Not another appointment, please

Despite having loads of work to do, I actually managed to do very little today, not least because I had to run all over town for various appointments. Making appointments seems to be a good idea when the days spread ahead of you like an interminable vista, but when work is piling up in front of you, it can often be a source of regret. And so it proved today, sort of, even if the appointments were needed.
 
First up was Bobbi-Alyssa and her magic hands to take care of my ingrowing toenail that isn’t really an ingrowing toenail but which enables me to have a pedicure without going into a pedicurist. Sadly, this was the last visit before her delivery date – so we chatted about names and how the future was always going to be Before Baby and After Baby from now on. She’s being given an Irish name after her grandmother, who was a traveller and came over by herself to find a better life. She was under 5-foot – and married a man who was over 7 foot. It was a nice conversation – and you learn so many things from the people from whom you least expect to learn them.
 
While I was in that complex, I went and had the photos done for my British passport. I’m toying with the idea of a quick trip back – after all, with the hip situation, God knows when I will be back next – and I’m frigged if I am paying for a visa to get into the land of my birth. I’ll probably not end up going, but you can never be too prepared…
 
Wandered back home, did some letters and emails, and then had to pop over to Meadowlands for my Arthritis Society meeting. Thank God for the A.S., I say – as it is the only place I manage to get information. Having left a long and detailed follow-up phone message to my rheumatologist yesterday, I feel as if I am chasing my tail. He is woefully inept: I am not sure whether it is incompetence, dementia or just laziness, but I still haven’t got the results of my tests from him. I find that simply shocking. I mean, I get it that he is close to retirement and everyone wants a piece of him, but providing the results and interpretation of tests he ordered and which affect people’s lives is essentially the bare minimum. Maria at the A.S. was really helpful, and is getting in touch with my family doctor to see if a circuitous route to information might be found.
 
After that, I needed a break, so instead of driving home, went for a walk to Hog’s Back Park, where I watched the river exploding into the small canyon. The snow melt usually leads to flooding of some sort, but so far, so good, this year. We’ll see.
 
Home and a vain attempt to work, then I cooked Wiener schnitzel and potatoes and broccoli. Then I suddenly realised I hadn’t blipped for the best part of a week, so ran upstairs to catch up while Mrs. Ottawacker sat and threw a ball for our 12-year-old boy to dive and catch. It’s the small things in life :)