Birthdays & Easter Eggs

Posted on April 27, 2025 by mathdreads

Easter 2025 fell on 4-20, the code in cannabis culture for smoking marijuana, and not, as urban folklore tells it, the police code for marijuana. (That code varies among police departments.)

In my family, we have four April birthdays: Dad, a sister, a nephew and a niece. On top of that, there are two among my sister’s in-laws, twin brothers. Then, her sister-in-law’s sister-in-law’s birthday was the Saturday we all met up at a Mexican seafood restaurant.

We’d eaten there once before. So, my sister and I had looked forward to their punchbowl margaritas. She’d arrived first and ordered a strawberry margarita, but didn’t bother to read the description.

As soon as we walked in, she told me to sit beside her to help her with that extra large punchbowl-sized drink. I told her that it was “pool-sized.” I sipped it. Mom had to stand up to sip it. Yet, I had my mouth set for the spicy mango margarita, garnished with a chamoy-laden straw.

Dad, who loves going out, but usually becomes grumpy having to wait for his food, didn’t grumble at all. This was a rare picture where I captured Dad both smiling and looking at the camera. In contrast to Dad either wearing a goofy expression or looking in another direction.

I had all my birthday family members to pose before the entrees hit the table.

Speaking of hitting the table, once my drink arrived, my newfound fleeting hobby was nibbling all the chamoy off the straw.

My other sister, who’d arranged the event, arrived last because she stopped off to buy helium balloons to tie on the chair of the April birthday people.

The restaurant gave all the birthday people three mini churros. We also enjoyed Dad’s pineapple coconut cake that Mom made for him at home. Unlike our comical efforts to sing “Happy Birthday” at the restaurant, we got our act together for this rendition:

On Easter Sunday morning, I attended a 10 AM “Feel Good” yoga class, which was unheated and slower-moving than my usual “Sunday Funday” hot yoga class. When I checked in, the receptionist told me that there were plastic eggs hidden in plain sight.

Although I saw two on my way to class, I only took one, which I saved in my bag for after class. Since I attended the last class of the day, I collected two more eggs because the previous class hadn’t found them all. Not only did all three eggs contain a piece of chocolate, but two out of three had an offer: a free T-shirt and a free class for me and a friend.

I leave for yoga before my parents leave for church, so I didn’t see them in their Easter Sunday best until Mom called me to come outside to help with Dad. We paused for the cause for the Easter poster couple.

On the Monday following Easter, we learned that Pope Francis had passed. Although we’re not Catholic, it’s always a somber day when a spiritual leader passes. May he rest in peace.

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Marvelized

Posted on April 20, 2025 by mathdreads

Marvelized (adj): the state of believing that one’s life has become something out of a Marvel movie.

I suggested both the word and its definition at the invitation of one of my coworkers who asked our colleague resource group (CRG): If you could add a word to the dictionary, what would it be and what would it mean?

Granted, the comic book world I most feel that I’m living in is Batman, who is a D.C. character, but saying that my life has become “D.C.’d,” regardless of any way I spell it (D.C.-d, DC’d, deeceed, and so on), still doesn’t sound or look as cool as “marvelized.”

Also, since I work for a pharmacy “D/C” means both “disconnected” (as in a phone call) and “discontinued” (as in a prescription). So, definitely not using any variation of that abbreviation for what I’d add to a dictionary.

Of course, I wasn’t the first one to think of “marvelized,” as I later discovered online. I merely created another facet to the definition. “Marvelized” simply means to be in a state of wonder or that a work of fiction is influenced by the Marvel Universe. Seems like no one had previously applied the adjective to the degree of how out of pocket life in the U. S. has become.

For every big move I’ve recently made, I’ve contemplated about how the Orange Menace and The Legion of DOGE are going to fuck it up. This is more than paranoia since they are attacking the very institutions we citizens depend on when we say that we are a part of a civilized, developed country with a functioning federal government.

