November 11, 2005
in America, we can get most anything at the drive through
I am charmed by my lovely British and Canadian readers and their delightful unfamiliarity with the concept of the drive-through pharmacy. Think about it, really–this is America, where we’re too lazy–er, BUSY to actually GET OUT of the car for ANYTHING. Coffee, hamburgers, dry cleaning, banking, prescriptions, sex–when I lived in Ohio, we had drive-through liquor stores (are those still out there? Talk about a terrible TERRIBLE idea). But I will tell you this: the pharmacy drive-through is the greatest invention since the microwave and the vasectomy (both of which have seriously reduced my parenting stress). When Charlie was a baby and had ear infection after ear infection, I could pull up, drop his scrip, take a nice, nap-inducing drive around the lake, and then pick up the drugs, all without ever unloading him from the carset. Perfect.
But that’s not what you really want to hear about, is it? Today has been a day of small victories. Henry was initially not enthused about his new allergy medicine (in fact, he hid under his bed! ha ha), but we had a nice talk about how sometimes new things, especially new medicines, can be scary, because they might taste bad, but that this would taste like applesauce! ‘How do you know?’ he asked, skeptically. ‘Because I tried it last night!’ I lied (yes, I lied. We’ve all seen that episode of Desperate Housewives, we know what it would do to me). I offered to show him the pill, which got his interest. ‘It has little teeny beads in it!’ I told him. ‘Really?’ he said. And we were off.
I showed him the capsule, which is half clear and half blue; you can see the actual medicine through the clear side. I explained that he could either swallow the pill or I could put it in the sauce; he opted for sauce. So I get ready to break the capsule open–and I can’t do it. Ha ha! Because of course the damn thing is designed NOT to fall apart in your hand. I’m trying not to swear, Wade is trying to distract the boy, Charlie is trying to climb over the table to see the pill, and Henry is peacefully eating his oatmeal and ignoring all of us. But by now, I need a drink. Did I mention that it wasn’t even 7:00 am yet? Oh yes.
But, at last, I got the pill open and I mixed it up and ta da! Henry took it! Every bit! And then he ate an entire bowl of oatmeal and two waffles. And two glasses of milk. Sheesh.
I am trying not to leap to conclusions or expect too much, but I suspect we might need a slightly higher dose. His teacher said he did well today, particularly at the beginning of the morning, but that by the time I picked him up (at 11:30), it seemed to have worn off. And she was right–when we came home to rest, he had a HUGE meltdown about how he didn’t want to read stories and so I couldn’t read to Charlie either (at least I think that’s what he was saying–sometimes it’s hard to follow him, what with the crying and the interjection of completly irrational statements like, ‘If you read to Charlie, we will never grow up to be big boys! And our house will fall down! From the reading!’ Uh, yeah, whatever). But Mrs. M did say that it seemed to ‘take the edge off’ and she could see a difference, so we’re clearly on the right road.
To make my day even more fun, Charlie and I had a nice playdate with M and her son, who entertained himself with the bookstore train while Charlie insisted on lounging in my lap and showing me every single stuffed animal in the big display tower, thus successfully disrupting the only chance I have today for adult conversation. Oh well–I’ll take my victories where I can get them.
Now I’m just counting down to cocktail hour . . .
Posted by Susan @ 12:53 pm • Uncategorized
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November 11th, 2005 at 2:26 pm, Melynda Says:
Yeah for meds working! Yeah for Henry taking them!
As far as drive-thrus (or is it drive-thri?) go, we used to live in Louisiana and there, not ONLY can you get your liquor drive thru, you can get mixed drinks-a-la-slurpee in a handy to-go cup.
November 11th, 2005 at 3:08 pm, Susan Says:
Melynda, ARE YOU SERIOUS? Holy cow. Imagine what my day would be like if I could drive thru and get a margarita at 3:00 pm. Wow.
And? Look at my Google ads. Holy cow!
November 11th, 2005 at 3:16 pm, Heather Says:
I’m so glad the pill taking went well. Are the effects immediate? Does he just get one a day? Too many questions…and the drive through pharmacy and liquor store are FREAKING ME OUT!! Ahhh! Cocktail hr here I COME!
November 11th, 2005 at 3:42 pm, adria Says:
It sounds like Henry and Charlie have had a fun day - Hooray!
How much longer to cocktail hour? Can it be longer than an hour?
How did you get the pill open?
November 11th, 2005 at 4:39 pm, Candace Says:
Yes, there are still drive-thru liquor stores. There are also drive-thru drinks-of-all-sorts stores here in Cincinnati.
And don’t forget the drive-thru wedding chapels in Las Vegas! Oh, and the drive-thru divorce places, too!
