PSA for all US Citizens of Voting Age

On a personal note...
I am voting after my chiro appointment today and I hear we are going to have record numbers. I love being part of this process and I think this is a very important election. In California we have a number of referendums that are really important so it is not just the presidential vote that is key here. Those little ballot measures can totally effect things.

My friends and I are getting together to have dinner and watch the coverage tonight. Woot.

I cannot talk about politics with the East Coast branch of the family. They are voting in true NH style. We have an East Coast/West Coast split as far as voting is concerned. I had to cut a conversation short with my mom on things political. I don't like to fight about it and thought it best not to.

So here is to the electoral process.


by skeletalembrace

I interrupt this election...

For a bit of medical madness. Let me explain.

So I am at work and doing my morning thing, which is putting on my make up in the bathroom when I get there. That way I am on time AND my make up is not messed up. Got it? Anyway. I look at my lips and there is a bit of a blue tint to them in the light. I look closely and it is unmistakable. I make a mental note and apply my lipstick. Moving right along. I periodically check it throughout the day and the blue color remains.

Tuesday, election day, lips are blue still. So your resourceful online friend here goes to google and types in "lips turning blue" as a symptom. All sorts of FRIGHTENING things pop up---lack of blood oxygenation, hemoglobin issues, cardiac issues...long list of things. I begin to convince myself that something is really WRONG and get that cold and clammy sick feeble feeling. All the sites say "This information is not medical advice and should not be taken as such." yada yada yada.

So my day is really busy and I have tons to do and so I keep working and go vote and then go home in the late afternoon to call my doctor, J*** and my mom, in that order. The medical staff at my doctor interviews me and I must have been convincing because they consult with the doctor there and they want me in RIGHT AWAY. I will go in that evening. Then, as I am talking with mi madre, I happen to glance into my bathroom and I see on the sink there...my BRIGHT BLUE bottle of el cheapo mouthwash (from Long's Drug's, specifically the Long's brand). I had bought this about a week ago and started using it. Light dawns and I realize the source of the blue tint to my lips.

THE CHEAPO MOUTHWASH of the bright blue variety

Upon examination of the ingredients, I find that there is something called "blue dye 1" which must be the cause of the mouth issue and it also has saccharin which explains the tinny taste in my mouth that I was sensing. Now it is close to the appointment time and too late to cancel so I take the bottle along to my doctor's office, rather sheepishly and have to explain the whole thing to the cute on call guy. I will digress enough to say, he was a hottie and it was a pleasure to laugh about this with him.

He agreed that the mouthwash was the likely culprit and we had a good chuckle. He said it was unlikely that I was having blood oxygen issues as my color was so good and I was not experiencing numbness anywhere else (fingertips...etc). He did give me some advice on flu prevention with echinacea and sent me on my way.

I threw the mouthwash away in the parking lot trash can across the street, at the supermarket. Stopped there to get cat litter.

All is well that ends well and be warned...don't buy the cheapo mouth wash.

You may now go back to the election.

(no subject)

Hope is kindled.