Originally written Thursday, February 28, 2007:
Need to make a trip to the emergency room? Don’t go to Swedish Covenant Hospital’s E.R., where Brian and I have now been for two hours, even though I told the triage nurse that I rated myself a 9ish (out of 10) on the pain scale.

While waiting in triage, located approximately 15 – 20 ft. from the entrance, we made the unfortunate discovery that the sliding glass doors wouldn’t slide shut. Brian happened to glance at a thermostat, which read 54?F — indoors. Fortunately, we waited only 15 (very cold) minutes in triage. Afterwards, the nurse was kind enough to let us wait in the emergency room itself, rather than in the waiting room, which is next to the entrance.

Kind as she was, however, I was the one who offered to give a urine sample. I’ve made enough visits to E.R.s in the past, and they always ask for one. I may be mistaken, but I believe this is standard, especially for women, to ensure she isn’t pregnant. The results dictate the procedures the staff may or may not be able to perform. When I finished, I set the cup where she instructed.

The restroom was disgusting: discarded hospital gowns littered the floor; the toilet seat was raised, displaying a large, dry urine stain towards the back of the rim; and the sink desperately needs Drano? Build-Up Remover. When I urinated again later, even more gowns were strewn around, and the stain remained.

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I know I haven’t written one of these in two years, but here’s one:

Get a flu shot every winter!

I never have, and now I regret it. So yet again, I’ll be taking a (hopefully) short blogging hiatus because my symptoms have worsened since yesterday.

do not fire your gun on New Year’s Eve.
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this marks the return of Chicago Living Tips!  unlike last year, however, these will be posted as i think of them instead of every Monday.

today’s tip:  while driving down an alley, as you approach a T-intersection, be sure to honk in order to avoid a collission with someone coming from another direction.  it can just be a couple of little taps.  you don’t have to lean on the horn or anything.

one side of our apartment overlooks an alley.  because of this rule, i’ve learned that someone in the neighborhood has a car whose horn honks the first bar of "Tequila."  you know:  honk-honk honk-honk honk honk honk honk.  what a treat.

tomorrow’s Chicago Living Tip will run late–sometime after 8am, but it will post.  i started a partial hospitalization program in the past couple of weeks (long story, if you want all the dirt go here, though that has yet to be updated; and no, i’m not in rehab–been there, done that), which means i no longer have all the time in the world to play video games, read comic books, and surf the Internet.  as a result, all of my blogs are suffering from sorely needed updates.  this is also why i haven’t replied to anyone’s comments regarding the cat killers up north, etc., so i apologize for that.  but hey–who loves you, baby?