Still off sick and a visit to the clinic.
17 July 2009
• RNSYS, Halifax, NS
by Mike
I wasn't feeling any better today so I got the stereophonic nag from Kayt and Barb about a visit to the doctor. Since our family physician was not likely to have an appointment for a while I visited one of the city's walk in clinics. The good sawbones there seems to feel that I have a regular flu as opposed to the piggy variety but took a swab just in case. For those of you that have never had a nasal swab, allow me to illuminate you: the doctor takes what looks like a piece of straw from a broom only with a tiny piece of sterile cotton at one end of it and inserts about 4" of it into your nose. That's right - four inches! It has to reach into the rearmost sinus cavity but I swear that I could feel it scratching the back of my head. Then he hauls it out along with the catch of the day and sticks it into a bottle to send off to the lab. Apparently I'll either be well by Monday or he will have the results from the lab to tell me what strain of flu bug has taken up residence in the old carcass. Something to look forward to!
I have finally screwed up to courage and hooked up the compressor to the new fridge and flipped the on switch. Imagine my disappointment when the darn thing just sat there. But a couple of swipes with the magic voltmeter and I discovered that boneheaded old me hooked up the power supply backwards so a simple switch of plugs and it is now purring away happily. Good thing too, what with the flu giving me about as much energy as a vicar at the end of a vineyard tour. I was a little worried about the Freon hoses that I have run between the compressor and the fridge. One small kink in them and the whole project would be for naught, but all appears well. Now all I have left on that project is to put the drawer in above it which (dare I say it?) be relatively easy. I am wondering about the drain pipe hanging out of the bottom of the fridge. I can help but wonder if that isn't simply letting out all the cold. I think that I might put a shut off valve into it to be opened when we clean out the unit.
Tall Ships are in Halifax and one thing that I especially curse this flu for is the fact that I really don't feel up to going down to the docks and taking a look. Neither do I feel that I should especially if it's likely that I'll be spreading it to others. So, instead I view them vicariously through Barb's involvement as a volunteer with the security and the guide books that she brings home at the end of the day. The weather forecast had been for miserable weather but someone up there must be looking out for the organizers as every day has been sunny and what rain there has been has been saved for at night. All day long boats from RNSYS have been loading up with passengers and heading out to motor along the waterfront and view the Tall Ships from the water and I have been watching equal numbers from AYC putting along to do the same. I sure miss doing the same.
Barb has a volunteer job of security at the Tall Ships, one that I certainly don't envy her for. You are asked to do security with minimal training and certainly no authority other than the bright red shirt that you wear. What is she supposed to do if there was some issue in her area? Call for help? Especially Barb as she is someone who is very Black and White and takes everything very seriously. I'd really like to know how much police presence there actually is on the waterfront these days. Almost everyone comes here for a interesting and fun day viewing the Tall Ships, but I am enough of a cynic to know that in crowds there are always idiots who want to jump the security fence, or skip the queue, or something. Well, I can't be blamed for worrying, but there isn't much that I can do about it. Barb has good judgement to know when to fold and walk away and get help, if it should come to that.
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