Filing taxes, renewing a passport, controlling air traffic…I was even preoccupied when I recently bought my new smartphone.

The Orange Menace declared a tariff war against most of the world, then rescinded it for everyone except for China, ultimately raising the tariff against them to 145%. As I sat in the store in the middle of purchasing my phone, another customer informed me that some electronics had just been exempted.

The salesman assured me that my phone was part of the previous shipment; so not subject to hyperinflation or whatever the hell it’s call when a comic book villain capriciously tanks the economy, then revives it part way.

Despite the political turmoil, either I’m very optimistic or in denial, but I still dare to dream that my efforts will afford me to live the life that I want. After I return from my two-week overseas vacation, I’m going to dedicate more energy to continuing my path forward to a new career opportunity within my company.

Right now, it’s all I can do to carve out some time to learn Twi, juggle creative projects, exercise and read.

“Normalcy,” like everything in life, is an illusion. Any given illusion can evaporate just like the trillions of dollars that recently disappeared from the stock market. I’m not sure why economists don’t refer to themselves as illusionists instead. The Marvelized world definitely has more use for illusionists than economists.

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Basic Twi Language Lessons

Posted on April 13, 2025 by mathdreads

I knew that as soon as I finished my pharmacy tech coursework and national exam, the time vacuum created from no longer having to study would be filled with something else, especially things I’d put on hold to prep for my upcoming trip to Ghana. The way I saw it, if I was going to drop that much money for a two-week experience, I was going to get the most out of it.

Once again, the nerd in me came out to play. I found free online Twi lessons. The first course was a highly technical Linguistics 101 course with antiquated drill and kill teaching methods. I did that for two days before I went in a completely different direction.

I absolutely LOVED the colorful, fun Twi lessons geared toward kids. Half the lessons were set to music with the narrator singing vocabulary words.

Eventually, I’ll get a library card since the digital Austin public library I have access to has very few books on Ghana and absolutely nothing on the language. My hope is that I can find a few books on the history of the country, so I can put the few vocabulary words that I encounter in context. That’s one of the best ways to learn a foreign language.

My expectation isn’t fluency. I’ll probably not be able to speak Twi passably. I’ll just learn as much as I can merely to add another layer to my visit. At this point, I’m learning nouns and perhaps with more lessons, I’ll be able to say simple greetings and ask basic questions.

Even so, I’m resisting rewatching videos. I don’t want to go down that rabbit hole. So far, different video lessons repeat vocabulary. I want to be mindful of the joy of learning rather than the grind. After all, there won’t be any quizzes or exams. Just the quality of my experience, visiting another country.

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Reasons to Celebrate

Posted on April 6, 2025 by mathdreads

After six months of studying, I FINALLY passed my national exam. I’m officially a Certified Pharmacy Technician. Next time I log into work, I’m adding that “CPhT” to the end of my name. I don’t have my score yet, but it doesn’t matter in the long run since I passed.

I was elated to see that instant confirmation that my six months of hard work, including cramming most of the details of 600 medications had paid off. Honestly, they could’ve had far more math questions since that was my strong suit.

Especially since that exam had the nerve to throw in ANOTHER drug other than the 600 I’d studied. My only saving graces for that question were that I knew what the other three meds did and the mystery drug had the correct suffix for the drug class needed.

Nonetheless, I skipped off, driving to the other side of town to splurge on an early dinner. I’d always wanted to check out a new Korean BBQ place and ended up getting a hot pot since I dined alone. Even though it was a bit pricey, I justified the expenditure by making it part of my celebration itinerary.

For Friday, the celebration was merely not having to study before and after work nor on my breaks. What a luxury! Of course, I had to stop myself from plunging into some other time-consuming activity. Yet, there are at least two projects that I had put on the back burner until I finished my coursework. I may revive one of them on Sunday. After a mani-pedi.

