This week Tuesday off and I'm broke as F***, the Tuesday off because I have a Doctor's appointment that effectively takes up my entire day, first stop is to the used bookstore with another 30 lbs or 3 feet of books which nets me a total of $23.00.
I really should get into the used book business. I hate parting with them, as that begs a reliance on the internet, and - well, we know that at some point in the not too distant future things are going to go sideways and the world will need to be rebuilt.
But there's no place for them in the flat, the place already cramped with boxes and things that can't seem to find a place, slowly slowly letting go of them all.
The twenty-three dollars, choices, choices, it's burning a hole in my pocket, Vodka, Cigarettes or Groceries?
I know what the Doctor would say, and my fridge is bare, but I settle on Vodka.
***
The Doctors Encouraging, results much better, heart rate steady, blood pressure normal, I spent the morning drinking a tea of my own devising, cinnamon, ginger, tumric sweetened with honey, my own quack-medical holistic approach, which probably helped fudge the BP, but - really, time to shed a few bad habits and acquire good ones.
He updates my prescription and I think to refill it - but I've only $23 and that's earmarked for something else...
I read the labels, some of them need to be taken with food.
These meds, I find out, I'll be on them for eternity. "Until Death does us part".
Then back down the long flight of stairs, past a man harvesting apples, he gives me a couple and I think to myself "An apple a day..." but - really, I don't like apples or doctors, even though they've been nothing but kind. What really annoys me is that this was entirely avoidable...
A big pile of bear scat on one of the landings, which explains the man harvesting his apples. This is a popular spot with the wildlife. Step around.
***
On that note, faced with the imminent possibility of my own demise I'm speculating on which next of my neighbours will go first. I, while I present as healthy need to get even healthier and mine own can not be ruled out but I have a few things to sort out first. The death pool - barring surprise, I have 4 top picks. The hard-living tenants of the building, or just plain old, you can see it in their faces, and of those 4 two have been strangely absent the past couple of weeks...
***
The day degenerates, the neighbour pops over, wants company that she doesn't provide, just wants out of her flat, brings her laptop over and makes a space on the counter for herself, sets up, and for this I need another drink, she has no conversational ability, just sits withdrawn into herself, and unable to start or carry on a conversation, and I'm ill inclined to, we each sit in our own little worlds ...
***
Today, now two paydays behind and out of cigarettes and vodka and food I text the owner. One cheque comes in and I do the smart thing, pick up my prescription, pay my credit card, pick up a very few groceries, a scrap of canvas and I'm once again broke. The tip cheque, all it would do is pay a few more bills, it's behind, but I hate begging to get paid, even when it's dire.
***
I've been interviewing staff, 2 girls last week. I get them to write out their availability. No sooner does the schedule come out with their training shifts on it than they both complain they can't work them. We worked around their availability and they still can't be bothered to show up. Fucking staffing in the Kootenays.
I'm picking up shifts left right and centre until I sort out these bills...
And, now, at the library, only $20 left in the bank and once again I have some choices...
The pills, checking the fridge, there is no food and do I take them or not? What would happen if I took a pill without food? Isn't a pill "Food" anyways? I mean...