Weekend

Before I start my rant about my weekend, I’d like to clear up to sweet GoneWacko and dear orudge that I am *not* participating in any self-mutilation. GoneWacko was right about the metaphor. I tend to not want to explain things that are a bit too personal (even though this is my blog, yes) and I’ll think of something equally painful, but in a different sense. The pain and wounds I was ranting about in my last post was emotional. I promise. And thanks for your good wishes, guys

Now. About my weekend:

So, I’m taking care of some stuff for the government. (Here I go again being vague. I am not a FBI or CIA agent… Or a member of the mafia, contrary to popular belief.) It just has to do with silly immgration stuff…

One of the things I have to take care of, is a TB (tuberculosis) test, drug tests, and a pair of vaccines.

So my parents and I get to the hospital where we’re going to be poked. From what I could see in the reception area, it was frequented by mostly Armenian (or thereabouts) folks. And perhaps this is why I liked the place so much. See, I have an inherent fear of nurses (real ones, mind you). They tend to be mean, and well, who likes an overweight grouchy bitch wielding a needle? My mom says I should be used to it by now, having spent some of my childhood and some of my teenage years in hospitals and clinics and stuff. But, nope, can’t get used to it. I’m not a stranger to pain, but there’s sometihng wrong to me about injections. I just don’t enjoy them.

So my name gets called, and I walk into the room where they have the seats to sit on, with the arm-rests up high. I take my sweater off and sit, feeling nervous. Then in comes in a slim old armenian lady. She looked really rather friendly. She smiles at me, says Good Morning, how are you, and makes idle chat about my life. She gets me to tell her about my pet birds, and my schooling, and about a recent bout of flu I had. All the time, she’s preparing the goddamned needles she’ll be injecting me with. She does, however, ease my nerves.

First thing she does, is get a needle connected to a little vial. This is for collecting blood for a blood test. (I, quite honestly, and innocently, thought we’d be submited to a urine test, and had drank about 3pts of water that morning, and so had to pee really badly.) My face falls and she says “Don’t worry dear, we’re quick here,” with a motherly smile. So I relax. But I know what’s coming. She looks at both my arms and here’s our exchange of words:

N: “Hm, interesting.”

Me: “What’s interesting?”

N: cheerful voice “You don’t seem to have any veins!”

Me: *freaking out*

N: laughing “No no, you have veins, they’re just particularly small, and deep within, past your dermis. It’s okay, we’ll find a vein!”

Me: worried now, I show her where the last nurse drew blood. She tries there, (owie ) and nothing comes out. She tries another place. No dice.

Then she goes out and calls a doctor. The lady doctor, very sweet, very polite, kinda cute, looks and looks, and squeezes my arm, makes my pump my hand, feels around, and nothing. The lady doctor calls another doctor. Very obviously american. He says “Why do you keep poking her? Just draw it where it’s obvious”, and he pokes me RIGHT IN THE WRIST. You know, the veins where emo kids cut, on the left arm. I don’t cry or anything, but I close my eyes and bite on my lip. Figures, I thought, the foreign health care specialists are the nice ones, and the American is the asshole. To my surprise, the old little nurse pets my hair and says, “I know it hurts sweetie. I didn’t want to poke you there, but he’s right. Better to get it over with than for you to walk out of here with polka dots all over you!” And it makes me laugh. Truly and honestly, these nurses were *awesome*.

Then I get some kind of triple vaccine, and a tetanus shot. OW. Seriously. BIG OW. But I didn’t cry either. The nurse kept saying these lame but sweet jokes about polka dots, and it distracted me. The lady doctor also took a look at my tonsils and said I would probably have to get them removed. Apparently, I’m mutated!

Even though I didn’t get a lolypop, and I felt like my arms were on fire for the rest of the day, and even had nightmares at night, and couldn’t get a rested sleep, I was okay. Sunday, I woke up, and my TB shot looked fine. This morning, I woke up and OMG WELT. Right where it was injected, I can see the shadow of a quarter sized rash appearing. My dad, also, tested positive, though his is much worse. I do feel like I’m getting a bad flu, complete with sneezing and headaches, and loss of apetite (I’m usually munching on something this time in the morning), so I’m rather worried. According to the nurse, X-Rays are next!

ON THE UPSIDE:

On Saturday I received a package from a very special someone. The letter had such wonderful words of consolation, and love, that, as depressed as I was on Friday, I feel a million times more cheerful. ALSO: I’m getting a New Laptop! I will post pictures of what I’ve chosen, once I decide on what I choose. Even though money’s tight right now, that special someone said I should go right ahead. Everyone needs a little pick-me-up once in a while. What better way than to get a new lappy! *glee*

And hi to all the #tycooners out there, especially GoneWacko, orudge, Andel, jonty-comp, marcf, RPharazon, JTanczos and lws1984