“To know how to grow old is the master-work of wisdom, and one of the most difficult chapters in the great art of living.”    ~ Henry Frederic Amiel 1821- 19881

On Friday morning I brought my two jugs (24 hour urine for metanephrines) back to the hospital lab. There is nothing dignified about a 24 hour urine collection.  Since the hospital lab opens to the general public at 8:00 AM, I made sure I was there by 7:45 AM. I had brought my lab forms in on Wednesday so that they could be ready for the lab on Friday morning.  Since the receptionists at the front desk at the hospital cannot be described as Ms Speedy Gonzales’s, I bring my lab forms in a day early so I don’t have to wait the hour it takes them to print the requisitions for the lab.  My luck being what it is, Brunhilda the Cantankerous was at the hospital reception desk on Friday morning.  Some poor guy was waiting for his requisitions when I arrived so I took my two jugs to the lab.  By the time I returned to the front desk, Brunhilda was doing nothing more than contemplating her navel. I told her who I was and that I was there to pick up my lab requisitions. She glowered at me and told me to take a seat because it would take some time.  I should mention that by this time Brunhilda and I were the only two people at the front desk and the waiting room.  I informed Brunhilda that my cortisol blood test had to be done at precisely 8:00 AM and it was now five minutes to eight.  She told me that she was the only one working at the front desk.   She complained that to find my requistions she would have to get up and go look for them.   She adivsed me take a seat because this could take a while.  I told her I would hold her responsible and report her if I had to come back another day for this test. With that she managed to get her butt off the chair, walk the two feet to the counter, pick up my prepared requisitions and hand them to me.  After all the effort Brunhilda probably had to take a 29 minute coffee break.

I had to return to the hospital later that afternoon for the 4:00 PM cortisol blood draw. The results of the tests should be back in two to three weeks. Hopefully this time around the results will show a reason for my symptoms.

My blood pressure is still spiking throughout the day which is very frustrating. The medication I am taking is obviously not keeping it under control.

It is finally warming up outside. The high today was minus 2 C. Hopefully we will have an early spring this year.

Grandson was very excited this weekend. His team won the exhibition hockey game they played on Friday night. After the game, Grandson came over for his regular Friday night sleep over. The two of us watched the movie “Johnny English.” I may already have mentioned this and if so forgive me. My grandson will be on the hockey team going to Provincials next month.