Called out sick today. Have been to clinic, picked up CPAP machine, forgot to get distilled water without which I can't use the thing. Too tired to go back to store. Promised manager we can do evaluation tomorrow. Talked to Assistant about fixing fuck-up, finally agreed to let the vendor handle it after all because she somehow can't, idek. Talked to Assistant again about something else, long email string I'm too tired to decipher, told her to take care of it herself. Talked to society guy who's confused about a thing, promised to handle thing. Handled thing. It's 1pm, can I go back to bed now? Why did I even bother taking a sick day? Do people understand what Out Of Office means even in the context of someone who's never technically IN the office? MADAM IS NOT AT HOME

I think I'm having an email conversation with an actual robot at one of the journal offices. I emailed about adding an author (yeah, it's a little ridiculous to add an author at this stage, but I kicked up up the ladder to the EIC). The EIC's assistant emailed back with SUPER formal, stilted language about how he needs approval from "his" editor-in-chief (which, DUH, is why I emailed you).

But I replied and said thanks, and if the EIC approves the addition, could you please let me know so I can update the manuscript?

Here is the actual response: "Thank you for your inquiry. And in response to your message, please know that I am happy to let you know when the Authorship Form is returned. I look forward to speaking with you in the near future."

GUYS I THINK HE IS AN ACTUAL ROBOT.

Huh. Doing some research for this project on a city in coastal Oregon; the poverty level went up by 5% between 2010 and 2015. WTF. 17% of the population of this town is living in poverty according to the Census Bureau -- which really means more than that, because the threshold for poverty under the federal rules is very very low.

Man, this economy sucks. And yet here I sit in a hipster coffeehouse, where I just paid $2.75 for a large cup of tea. I could sell my house for more than most Americans have in their retirement funds, and yet I don't consider myself wealthy.

Fuckity.

Suela, I am typing this from a greyhound bus which...yeah, apparently I stick out as someone who should not be on a greyhound?? Not jsit skin color (though that's part) but...somehow. I'm longingly thinking of the nice busses I took in Chile, and wishing the bolt bus had had better times of service because there is a man who smells strongly of piss sitting behind me...

forgot to get distilled water without which I can't use the thing

I have used good quality drinking water in my CPAP when I was out of distilled, ie, when I take my CPAP on vacation I buy a bottle of filtered drinking water. If you wipe it clean when you finally get your distilled water, you should be fine. Vinegar is a good option for cleaning out the tank, unless your manufacturer specifies something else.

Popcorn:

I am terrible about maintaining my CPAP, I don't rinse it out every day, I wait far too long between cleaning the tank, and I'm not dead yet. I don't know if my breathing would be better if I were more conscientious, but I do OK.

One thing to be aware of, make sure the mask fits properly. If it's too tight, it can put pressure on your teeth and give you a full-jaw toothache. Bad news. It will probably leak air, but you can get used to that if it's not too bad.

The pad on the mask will wear out relatively quickly. You can get hoses, mask pads, and the straps that hold the thing onto your head online for a lot cheaper than whatever medical supply house you're being referred to.

I'm in a chair in the sky to quote Louis CK.

My flight was delayed 45 mins which coincidentally is exactly the time I have to makes my connection in LA to SFO.

Had a great trip except for the part where I was sick all day on my bday.

To put it in GoT terms I fought the Battle of Brownwater. And lost.

Wish me a spot of travel mojo por favor....

Travel-ma heading your way, hec.

Despite recent (or, hell, not-so-recent) history, whenever I think of rushing to make an airport connection, I *still* think of OJ Simpson. So I was going to say, "Hec, be like OJ!!!" And then I thought, "....mayyyyyybe not."