On Saturday, I attended an R&B festival with my sister and a friend. Mother Nature cooperated and we enjoyed five hours of breathing fresh air, talking, people-watching and taking advantage of the food truck libations.

I avoided all the barbecue since my sister had already made preparations to barbecue ribs and sausage. She makes the best in town, coupled with Mom’s potato salad.

Instead, I got an order of pork shoulder with yellow rice and beans, but what really set the whole meal off were the tostones (fried savory plantains). Instead of being a half-dollar sized, the biggest one stood up at one end of the to-go boat like a tombstone. Originally, I had wondered why they didn’t cover the food, but as I walked back to my seat, I became a walking advertisement for that Puerto Rican vendor, which boasted being the 2023 best food truck of the year.

At the start of my coursework, I’d stated that a new phone and earbuds would be my reward for successfully passing the national exam. With all the tariff bullshit, I think it’s going to cost me even more than before, but I’m determined to have something better than what I have now since I want to take spectacular pictures for my upcoming trip to Ghana.

That has to be the motto during this administration: keep moving forward with bouts of relaxation.

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Medication Mnemonics

Posted on March 30, 2025 by mathdreads

For six months, I studied for my Pharmacy Technician certification. The nerd in me loved the opportunity to swim in the academic lane again. The Virgo in me seized on the opportunity for my job to pay for it.

Throughout all the coursework, nothing challenged me more than having to rote-memorize the details of 600 hundred drugs, which felt more like a thousand drugs. I resented the process. Initially, I only used the digital flashcards to learn the brand/generic name pairing of each drug, mostly ignoring the drug class(es) that appeared on the cards. Yet, the course obligated me to know it all: drug name, both brand and generic, drug classes, indication(s), contraindication(s), and drug form(s).

OK, so fuck all THAT. The only bright spot was creating mnemonics for the drugs. My very first breakthrough mnemonic was: OMG, Al gave Dara herpes. [Generic: Imiquimod; Brand: Aldara; Class: Antiviral; Indication: genital herpes]

So proud of myself, I shared it with several people, regardless of whether they were also studying for their pharm tech certification or not. And, no, I didn’t care that the mnemonic omitted the drug’s contraindication(s) and form(s). After all, I didn’t have to get a 100% to pass.

The challenge then became not memorizing 600 different drugs, but creating 600 fabulous mnemonics such that when I saw either the brand or generic name in a question, I’d recall the corresponding mnemonic to access more information about the drug. To accomplish this daunting task, I used several strategies.

One of the most useful strategies was using the names, even part of the name, capitalized, in a sentence. The name could be used as any part of speech. For example: Pyran Tells the pinworm that she’ll Pin-X that parasite. [Generic: Pyrantel; Brand: Pin-X; Class: Antiparasitic; Indication: pinworm infection]

Other times, I’d use the prefix’s definition to make a memorable sentence: Watery Rox Eskata cerumen. [Generic: Hydrogen peroxide; Brand: Eskata; Class: Cerumenolytic; Indication: Earwax (cerumen) removal]

The most “controversial” mnemonics involved the word “skinheads,” which, in my parlance, stood for “dermatitis, psoriasis and eczema,” three different skin conditions. So much easier to remember that one word represented three conditions than the three conditions themselves. Plus, anytime I mentioned “sin,” I knew it stood for “cin,” “cyn” or “syn.” As in: Fluo’s Sinful steroids Lidexes 3 skinheads. [Generic: Fluocinonide ; Brand: Lidex; Class: Corticosteroid; Indication: Dermatitis; Eczema; Psoriasis]

Some of those skin medications were only used for one or two of those conditions. Instead of remembering “psoriasis,” I used “sorority.” In the place of “eczema,” I used “eggs.” Pim inhibits calcium sorority eggs by putting a Lid on them. [Generic: Pimecrolimus ; Brand: Elidel; Class: Calcineurin inhibitor; Indication: Eczema; Psoriasis]

