I’m 65 years old now you’d think I’ve have learned to get myself to blog every day, yet somehow, I have lost that ability I used to have. Is this an effect of aging? This need to be studied. Who should I apply to for the research grant?
Let’s go back to the distant past, Sunday. I went to see Jeff Jakobs perform at the release show for his new EP, the Milk Barn Sessions. Jeff is a friend Dan, that naturally makes me suspicious of him as Dan is renowned for having terrible taste in music; He loves Dawes and hates Dylan. Do I need to say more? I wouldn’t have even thought of going but I have met Jeff and liked him. He sent me an advance single; to my shock it was good enough to be played on Gord’s Gold. I found to my relief that the single was not an outlier, that Jeff is an excellent singer/songwriter. Even a broken clock is right twice a day and Dan was right about Jeff. No way he’s right twice a day.
Jeff was joined by a full band including his brother on trombone. As I wrote in my last blog, I believe every folk band should have a brass section. I have trouble living in a world where that’s not considered obvious. He also had a bassist and drummer. Jeff played both electric and acoustic guitar. His songs were clever and thought provoking. That’s what I want from a folk musician.
Let’s go back even further to something I forgot to write amount. As a science supporter I volunteer to take part in medical studies, right now I’m in two COVID-19 studies. One of them involves me doing at home testing. On Saturday, my rapid result tests came while I was out. When I came home, I found the packaged opened and one of the four tests removed. This is not the first time this has happened to me. Someone has been stealing my Amazon packages too. I have told the building super but have not gotten a response. I am now going without my nasal strips as the last shipment was stolen. The previous shipment was stolen too but Amazon sent a replacement. I tried to have my next shipment sent to an Amazon locker but that does not appear as an option. I called customer service and they couldn’t do that from their end either. Things get worse. I was also sent PCR tests from the study, and it came when I wasn’t home and that too was stolen. I am having trouble getting a replacement. The people doing the study said to call the testing company. I called and they send contact the people doing the study. I told them what happened, and they had me reorder the tests. I tried and the site said I had already been sent the tests. I’m now on the phone trying to explain that I never got it. The part that bothers me the most is not the inconvenience or even those loss of sleep quality from the lack of nasal strips. The worst part is not being able to trust people in my building. I believe in people and that Anne Frank was right, but those few nishtgutnicks ruin things for the rest of us.
I have done the at rapid results tests and they’ve been negative. I like that I’ll be able to go out with less guilt as Ill be testing even more often than I am now. I just heard back from the testing company. They are sending out replacement PCR tests. The woman I talked to was genuinely nice and even wished me a happy birthday. See, deep down inside people are good. I refuse to become a cynic.
I celebrated my birthday by seeing Thor: Love and Thunder. My gift card finally ran out and I had to pay for it but thanks to the AMC Stubs program, senior discount, and earlybird discount It cost me less than $7 and as it was my birthday, I got a free large popcorn. How was the film? I’d say the third best Thor film, just behind the first one. Ragnarok was clearly the best. There were some issues with tone, too much comedy at the expense of drama and exposition. The comedy was good, I laughed, but the balance was off. It was not smoothly integrated. There was a throwaway gag with Zeus that broke the mood and that was not an isolated instance. The denouement was great, Thor films always get that right. The use of Guns and Roses was not quite up to Led Zeppelin in Ragnarok, but it worked. There was even a kid that insisted on using the name Axl instead of his given name.
After the movie I went to Maria’s Coffee and picked up whole bean espresso. I had run out and had been using Café Bustelo. I know others like it, but it doesn’t work for me. Marie’s is so good that I’m spoiled. I walked home from Marie’s in the heat and paid for it. I was exhausted when I got home. I made a milk shake with the ice cream I bought for my birthday on the way home and then collapsed. I need to go shopping again but I don’t want to go outside. My apartment is great, it’s 95ºF outside, feels like 98º and I haven’t needed the AC yet. I did yesterday and it is starting to get warm now but I’m still good with just a fan blowing on me.
I got calls birthday calls from Dan, my sister, and Katherine. I’m 65 but that’s still important to me. I also got over 200 FB birthday wishes and even a recording. There were also birthday texts. I realize that the fact that I’m currently on a waiting list for a new therapist makes me appreciate these things even more than usual. I told Dan to be scared about what was going to write about him.
Am I leaving out anything? Yes, I got my shingles vaccine on Tuesday. I must have been out for that when the PCR tests came. When I got the first vax at the same time as my second COVID-19 vax, I got sick the next day. I think it was just my Crohn’s, but even if it was that doesn’t mean it was unrelated. It also doesn’t mean it was related. Yesterday morning I felt a bit out of sorts in the morning and was afraid it was happening again. I took my Crohn’s med and Tylenol to head it off at the pass. I don’t know if it worked or if I never needed it, but I felt good enough to go out in the afternoon.
I have no plans for today. Tomorrow night have plans but there is a possible glitch. Till then farewell wherever you may fare until your eyries receive you at your journey’s end. I should start saying that on Gord’s Gold. I like catch phrases, as do Thor and Jane aka Mighty Thor.
Wise Madness 