Finally free

To try and limit the amount of stuff that I have to move that I don't need anymore, I'm going through everything and throwing out what I don't need anymore.

Last week I came across a box labelled "bathroom". I didn't have to open it to know what was in it. This was the box of all the medications I had been on to manage my ATN pain and related problems.

I could have just tossed the entire box in the trash. But I was a bit worried about dumpster divers. I am pretty sure that someone could kill themselves if they wanted to feast on the pills in this box.

I decided to dump the pills in the toilet. I went through every bottle before disposing of the contents. It was a bit therapeutic, and a bit of "I don't remember this medication". Serious about the latter comment.

Goodbye Neurontin
Goodbye Tegretol
Goodbye Mexitil
Goodbye Wellbutrin
Goodbye Lamictal
Goodbye Provigil
Goodbye Morphine
Goodbye Actiq
Goodbye Valium
Goodbye Ativan
Goodbye Ambien
Goodbye Duragesic

And several more goodbyes. This doesn't include the allergy medicines.

I guess it was like a monkey on my back. Or the white elephant in the room. But it's gone now. It's somewhat liberating to get rid of what was my ball and chain all those years. Those medications took all those years of my life that I can never get back.

I suppose it was a long overdue farewell. But it's over and done with. They will not be going with me to Phoenix.

Voter confusion

Friday, the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals tossed out Proposition 200.

The voter approved measure required proof of citizenship to register to vote. And proof of identification on election day before getting a ballot.

The fine print was such that the identification had to match the register book (which mine didn't). You could provide bills and such with the registeration address. But I harrassed the poor lady, and got a real ballot in the primary. I did also have the voter information card and resgisteration card with the matching address.

With the general election less than a month away, the 9th ruling creates chaos for the poor people that will be at polling places. The state's attorney general filed paperwork with the Supreme Court to reinstate Proposition 200. The uncertain nature that could last until right before the election is sure to create differening experiences on election day.

I'm so glad that I am doing absentee ballot.