Although the thought of typing up 600 drugs in a chart seemed tedious, especially since I didn’t execute my brilliant idea as I studied the latest batch of drugs. The creative challenge motivated me. Cold Chics Cry about gout. [Generic: Colchicine ; Brand: Colcrys; Class: Anti-gout; Indication: Gout]

I made several connections that I may not have made otherwise. One class of erectile dysfunction (ED) medications was the previously unmemorable PDE5. Unmemorable until I broke it down to being a “Penis-Deflating-Emergency.” I remembered the number “5” by logically reasoning that men used all five fingers of their hand to masturbate. Genius, right?

One ED med was used also for pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). Viagra inhibits Sil’s penis-deflating-emergency, oPAH! [Generic: Sildenafil; Brand: Viagra; Class: PDE5 inhibitor; Indication: ED; PAH]

The cool part was that with consistency, I used the same phrasing with the same drug class and made connections that way. For example, every time I used the phrase “muscles against,” I knew I was talking about an “antimuscarinic.” Oxy Butt muscles against overactive bladders, using Ditro. [Generic: Oxybutynin; Brand: Ditropan; Class: Antimuscarinic; Indication: overactive bladder]

Of course, some of these sentences sound silly. But silly is memorable, which is the entire point. Besides, silly never stopped Dr. Seuss, who creatively invented words to suit his needs. “Two possums set a Cat Aflame, causing inflammation/ pain,” NSAID Diclo. [Generic: Diclofenac potassium; Brand: Cataflam; Class: NSAID; Indication: Inflammation; Pain]

As much work as I put into making these mnemonics, I’m so tempted to use all that creativity into something other than a study exercise and blog post. Not necessarily another book unless it’s a fiction about a pharmacy technician. I’m in no mood to pitch it to an education publisher.

That’s on the back burner for now. The important thing is passing my national exam for my certification where 40% of the questions will test my knowledge on these some of these 600 drugs. After that, I’ll be free.

One more for the road: The Elders Seek a little Leg to help with their MAOI depression. [Generic: Selegiline; Brand: Eldepryl; Class: MAOI; Indication: Depression]

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Due Process, Not D.O.G.E.

Posted on March 23, 2025 by mathdreads

Never did I think in my middle-aged-hood that I’d refresh what I’d learned in civics class. Over the years, I’ve learned that “innocent until proven guilty” only applied to the most privileged. Now, I’m relearning that this country really doesn’t have checks and balances despite the three branches of government. Even “due process” is an afterthought for this current executive branch.

The founding fathers would be amazed that a bullying, con-artist billionaire wannabe would blow past what we’ve held to be self-evident all these centuries.

In all the permutations about the second civil war in the U.S., who imagined that it would begin with a billionaire takeover of the White House? I figured that white anger would play a part, but, for once, this has not been primarily against Black people. Even our sole Black president didn’t take the U.S. to such a brink of collapse.

This may be the first time that white anger has worked for people of color. However long that exists since the last thing the powers that be wants is for the 99% to be united. They usually pit poor people of different races against ourselves, so that we’re too distracted to fight the power.

In DOGE’s chainsaw haste to cut out fraud/waste/abuse, both real and mostly imagined, it has mass-fired thousands of people, regardless of race, then quickly rehired those who should have never been on the chopping block due to security and health reasons. But, that’s not the totality of the terminated.

This is the first administration that, instead of boasting about job creation, gleefully celebrates adding thousands to the unemployed list. All for the sake of saving money, which in the end, will cost us more money to take care of people who no longer have the financial means to take care of themselves.

As expected, some of the angry masses have taken to graffiting and blowing up Teslas. Future Tesla owners have changed their minds about buying them, plummeting both sales and stocks. Now the White House and big wig GOP are whoring themselves to entice people to buy those cars, or at least the stock when higher ups in the company have dumped their shares.

