Tone Parsons

It’s already been a long day.

In the mornings, my wife drives me downtown to catch the bus. We’re always in a rush to get me there before it leaves the last stop (around 7:15) before getting on the freeway and heading out to Liberty Lake (the town I work in). Today, we missed it by about 30 seconds.

No problem, I can just hang out at the corner and catch the next one. There are several other buses that stop at the same corner, so while I wait, I wave them off (no point in stopping if I’m not going to get on). Unfortunately, after waiting 30 minutes for my bus, when it arrived I misread the number on it and waved it off.

Shit.

Now I have to wait another 30 minutes or so.

Of course, it was only about 22° (-6° c), so waiting outside for an hour pretty much sucked.

And that’s why I hate the damn drugs. They make me confused, rather unsteady on me feet, and for the most part, make me feel like total shit. Better living through chemistry, my ass! I did look up the side effects of the drug that’s kicking my butt. They are as follows:

drowsiness, tiredness or weakness, dizziness, headache, shaking of a part of your body that you cannot control, double or blurred vision, unsteadiness, anxiety, memory problems, strange or unusual thoughts, unwanted eye, movements, nausea, vomiting, heartburn, diarrhea, dry mouth, constipation, weight gain, swelling of the hands, feet, ankles, or lower legs, back or joint pain, fever, runny nose, sneezing, cough, sore throat, or flu-like symptoms, ear pain, red, itchy eyes (sometimes with swelling or discharge).

“Strange or unusual thoughts”? Hell, that’s me without the drugs!

This, of course, will pass… hopefully. The drug I’m on is for long term use so I’m stuck with it indefinitely (or until my Doctor decides to put me on something else). And I can’t just stop taking it…. that can cause seizures (and those aren’t fun!).

So… until I can drive my car again… if you’re in the downtown Spokane area around 7:10 am and happen to drive by Riverside and Brown, give me a wave… I’ll be standing in front of Praga (the Argentinean cafe on the corner).