Slap it like a junkie!

I didn't have a good start to my day.  My hair was so dry I had to put it under a shower cap before my shower. 

Normally I have very oily hair and have to wash it daily, but after my henna treatment it's been pretty dry.  I am conditioning it but I notice a difference.  Not sure if I like it or not. 

I think it might have been the clay the maker adds to the henna.  I think that sucked all the oil out of my follicles. 

Anyway, I showered, God time, ate, ready to go. 

Ron got up and we went to Starbucks, which was packed.  I found him a set next to a woman with multicolored hair.  She seemed nice enough. 

I headed off to the lab.  Oops.  They didn't open for an hour and fifteen minutes.  Great.  I went back.  Ron was talking to the woman, who, as it turned out, is bipolar and off her meds.  Oh, boy. 
Gro
She wasn't too manic though and she kept Ron entertained. 

I went back to the lab.  I saw an older man with one leg, in a wheelchair, sitting outside a restaurant as I passed.  I figured he was waiting to meet family. 

I got to the lab.  I had to fill out all my paperwork again (they purge every few months).  The lithium level has gone up to $70.  Ouch. 

I sat down in the chair and took off my purple hoodie.  I told her the right arm was "good". 

"You'll have to tie it up and slap it around before you'll get any blood, though."  She laughed. 

"Slap it like a junkie?" 

"Exactly!  Oh, it needs to be tighter.  You have to make it really tight (the tie off) to get anything."  She obliged and I had a very good stick. 

At the blood center, I told Ron, they kind of rape the arm.  They just go in there, tie it up, slap it around, and go after it with a large bore needle.  But they get the job done. 

The lab, on the other hand, tries to seduce the vein.  They coax it gently with little finger tickles, a very gentle tie off, and lots of poking. 

Interesting analogies, I think. 

Anyway, bandaided, I went back to Ron.  I felt pretty crappy today, still do.  Just a lot of chronic lithium toxic symptoms.  Groggy, foggy thinking, walking funny, low blood pressure, etc.  Also had some "digestive" issues today. 

Ron and I went to the warehouse club and got some drinks, then took them to work.  I stocked a few chips and basically sat around while Ron did all the sodas.  Hey, if they're selling, I'll work, even if I feel awful. 

I have just been careful about standing up - I'm an old pro at this from my SSRI antidepressant days.  Get up slowly, ideally while holding onto something.  Don't rush. 

After work, we went home for a little bit.  Then we went to Walmart.  Ron was out of cat treats.  I wanted to get a few things so I can play around with hair beauty treatments.  Do it myself stuff. 

While at Walmart, I was horrified to see a brand name hot oil treatment had mineral oil as the first ingredient.  Mineral oil depletes the body of vitamins! 

Better, I figured, to make my own.  I plan to make up a grapeseed hot oil treatment, maybe with a dab of coconut oil, tomorrow. 

I also heard good things about coconut milk so I intend to research that.  It's innocous, cheap, and will occupy the mania for a while. 

Then we came home.  Boy, I am beat, but we got it all done and I have a couple days off. 

I'll enjoy them better knowing we did the machines today.