Additionally, the GOP are extremely vocal when denouncing domestic terrorism when discussing the graffi/vandalism/bombings of targeted Teslas, but are deafeningly silent about the lack of due process under which DOGE operates.

Granted, two wrongs don’t make a right, but the federal government has to return to fair practices to stop fomenting negative, and sometimes violent reactions among its citizens. Plus, the other two branches must step up.

Some have questioned why one judge can block the executive branch. The easy answer is that the founding fathers set up our country so that one person in the executive branch couldn’t be a dictator.

Apparently, the legislative branch is waiting for more of their own to be elected in less than two years. In the past, midterm elections have been a reliable way to send a message to the White House. Just like during the Orange Menance 1.0 and we elected more women to congress than ever.

I’m praying that we’ll have a democracy still standing to accommodate the election process. Actually, I’m adding that to all the other prayers that I’ve found myself meditating on since 2.0. What would make me feel much better, though, is the return of due process.

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Back to Bragg

Posted on March 16, 2025 by mathdreads

Just like that…Bragg is back. But not the old Bragg. The new Bragg. Reminds me of when Coca-Cola changed its formula. But Coke fans liked the old taste better; so, they had to re-introduce the old formula, replacing the “new” formula, but, chronologically speaking, the newest, even though it was the oldest formula, ie, “classic.”

If that seemed convoluted, then I’ve done my job as a writer. After all, this is what politics has become in the States. From one administration to the next, the tearing down or reversing of the previous administration’s doings. In the end, one has to wonder what does it matter.

In the beginning, Ft. Bragg, the largest, fiercest Army base in the U.S., dare I say “the world,” had been officially named after a confederate, slave-owning general. Then, for a hot second, it became Ft. Liberty, naming the base after one of United States’ so-called values.

Now, renamed “Ft. Bragg,” after a soldier who earned medals, actually fighting for freedom, not slavery, which may, down the road, be just the compromise our country deserves. Other bases can follow suit. Just find someone with the same surname who fought/served for the U.S. and rededicate the military base for them instead.

Somehow, I don’t think the trend will catch on. At this point, I’m not even sure if our legacy of democracy will continue. Much less, naming ceremonies.

Nonetheless, many who proudly trained at Ft. Bragg were very happy to have the name restored since it’s a famous military base.

Years ago, I sat in a local movie theatre, watching a new action-movie release with that up-and-coming action star, Bruce Willis, in “Die Hard.” At one point in the movie, Willis’ character famously said that they’d need half of Ft. Bragg. The theatre erupted in cheers. It wasn’t merely the GIs doing all the cheering. Proud to get a shout out in the latest hit movie.

Hopefully, this settles everything. Every time there’s a name change, millions of dollars is spent for the change over of signage alone. The U.S. will need that money in the long run to pay for all the damages D.O.G.E. has wrongfully inflicted upon the American people.

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Make-Up Snow Days: Adult Version

Posted on March 9, 2025 by mathdreads

Attending exercise classes after work powers me through the work week. Usually a yoga/stretch or a dance class. I distinguish days of the week by the class I’m taking after work.

So, when the second Southern snow storm blew through and caused me to miss two days’ worth of classes, I scheduled those two classes the following week. Otherwise, I’d lose money for those prepaid classes.

Fortunately, I already had Monday off since I had a doctor’s appointment. I booked two classes that evening.

I thought by not working my desk job that day, I’d perform better in those classes. Turned out, I’m STILL middle-aged. Whether I work my day job or not, taking two classes in a row wears out my bad knee and ankle, which happen to be on the same leg, but I’ve not yet reached the point where I will declare the entire appendage “bad.”

Nothing makes me feel my age like aches and pains. I even had the bonus temporary symptom of my left foot turning inward, a severe-looking pigeon toe, all on its own. I attribute that to nerve strain which, in the past, has always resolved itself over time.

At least I didn’t lose any money. The bottom line is the bottom line. I squeeze every penny until Lincoln screams for emancipation.

