poor boyfriend

My poor boyfriend had a rough day today and I wasn't there to do anything to help him.

He was scheduled to have a CT done. Most CT scans are done with contrast dye these days, and I didn't think anything of it, but I joked with him last night that he might get a hot flash from the dye.

He went, got the scans done. As he was getting dressed, he felt itchy. Then he noticed the hives.

He said that he then got a technician. They recognized it as an allergic reaction to the dye. Stuck another line in him, poured fluids in, and started pushing Benadryl. He said that his vision got blurry for a time, and then slowly he got better.

He had the nerve to complain that the second IV bruised his arm.

"Honey," I explained "they're less concerned about bruising and more about saving your life."

I also told him he was a good boy for bringing up the itching after the exam, and said that at least he was in a good place to have such a reaction.

When they let him go, he stopped and got a late lunch with a few beers. Appetite is a good thing.

Having massive amounts of Benadryl from a drug allergy makes most people tired. When I had my reaction, I was so sleepy afterwards I was grateful to have my friend drive me home. And here he goes and makes a stop at BevMo where he finds my gluten-free beer in stock today.

Got home about the same time I did. We talk for about 45 minutes about what happened. Then he finally says that he's tired and wanted to go lie down.

About time ;-)

But I'm so touched that after all he went through he got me some of my beer to enjoy this weekend. Now I'm really glad I got the surprise gifts as a belated birthday present for him (he's earned it).

It's days like this that make the distance tough.

Sunflower

I've heard about this new chain of stores called "Sunflower Market". I drive by one on my way to work every day.

I thought it was a "Food City" kind of place (don't ask - if you don't know, you're better off).

Then I heard about this doctor friend of mine said that she only shops at Sunflower. Interesting timing since I saw a commercial for Sunflower advertising a market for gluten-free diets.

So I stopped by there on my way home from work. Found various gluten-free products scattered here and there. The produce selection is pretty good. Their frozen food section isn't much - too much stuff and not enough space. But the prices are pretty good. Cheaper than the other stores I've seen gluten-free foods (sorry guys). So I got my stock of the Blue Diamond almond crackers, Amy's soups (ummm, corn chowder), soy crisps, and Arizona Tea Company's Sweet Tea. I also got a bag of one of their trail mixes from the bin (they had like a dozen different kinds!) that has dried cranberries, pineapple, cashews, and chocolate chips. And the chocolate chips didn't melt even though I still had more errands to run.

I talked to the cashier asking if they had a list of their gluten-free foods. He said "No, but in the back corner by the restrooms there's a table with gluten-free snacks and foods."

I tried to walk through the store, but totally missed the table. Something to look at the next time I go.

Another GM ripoff

Okay, I still don't know HOW it happened. One weekend morning over a year ago, I went to the stores at a strip mall. Used my remote to lock the doors, went to store 1, then store 2. Then to my dismay, keys and remote to unlock the car are MISSING

I always kept a spare car key and remote in my purse and fished it out to unlock the car. Every day for two weeks I'd stop by both stores and ask if a set of keys were turned in (the two biggest stores in the strip mall). Every day, no luck.

Went around to replacing my keys that were on the set.

But still had the nagging feeling that I should have an extra remote to my car. With the cutoff switch, just having a key to the car isn't good enough - it won't start without using the remote.

My Mom was telling me a story about Grams getting confused about that. When her battery died, she was able to use the second key to start her car. Her battery wasn't replaceable, and she paid about $50 for a second key.

I started to notice that I was having to press Unlock several times before the doors would unlock. Fearing that my battery was dying, I figured now was a good time to get a backup remote for my car.

So I stopped by the car dealership. It'll cost $90 to get another remote. Then another $50 to program it so it'll unlock my car and unlock the ignition.

"What? That's a ripoff!"

The good news is that the battery is replaceable on my remote. $4.50 later, that was taken care of.

Guess I will not have to lose this remote.

One day with the new toy

Okay, I've had my new Treo 650 for a whole day now.

I've already customized the color scheme, uploaded all my contacts, loaded the pdf reader program (one of my pdf files wouldn't convert though).

Playing with the camera with my photogenic Magnum, and next month I'll get the internet package to upload the ubercute pictures. After my activation fee clears.....

The keys are a bit small with my large fingers, and I find I'm using the stylus more than the keyboard.

One issue that came up was when I got home, I tried to unlock the phone. You have to press a phone key (either on or off) and then it prompts you to press another key to unlock the phone. The prompt came up, and then locked up. Taking out the battery, then turning on the phone again after the Palm reboots fixed it. If it does it again, I hope I'm in vicinity of the store to take it and hit the salesman head with it.

I cleared a space in my purse for the new phone. But the pouch doesn't latch closed and is too high to the top of the purse. When the purse falls over in the car, the phone would tumble out causing me a quick panic until I found it between the seats.

I also need to splurge on a Bluetooth headset next pay period.

Plus I couldn't help but notice that in places my other signal would die cause the signal to die too. The connection flakieness doesn't seem to be happening though. But my Treo takes a long time to refind the network. As long as it works at Alamo, I'll be happy.

I also splurged for the Roadside Assistance package for the phone. It's only $3 more a month. I hope I won't need it in the middle of the desert, but it's peace of mind.