To celebrate the first day of spring I had a dip in the cement pond. “This looks like a job for Captain Equinox!” I shouted as I leapt in. I didn’t stay in long however and what I shouted coming out of the pool was less certain. I suspect my next attempt will be at the summer solstice.
I don’t need a weather app to tell me it’s spring as my allergies are active. The high pollen count is beastly unfair as it is warm enough now to sit out of doors but I can’t as to do so is miserable. You would think after 15 years I would be over this but no every spring it’s like smallpox to the natives. DougT and Leon the Larger, our out of town guests, think they have a cold so I may have one and not allergies. I don’t feel sick – and I still have taste/smell – so I am going with allergies. The OTCs help some but leave me feeling like I am walking in a haze. Happily they need little entertaining which is good as I need to take frequent naps.
Last Friday at work, The Boss, The (new) Other Doctor, and a representative from The Overlords gathered for a chat. When I heard they were having a noon meeting (with pizza) and it wasn’t on my schedule, I figured by day’s end I would be handed an empty box to clean out my desk and be escorted off the premises. Turns out the agenda was considering establishing a TMS (trans-magnetic stimulation) centre. They asked me to join and would I would be interested in participating. I said yes. If this works out, I will become a ‘Director’ and my drive to Mesa will be cut from 2/week to 1/week. I would also get a ‘substantial raise’. Hot puppies! I hope this works out.
I was pleased as Punch to finally get caught up with my blogger buddies. I was most happy to find Steven at ‘So this is me” posted after a year’s hiatus. I stop by regular hoping to see him post. I was just about to move the link to the graveyard of departed bloggers and lo! There he was.
That’s about all the Spo-bits that’s fit to print. This is due to writer’s block thanks to Zyrtec and leading a dull life. I hope The Muses (or somebody like them) provides me soon with something more substantial. I hope too they bring decongestants.
Spo-Reflections 
33 comments
March 20, 2022 at 3:48 AM
DwightW.
I know the Polar Bear Club Goes swimming January 1st but it sounds similar. Even though that’s not what you call your oxsters, I’m sure they were in heavy hiding mode. Everyone in my house has heavy allergies ours is oak and pine beginning in January and continuing through April. I have a neighbor dying of pancreatic cancer, not alcohol related . She and her husband have lived next to me thirty two years, they have a magnificent Angel oak in the front yard. I pray she will live long enough for it to spread its leaves once more. Hospice is there and I try to keep my dogs quiet. I’m not sure if I would want to die in silence or with the sounds of the world around me. Very sad they have been a joy , he will sell and move north And some imbecile will move in next door Three out of Four neighbors around me have died or left. I hope the More permanent no travel more money option materializes. I gave up on antihistamine decongestants years ago.
March 20, 2022 at 6:55 AM
Urspo
I always appreciate you taking time to write out your thoughts; I enjoy reading them.
I wish to give up OTC but then my allergies say otherwise.
March 20, 2022 at 4:55 AM
Blobby
a raise! a title upgrade! PIZZA!. Everything is coming up Milhouse!
March 20, 2022 at 6:56 AM
Urspo
On the negative, Someone points out this is not the first time I was promised a bonus and ‘big raise by March’. I see this as a promise delayed. He is less charitable
March 20, 2022 at 6:20 AM
Lori Hawkins
Congratulations!! I hope everything works out. You deserve it.
March 20, 2022 at 6:57 AM
Urspo
It is very kind of The Boss and The Overlords considering they could probably give me the pink slip and save money. On the other hand my patients of decades would rise up and be difficult.
March 20, 2022 at 7:30 AM
David Godfrey
For a few weeks each year, a solar water heater would extend the pool season, then a cooling system for a few months. I sometimes find that time in the pool eases my allergies. (Hopefully our indoor pools reopen in April and May.)
March 20, 2022 at 10:47 AM
Urspo
I forgot or didn’t know you had a pool. I hope it is nice one.
March 20, 2022 at 7:33 AM
Debra She Who Seeks
Hey, I hope the Director position and the substantial raise work out! That would be terrific and well deserved!
March 20, 2022 at 10:47 AM
Urspo
Never mind the title, the substantial pay raise will suffice.
March 20, 2022 at 8:32 AM
Debbie W.
Many congratulations on your new title of “Director”. It is surely well-deserved, and it always makes me happy to see good people recognized for their good work.
March 20, 2022 at 10:48 AM
Urspo
Herr Directory sounds scrumptious indeed.
March 20, 2022 at 8:43 AM
jenn
A bit of serendipity with your post – we were just yesterday explaining to our 22 year old son what we meant by loading up the truck Beverly Hillbillies style when we move him home from college at the end of April. He didn’t know what the tv show was about, so we explained, referenced the “cement pond” and even sang the theme song for him.
I sincerely hope you get the increase in salary – you’ve been at your profession for a good long while and deserve it!
