Kevin Standlee: Fandom Is My Way of Life

My doctor's office ordered a metabolic panel because we're just over halfway through the initial course of Ozempic plus a potassium supplement. Unfortunately, because it's highly impractical for lab results to move between medical systems, that meant I needed to go to the nearest Sutter Health lab, which is in Roseville, 150 miles from Fernley. However, the weather has stayed dry (which is otherwise unfortunate), so this morning I left for Roseville at 6 AM and got to Roseville three hours later, which is pretty good time including two restroom stops. My total time at the lab was only 30 minutes including check-in and my own fiddling with my phone before I checked in. The draw itself took only a few minutes and was routine.

As I had been fasting for more than twelve hours for the blood test, even with the Ozempic suppressing my appetite, I was hungry. I left Roseville and headed up to Emigrant Gap to have breakfast at The Rustic Table. My timing was good, because the place was nearly empty when I arrived, but shortly after I put in my order, others started showing up, including a very large group that had reserved about a third of the restaurant.

My breakfast was just fine. I deliberately ordered something smaller than I typically get, and it was the right amount. Fully satisfied, I continued toward home. Unfortunately, I realized that something was wrong, as the charger wasn't recharging my mobile phone. Stopping at the vista point outside of Reno, I checked and discovered that the fuse controlling the dome and other interior lights had failed. I stopped by O'Reilly Auto Parts and bought an assortment of fuses. To my relief, the replacement held and didn't immediately fail again, which would have been a sign of something more serious. Not so good was discovering that the switch that adjusts the brightness of the instrument panel lights and also turns on the dome light was stuck. Luckily for me, it was not stuck in the "dome light on" position, which would have run down the battery. I expect that we'll be able to get at the switch and (I hope) and get it back the way it should be.

I stopped at WinCo Foods for a small number of things that Lisa asked me to buy, although I did forget one item for which I hope she will forgive me. I had a few other errands as well, which took a while, and I did not get home until 4:30 PM, more than ten hours after I left.

I also think that I've developed a sinus infection. That persistent nasal drainage that the Ozempic induces I think leads to infections having a path into my sinus. I'd use something like Actifed/Sudafed, but it's contra-indicated for high blood pressure.

I have set no alarm for Sunday morning. Luxury!

We have a lot of things happening this week. Medical appointments, dentist appointments, another vaccination (we try to not do multiple shots at once), and so forth. Combined with the effort it took to do the house cleaning this weekend (it does look a whole lot better), both Lisa and I are already worn out and it's only Tuesday. I'm feeling very sore from having wrestled that Rug Doctor unit around (twice) and I'm glad that I had a chiropractic appointment yesterday. Much of this needs to be done before we head off to Westercon at the end of the month. And then when we get back from Utah, we shift into getting-ready-for-the-Worldcon trip mode, which is going to be huge -- even bigger than last year's NASFiC Canadian road trip and expedition to Hudson Bay by train.

We're starting to get some hot weather here, and without any usable vehicle other than the Rolling Stone (which, like the still-shopped Astro) has no working air conditioning, means no good options for errands. I did walk to the post office (where there was a Westercon-related package waiting) today, and then because we need some CLR solution to clean the accumulated minerals from the swamp cooler before we can use it, on to Big R. I guess it could have been worse. There was some breeze, and of course the humidity is negligible. But I still felt pretty wrung out once I got home.

In between other tasks dealing with my mother's hospitalization, I ran up to Oroville and the Butte County Clerk's office. I was born in Butte County, and I wanted some certified copies of my birth certificate. They cost $16 each, and there's no discount for multiple simultaneous orders. I used my passport to prove I was who I said I was, having used a previous certified copy to get the passport in the first place.

It was, fortunately, a slow day at that office, and I didn't have to wait at all. It's an hour drive each way, but it took only about five minutes to get the certificates. The new versions of the certified copies are much fancier than the old ones, all on bond paper with better looking seals. The data is the same, of course.

I got back to Fremont about an hour or so ago after a long day. I hope to get to bed soon, because I have a lot of Day Jobbe ahead of me tomorrow. And I also need to try to get the van's driver side door handle repaired.