I’ll need all the pennies I can save now that the Orange Menace has imposed tariffs on Canada, Mexico and China.

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The Vodka Trick Failed

Posted on March 2, 2025 by mathdreads

For the second time this winter, we got a dusting of snow, mixed with a lot of ice. Just enough weather-related mayhem to shut down the place where I exercise. I was so over it, I didn’t even bother to take pictures of the snow this time around, but I liked the look of Mom’s frozen *rubber snake in the breezeway.

[*Side bar: Birds used to love flying through the breezeway and shitting. So, Mom put a rubber snake on either pillar to ward them off. Believe it or not, that has been enough to keep the birds away.]

I’d planned to stay home on Wednesday. I wore a comfy pair of winter pajamas the entire day, only changing out of them once I took a shower after logging out of work.

Since I fully expected to go to dance class the next day, I spent part of my hourlong lunch break scraping off my car. Definitely a much better task to do while the sun shined.

To help the process along, I poured the rest of a nearly empty bottle of cheap vodka onto the driver’s side of the windshield. I’d used that trick before while living in Austin since alcohol melts ice.

I should have scraped that vodka-drenched ice immediately. Instead, I let it set and scraped the other windows. That was enough time for the ice to melt, then refreeze more compacted.

Although I considered that experience a “failure,” nothing is truly a failure if a lesson is learned. What I’d proven to myself is that it’s better to scrape as I pour or else the ice will compact upon refreezing.

Also, whenever I want to get rid of alcohol that I don’t plan to drink or cook with, then I’ll just wait for the next ice storm and defrost my windshield.

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Exhilarating Galentine’s

Posted on February 23, 2025 by mathdreads

Finally discovered a wonderful way to celebrate Valentine’s/Galentine’s Day. The best part, I convinced two friends to join me.

Actually, didn’t take much convincing on my part. They seemed ready to cross “indoor skydiving” off their bucket list. Just needed someone, such as myself, to make the arrangements.

We were lucky in two ways that I made reservations a few weeks in advance.

First of all, an employee warned me that participants in an upcoming national indoor skydiving competition would start filling all the slots during a “hell week,” which was around the Saturday we wanted to fly. So, I made reservations early and we had the time slot to ourselves.

Secondly, since we arrived earlier than our 2:30 flight time, we watched one of the competitive teams practice. Although watching was free, I considered that entertainment an added value.

Both of my friends had irrational fears of what could happen, which were somewhat quelled when they saw an eight-year-old girl flying and having a ball.

I shared with them that the first time I skydove, I thought that there would be no net and that a wind turbine with blades rotated below the chamber. Talk about someone who’s watched too many movies.

Like my previous experience, we were taken to a classroom, where among other things, our guide explained the hand signals.

One of my friends became very familiar with the “calm down” hand signal, which looks like the surfer’s “hang tight” hand gesture. During her first flight, she kept flutter kicking her legs as if swimming while flying. By her second flight, she was markedly calmer.

My other friend, who I wasn’t sure would make it, since her busy schedule takes her out of town frequently, caught on the fastest with controlling what her body was doing within the chamber.

My friends made me go first since I was the so-called expert, having flown once before. I was the only one who barrel rolled against the wall. For my first flight, I wound up upside down. For the second flight, I did a half twist against the wall. Although I wasn’t supposed to do any of that, those were the most fun moments of both flights.

Then, came the moment I’d waited for on the third flight. Going all the way to the top. That alone was why I’d wanted to go indoor skydiving again after two and a half years. Unlike the thrill ride of an amusement park drop, floating to the top and back down again didn’t make my stomach flutter. Yet, I still felt exhilarated as joy rides are wont to do.

After all was said and done, one friend joked about returning to do it again the next day and the other wanted to jump out of an actual plane. This would be an expensive form of entertainment to do on a regular basis. As far as jumping out of a perfectly functioning airplane, not for all the money in the world.

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