It will be many months before we are able to go into our cement pond. -Jenn
March 20, 2022 at 10:48 AM
Urspo
The cement pond (pronounced see-ment) indeed is a reference to that show. I recall it was quite a popular show.
March 20, 2022 at 9:21 AM
Parnassus
I just looked up TMS, apparently a new way to fight depression. Have you worked with it and do you think it works? It reminds me of those Victorian electric/magnetic quack devices. On the other hand, I know that those TENS units really help, at least marginally.
–Jim
March 20, 2022 at 10:50 AM
Urspo
I haven’t kept on top of it as I wasn’t one to do it. There is a colleague in Mesa who does it almost exclusively. Now that I may be in charge of it as it were, I better get cracking on its worth and efficacy.
March 20, 2022 at 9:28 AM
Robzilla, Native Of Slam Diego
Oh, that new job opportunity is wonderful news! I hope it works out.
Pizza is always good. I love the pepperoni one at Costco. It’s huge, 12 slices and only $9.99. You can eat for days with that if money is tight, or if you just happen to like pizza.
March 20, 2022 at 10:51 AM
Urspo
I have yet to try the Costco pizza; you are not the first who have lauded it as good/good value. I suppose they make them ‘at a loss’ to get folks in to buy the other more profitable things.
March 20, 2022 at 9:56 AM
Old Lurker
Summer solstice?! By that time it will be too hot, and there will be comparisons to bathwater. I feel it is time to summon the Spirit of Michigan (land of Perpetual Ice and Snow) and take a few more dips in the gelid waters before it gets too hot.
The directorship sounds intriguing. Will you now be supervising others? I hope you don’t go mad with power.
I was also pleased to see Steven blogging again. Please send him an email to encourage him to continue posting.
March 20, 2022 at 10:53 AM
Urspo
You are correct by July it will be too hot to take a dip for cooling off. Then its a good dip prior to bed time to cleanse off the day.
The Directorship is probably just a token item to say a proper MD is managing things when in fact it’s being done by a tech. Details to follow as to how it gets done/written etc. Let’s not count our chickens; this is still in the idea phase.
I sent a note to Steve (the dear!) to keep regular.
March 20, 2022 at 11:28 AM
Will Jay
I hope that the offer is in good faith. It is nice to be asked to build something new and, should the Overlords prove faithful to their promises, may be professionally reinvigorating.
Thinking about the first day of Spring and reading your post reminded me that this is about the time of year for my peak allergen episode – I was trying to figure out why I was lethargic and had a headache. It is time to pull out the Neti Pot and Flonase for a week or two. May this too pass.
March 20, 2022 at 11:34 AM
Urspo
Flonase! thank you for reminding me to start this up as part of the morning ablutions
March 20, 2022 at 2:29 PM
Robert
So sorry to read the allergies are back. While mine seem to be only a snuffle in comparison, they are there 24/365. I’m taking OTC pill plus two nasal sprays.
Thank you for stopping my blog and commenting. My tardiness in posting grows worse with age.
March 20, 2022 at 4:04 PM
Urspo
I always am glad to read your posts, and to receive a comment from you.
March 26, 2022 at 2:27 AM
Robert
❤️
March 20, 2022 at 4:41 PM
Anne
When you mentioned “a big raise” I recalled that same promise a couple of months ago, that apparently never materialized. I can certainly see why you are leery about all of this.
March 31, 2022 at 11:59 AM
Urspo
The Boss assures me this is so.
I will keep bringing it up until i get it.
March 20, 2022 at 5:36 PM
Richard Portman
Bummer about the allergies. I know you are Jungian psychotherapist and all that, not a botanist, but can you identify the source of your allergies? If so, you can try to minimize contact until the season has passed .
I am allergic to a few plants. Come to think of it, I’m allergic to a lot of things, but i am talking to you about plants.
March 31, 2022 at 12:00 PM
Urspo
I suspect it is the palm trees and the mesquite of which we have plenty.
Unfortunately so much blooms at the same time it cannot be discriminated without an allergy test.
March 20, 2022 at 11:27 PM
Linda Practical Parsimony
To keep my head and ears clear and deal with allergies, I use Ipratropium, flonase and take montelukast and claritin. This is year-round. I am allergic to everything!
March 31, 2022 at 12:01 PM
Urspo
No fun that.
My allergies are limited to March-May which is more than enough
March 21, 2022 at 1:42 AM
BadNoteB
Montelukast seemed to be the magic bullet for my unidentified allergies – kind of an exasperated final effort by my doc after trying everything else in his arsenal. I, too, take it daily as a helpful preventative to surprise attacks throughout each season. The best and most helpful discovery, however, was the Neti Pot. I was mortified at the thought of such a thing (isn’t that how people drown?) and two docs reacted as though I was subscribing to voodoo medicine when I inquired about it, but it’s the only thing to bring continued relief when the allergies are determined to have their way with me.
March 31, 2022 at 12:01 PM
Urspo
I thank you for the tip. I should try it too.