Missy, who gave me the bad advice about paying again, called me to the back, and gave me the shot after mixing the solution in the two vials together in one syringe. It’s a poke into the skin in the back of the arm. I could feel her just stuffing the last drops of liquid in at the end.
I ran to the Factory Card shop, and got some birthday cards, and some sympathy cards.
I stopped at the Harris Teeter at the corner of Edwards Mill and Duraleigh Roads. I haven’t shopped there since I lived on Azalea Drive. I hated that I missed an opportunity at the register. I had on my Out & Equal sweatshirt, which is gray, with the O&E logo on it. As the cashier handed me my change, and said, “Have a blessed day,” she jerked her head back to read through her bifocals and said, “Out & Equal, what does that mean?”
I was so caught off guard, and there was a line, so I said, “Oh, it’s a technical conference I went to.” I wish I’d said, “It’s a Gay & Lesbian Workplace Advocacy Group. IBM sent me to their conference last year.” I hate missed opportunities like that.
I had a half a pizza before going to class.
Class was fun. My article on the courier fonts was a big hit with Dr. Dicks, and the class for that matter. There wasn’t much class participation tonight. We spent the last 20 or 30 minutes looking at all of the technical writing societies you can join if you’re so inclined. I made a note of where each of their 2004 conventions were going to be held. That’s probably not the best way to decide which organization to join.
After class, I worked out — 30 minutes on the elliptical machine, and a one-mile walk. Just as I was leaving, Adam was arriving. It was 10:05. He’s always there late.
I chatted for a few minutes with Robert on AIM. He thanked me for “brightening up his day.” I checked my work e-mail, read the EAGLE database, and caught up my journal entries.
Life is good.