A Perfect Migraine.

[swestrup]

Had I stopped to think of the possibility I would have realized last night that I had all the ingredients necessary for a migraine this morning. Had I done so, I might have taken steps to avoid one.

At least when I woke up a few minutes ago, and it became clear a migraine was coming on, I quickly took my pills and made myself an espresso, which I am now drinking. Hopefully, I got to it in time and my day won't be wasted. (EDIT: It looks like I was in time, although I'm not out of the woods quite yet.)

Assuming the migraine goes away reasonably soon, I'll need to spend the day planning the logistics of my return to Montreal, figuring out when the cheapest flight back can be had, and all that. (Which reminds me, taxlady could you send me the URL for your sister's travel website? I've misplaced it.)

According to US law I'll need to be back in Canada by the 20th (10 days after the expiration of my work contract), but I plan to be home long before that unless staying the extra days will somehow pay for itself in a much lower airfare, which seems unlikely.

I'll also need to make plans to get rid of stuff that I've accumulated here that I'm not taking back with me. I've got a fairly well stocked fridge and pantry at the moment and although I can eat through much of it if I don't go out for meals for a week, I'm certainly not going to finish it all. I've also got a bunch of booze. I might conceivably finish the box of wine and the bottle of vodka in the next 10 days or so, although that's far from certain, but I know I'm not going to make any inroads on the huge bottle of rum I have here. Its not my favorite booze, but it was on sale and I was hoping to make some Rum Toddies to help with my terrible sinus cold. Well, I made two or three, but I didn't like the taste, and they didn't help as much as I'd hoped, so the bottle has just sat there ever since.

Some stuff, like the extra plates and cups, the can-opener and knives and frying pan I'll just leave for the next tenant in this long-stay hotel. Other stuff I'm not so sure of. I got a really nice kettle to cheer me up on my lonely evenings here, and I'm not sure I should just leave it to the Hotel. I don't know that the next tenant will appreciate it. I guess I could put it up for free on freecycle if no one else I know here steps up to take it. I guess I could give away any extra food the same way.

I suppose I should also ask folks if there's anything they want me to bring them back? I already know that azrhey wants postcards and I imagine that taxlady would like some See's Candies since there's a store only a few blocks from here. I imagine I'm going to bring back some Benzedrex inhalers for myself since I can't get them in Canada. Who else? What else?

Comments

[thebabynancy.livejournal.com]

drug samples galore. :D


oh, and postcards.

[swestrup]

Yeah, I'll be mailing you a few postcards today or tomorrow. I've had the stamps and the cards for a while, but I've been too busy to figure out how to post them.

[kishiriadgr.livejournal.com]

You are allowed to bring back at least one bottle. Find out; you were gone more than two weeks, so I don't know what the law is.

I'd say give any canned food or food in unopened boxes to a food bank, but I don't think you have any way to get it to one, do you?

[swestrup]

I don't know of any food banks near here, but I've not looked. I know there's a goodwill only a block or two away. I pass it every day on my way to work.

[swestrup]

And, if I haul back any booze its going to be something hard to get in Canada, like a Rompope or something.

[thebabynancy.livejournal.com]

Don't bring back American beer. It's insulting.

[swestrup]

As IF I would! I know some folks say there is American beer worth drinking, but I haven't found any while here.

[sps.livejournal.com]

Have you tried the local microbreweries?

[swestrup]

I have no idea. When told what brands are on offer at a restaurant or bar, they seldom annotate them as to the size of the originating company.

[sps.livejournal.com]

I understand. It's just that there are a growing number of brewery/restaurants, and (understanding that I know nothing of beer, since I can't stand the stuff for several different reasons) people seem to say good things of some of them. But one never knows what their baseline is.

[pythonian.livejournal.com]

Care to bring me back a bottle of "The Macallan" 18 year old single malt scotch? Provided you can get it across duty free of course.

It's going to come in handy in 3 weeks (hint hint: check your facebook profile).

[swestrup]

I'll take a look for it.

[taxlady.livejournal.com]

Wait a minute. This needs negotiating. I want duty free booze.

[swestrup]

I'll have been here over 90 days, so I should have a decent limit. Let me check the rules.

[taxlady.livejournal.com]

We may want to look at the difference in price on the "Macallan 18 y.o." here and there, or find out if it is even available here. Maybe some deal with you bring that for pythonian and he buys us a bottle of something here.

[pythonian.livejournal.com]

The 18 year old currently sells for $231.00 at the SAQ. About two years ago it was $171.00.

In the New Hampshire Liquor Commission, the same bottle was about $120.00 US back in February. I wasn't in a position to buy it then but now I am.

[swestrup]

It may all be moot. It doesn't sound like something that's likely to be carried at any of the local Mom & Pop "Guns & Liquor" stores around here, and its unlikely that I'll get much chance to look further afield before I head home.

[taxlady.livejournal.com]

What do I want you to bring from California?

See's Candy for sure. The "nuts & chews" or maybe I will check out their website and give you specifics ;

Booze & wine.

Re: Unloading your extra stuff Re: A Perfect Migraine

[capj.livejournal.com]

Why not give all the extra food and booze and whatever else he'd like, to sps?

Re: Unloading your extra stuff Re: A Perfect Migraine

[swestrup]

He doesn't drink, and seldom cooks. That eliminates most of the stuff I need to get rid of. He's welcome to anything that's left, but I still have the same basic problem.

Re: Unloading your extra stuff Re: A Perfect Migraine

[capj.livejournal.com]

I have a friend who lives in the same area, and she has a big car. She could come over and pick it up...

Re: Unloading your extra stuff Re: A Perfect Migraine

[swestrup]

That might all work out. Wait until next weekend though. I still need my stuff for another week.

Re: Unloading your extra stuff Re: A Perfect Migraine

[capj.livejournal.com]

OK, I'll suggest it to her and then put you in touch depending upon what she says...

Re: Unloading your extra stuff Re: A Perfect Migraine

[capj.livejournal.com]

Looks like no dice on that. Maybe you could give the extra food to a soup kitchen or something and give the extra booze to panhandlers -- that's what they're after; you'd just be cutting out the middleman. However, I'm sure that they'd "look a gift horse in the mouth" unless the bottle was unopened.

[azrhey.livejournal.com]

YaY postcards! unwritten un stamped and delivered for exchange of moneys and / or hugs...

And I still thing you should stuff the SPS in your luggage.

Why not bring the kettle back? Stuff it with socks and undies and it should easily fit in a luggage...no?

[swestrup]

My luggage was way too heavy and awkward coming here, and its bound to be worse heading home. I only want to bring back stuff I really need to bring back.

[designergirl.livejournal.com]

Can you bring me back a Starbucks store since most of them have closed down over here? :D

[swestrup]

I'll ship you one from Montreal. The darn things are all over the place and we've got no use for them.