Advice for druggies

Here's some advice for all the addicts out there- ER docs do not write for a month supply of Lortab. If you think you're being clever by adding a zero to the end of what was originally #12, then you are going to go from getting 12 tabs to ZERO tabs.

I was off on the day this guy came in, and he was fully expecting 120 tablets. He even had the nerve to ask for the original twelve tablets!

Idiot.

I almost wish he came in on my day off. I have fun with people who try to pull one over me; I make them wish they never came to my pharmacy. If he asked me to fill it for the original twelve tablets after altering it, I would tell him my dilemma. If I fill it, I would be filling a script that has been altered in an attempt to procure additional tablets. Altering the script is against the law. If he asked me to fill it I would have to call the cops. Did you still want me to fill it?

I wonder if anyone would say yes?

It's been a slow week at the pharmacy. The most action I've had was a man in his fifties telling me that he loves his wife very much, but he had to let me know my teeth were very pretty, and that they were pearly white. This is from the same man who asked me a year ago what I do to get my hair to fall into place so perfectly. (For those who don't know me, the answer is: not much.)

Ending on a good note: a regular came to the counter for a pickup, she saw my name tag and said "you're the one I speak to on the phone all the time. You're always so helpful and nice".

Ma'am, you made my day.

CSA week 9

Yowzers. I have more than I can finish before my vacay. We're going to Maine! Yet why do I still want to go to red lobster? Pretty sad, huh? Well here's this week's bounty:

• 4 zucchini
• 2 bunches scalllions
• 2 bunches swiss chard
• 1 bunch beets
• 1 head of cabbage
• 2 lbs assorted apricots/plums/cherries
• 1 quart blueberries

Success: braised cabbage with apples and cranberries to go with pork chops

Not-so success: kale chips. Too salty. Oh well, you don't know until you try them.

CSA week 8

• 1 head cabbage (cone shaped, I don't know the name)
• 1 head napa cabbage
• 1 bunch of dill
• baby/medium carrots
• red kale
• 3 lbs cherries
• 1 pint blueberries

This week was rather productive. I made blueberry muffins with a crumb topping. The blueberries had just the right amount of tartness- delicious. I made a sweet cherry pie with an almond-coconut topping- amazing as well, the recipe is a keeper. I found both recipes on other blogs, and also on foodgawker.com

I got zucchini and peas from my uncle, and I plan on making a chocolate cake with the club-sized zucchini.

I also made some cukes sitting in a brine with the dill- I can't wait to dig into those pickles. I want to eat them all today, but my hubby loves full sour pickles, so we must wait. and wait.

I'm also waiting for my vegetable garden to come to fruition. We have some pepper plants that are just about ready to be picked, some green tomatoes, and the cucumber plants are going to explode as soon as I go on vacation, I know it. You turn your back, lift a leaf, and woah, there's a 12" cucumber. If my pickles turn out well, we will be eating a LOT of pickles. Yea!

Too bad I can't quit my day job to cook full time.

CSA week 7

Aargh! It's thursday already and I never posted last week's bounty! So here we go:

• 1 bunch of beets
• 1 bunch japanese turnips
• 1 bunch collard greens
• 1 bunch scallions
• 1/2 lb green beans
• 3/4 lb mixed salad greens
• 2 and 1/2 lbs cherries
• 1 container black raspberries

This whole healthy bounty is really having a positive effect on the way my hubby and I eat. We've been eating more fresh produce with every meal, simply because I would feel bad letting it rot and tossing it. It's a bit of a chore, but my body is feeling the difference. The other night at work I had chicken fingers for dinner. Deep fried, crispy goodness slathered with blue cheese dressing. They were delicious. An hour later, my stomach felt like crap. It felt so heavy; my body was saying "what is this foreign fried substance?" It was easy for my stomach to adjust to eating healthier foods, now I have to train my mind to ignore the scents that spur salivation (Homer Simpson style). I have grown up loving crappy, deep fried foods. I will never own a deep fryer for health reasons, but I feel like I could never give them up entirely. Maybe if I feel like crap enough times my mind will learn not to crave it.

-Healthy snack of the day- steamed green beans dipped in ketchup. They're not fries, but they were tasty and my body said thank you.

C25K

I started a new workout this morning- C25K, also known as couch to 5k. I've got the couch part down. It's an interval program where you gradually increase the running time (distance) while decreasing the walking time. Week one involves running for 60 seconds, walking for 90 seconds and repeating for 20 minutes, plus 5 minutes each warmup and cooldown walk.

I could never run. I was always jealous of people who could run and burn calories so efficiently. I would try and run, yet I could never make it past 5 minutes without complaining about something, usually abdominal cramps, my shins hurting, my inner thighs rubbing against eachother (if you're flabby like me you'll know what I'm talking about), always something. Reflecting on this morning, out of the 20 minutes, I was able to run for a total of 8 minutes. Of course I wanted to stop and walk at a comfortable pace. But how could I argue with myself when I kept saying "only one minute"?

According to the site if I follow the plan I can could be able to run 5k in 2 months, but they do allow you to repeat weeks if you're not quite ready yet. Wish me luck!

CSA week 6

So here's our latest assortment:

• 1 bunch beets
• 1 bunch of baby carrots (the real ones, not the ones that are shaped to look like miniature carrots)
• chard
• 2 bunches of lettuce- butter and red romaine
• escarole
• fresh sage
• Fruit share- 4 lbs cherries

I am very excited about the beets- I haven't had roasted beets for around 8 months, and the're so easy to make- rub them in oil, wrap them in foil and bake!

A self-proclaimed sucker for deals

The Buffalo News' discount diva has nothing on me.

I'm on the Discover card website to get my 20% cashback reward on my restaurant.com purchase. I see a link stating that if I blog about my experiences, I can get a $50 gift card? Heck yeah! Here's my entry!

It's simple. I log into discover's website. I click on the website link through the site. I do my shopping. I can even use other promotion codes, like emailed ones for free shipping. I pay with my discover card, and the next statement or two I get a bonus cash back reward, anywhere from 5-20% back depending on the site.

This past spring I went on a binge shopping trip at Lands End.com, and bought $379.14 of clothing (I know, I justified it by working overtime, and I love their fine gauge sweaters!). I used the code Lands End emailed me for free shipping as well, and when I received my bill at least when my husband said "you spent $380 on clothing???" I could respond "yes, but It came with free shipping and look, Discover gave me $38 cash back!"

It's a vicious cycle. The more I shop the more money they give me. I now have $100 in cashback rewards, which I can redeem for a credit on my account, or I can redeem it for $125 in gift certificates to Lands End (evil grin on my face :-).

I've gotta get back to more shopping!