November 11th, 2005 at 5:01 pm, The June Cleaver Diaries Says:
In Columbia, MO (home of University of Missouri, where I spent 2 alcohol-soaked party years before I remembered I was suppossed to be studying, and got my ass in gear), there was a place called Tropical Liquors, which made basically any drink you wanted into a 40 ounce slushy. And it was drive through. Not like you can wait until you get home until you drank it— hello— melting???
BAD IDEA FOR A DRIVE THROUGH.
Then again, Columbia is also home to a store called Liquor, Guns and Ammo.
Mary P., I bet you’re rolling your eyes over and over at that one!!!!
November 11th, 2005 at 5:02 pm, Melynda Says:
Susan, I kid you not. You can drive up and get any sort of ice-y, slushy, fruity, yet very adult drink and it’s not considered an “open container” in Lousiana because they leave the little paper end on the straw or they put a piece of tape over the hole for the straw.
Steven Colbert on the Daily Show did a little story about it one time. He just sat in the drive thru lane of a liquor store in Baton Rouge (?) and got smashed.
November 11th, 2005 at 6:07 pm, Candace Says:
Hey, you dissin’ my minivan, woman??
November 11th, 2005 at 6:15 pm, Heather K. Says:
Glad the pills had the cool “bead” factor to entice him. He’ll be helping mix his applesauce in no time! I’m glad the teachers were able to notice some subtle changes. I know it’s just the beginning down this road, but it sounds promising! It cracked me up when I moved here (PA) and I saw the beer distributor drive thrus where you drive your whole dang car through the store to pick up your liquor! Oh to live in Lousiana though!
November 11th, 2005 at 7:18 pm, Kara Says:
they usually starte kids on adderall on a baby dose and ratchet it up as you go. did they mention that to you?
glad to hear day 1 wasn’t a disaster. damn i want a drive through cocktail. i’m on evening duty at my school as I write this. MAKE IT STOP!!!
November 11th, 2005 at 7:30 pm, Dawn Says:
Yeah, susan, the Adderall can take a few days and a few trys to get the dose right- but you saw something and that is the place to start. I saw the melting down when she started - now, though? Nothing.
November 11th, 2005 at 7:34 pm, Susan Says:
Yes, Misfit, I am dissing your mini van. Wanna make something of it? (Oh please come to Oklahoma and make something of it–my god we would have so much FUN!).
And I so very much wish that ALL of you were lounging by the booze pool with me on this fine fine Friday (especially you, Kara–I remember school duty and it sucks). Tomorrow I will tell you the very funny story of Henry’s birth, which will make up for all the boringness here this week (and involves various people sticking their hands up inside me, so be ready, all you lurking dads).
Back to the booze pool–god I love you people.
November 11th, 2005 at 7:34 pm, Misfit Hausfrau Says:
Aw yeah, the brew-thru’s are alive and well in Ohio. While I think the Walgreen’s drive thru pharmacy is the bomb, I wish they could throw in a dozen eggs and some toilet paper too when I need them.
Glad to hear Day One went OK. And I am jealous of the blogger playdate!!!
November 11th, 2005 at 8:57 pm, the ockers Says:
God , drive through pharmacies and alcoholic slushies??? so different to over here in Melbourne!!! Yes, we do have drive through liquor stores (that we call Bottle shops) but there are very, very strict about drink driving here so none of those drivethu cocktails would ever be approved here. and pharmacies and chemists here have very strict laws about service and opening hours…and aussies are pretty conservative about prescribed pharmacuticals & medications. That siad this country has a culture of beer drinking, binge drinking, pot smoking (that is legal to grow in small quantities and have for personal use in some states) and a legalised prostitution/sex industry here in Melbourne. there are about 10 legal brothels in my area alone. and we’ve got casinos and pokies everywhere… but people get a little weird about meds and Drs. the culture is very suspicious of authority on lots of levels. the icy, slushy drinks sound nice. I’d like to try a daquari one..mmm…
November 12th, 2005 at 4:44 pm, Jack's Raging Mommy Says:
Melynda stole my thunder! I was totally going to tell you about the drive-through daquiri places.
Man, now I’ve got nothing funny to say.
November 13th, 2005 at 3:46 am, Juggling Mother Says:
Drive thru bars? and we worry about our alcohol consumptionin the UK? Sheesh.
I’d forgotten that you have drive thru weddings (& divorces?) in Vegas. I’m horrified all over again.
Glad the drugs work - even if the dosage needs ajusting - at least you know you’re on the right tracks. My brother-in-law took dozens of litle capsule tablets everyday as a child, and opened each one up to swallow the “little beads” without the plastic. He got quite proficient at it after a few years:-) (now he’s all grown up, I think he takes them properly - but then again, I’m not sure)
November 13th, 2005 at 8:47 pm, Candace Says:
Oh, that’s it.
It’s ON.