Pomp and Circumstance

The good news for today is that I'm still alive and kicking.  Although I'm on day 42, I actually did get well for a couple of weeks (even though I continued to cough) before catching whatever this is again.  I'm sure it was the gal at Bingo who coughed in my face.  Why not go to a doctor?  I tried.  Here's the story about THAT!

It seems there is a doctor's consortium-like thing here.  They took a certain insurance for medical care.  For whatever reason, they decided NOT to accept the most widely used insurance company.  Don't ask me who that is because no one would come forth with the info.  Since those doctors refuse to see patients unless they pay cash, all those patients went to OTHER doctors (mine included) and are now so many that I cannot get an appointment for three months.  

If you go to the hospital here, you are most likely to die, so check that one off the list.  The two Urgent Care facilities can't get you in either ... not for just a cough with no fever or other symptoms.  Heal thyself is the current medical care here.  

On THIS morning, I'm not coughing near as much.  I don't know why since I was up all night.  But I'm getting ahead of myself.  I stayed on the couch all day long, feeling just fine except for the cough. The big Elks Installation was last night ... one I've never been to because I'm always in Arizona this time of year.  

Did I ever mention I'm an introvert?  Being single when everyone else has a partner has always been a problem too.  Who do you talk to?  Who do you sit by?  Upon arrival, I walked around the upstairs bar not finding a single person I knew.  I rarely drink, so I don't hang out there.  Finally it was time to head downstairs to meet the incoming group of officers who usually arrive in a limo.  

There aren't any limos in our little town, so the new "boss" drove everyone in his RV.  Little did he know, there is NO parking allowed on this street.  Sooooooo ... who is going to go park the RV since he needs to go upstairs???  There was a mad rush to find a driver.  I just kept my mouth shut for once.

Finally all together in the lodge room, the installation went as planned with lots of pomp and circumstance and hours of clapping.  That was okay since no one could hear me hacking and coughing.  I actually felt okay ... I just could not stop this dry cough.

Next up ... the best part ... dinner.  Table assignments were made.  They told me there would be a Trustee Table so at least I would know SOMEONE!  They lied.  I was seated at a table with complete strangers.  I can't tell you how uncomfortable that is for me.  They introduced themselves, none of whose names I can remember except one.  

Bart is a new officer, the owner of a small trucking company in a nearby town.  It was nice to meet him and his family.  It certainly made the dinner go by faster (and more comfortably for me) because we had one thing in common.  We both love to drive D9 caterpillars!!  

Dinner was the usual scalloped potatoes, bacon and onion green beans, salad, rolls and a big whopping chunk of beef.  Looks like prime rib, yes?  But this is actually a WHOLE New York Steak (because it's cheaper) cut in 1-1/2" thick slices.  I already ate a good portion of it, so I brought the leftovers home to share with Cooper.  Yes it is rare.  If you've ever raised beef in your life, this is how you eat it.  It's as tender as those scalloped potatoes.

Hopefully I was able to explain some of the sidelines of Elkdom to one of our newest victims ... I mean volunteers.  He's young enough to stay around for many years, yet old enough to be old school.  It's going to be a good year.

I did not stay for the dance afterwards ... with a BAND no less.  Why not stay?  Because I'm the only single person.  Wives do not like their husbands dancing with someone else (yes, its a thing), which was no problem at all because I just wanted to get OUT of that tuxedo!

The clouds looked pretty ominous.  I'm driving right into it!

They got worse as I went along and it began to rain.

By the time I got home and thankfully in the house, I heard a terrible noise.  It was so loud I went to see what was up.  THIS was happening!!  My gutter is once again plugged.  I just cleaned these things out!!!  This is SO not good.  

So guess what I'm doing today?  Maybe in six or seven hours, because I could NOT go to sleep last night at all.  My brain would not shut down and the coughing would only subside if I sat upright.  Cooper was not of any help since he kept wanting to get up ... I've no idea why.

I finally just stayed up ... no sleep at all for Nancy on this night.  I'll try to catch some zzzzz's later this morning, after I fix the gutter!   

Maybe some sugary waffles will help!!!