So, this is it – the last day of October. Hard to believe November is almost here. No snow in the forecast yet, but it’s only a matter of time. It’s a big day at work today. First off, the folks from employee health are coming out to do our Annual Health Exams. In an effort to bring my BP down to something approaching normal, I haven’t had a beer since Friday night in Las Vegas (really any in opportune time for a trip out there). I’m also taking lots of magnesium, which the wife tells me is supposed to help. We’ll see. I’ve been taking it regularly at home, and while it seemed to help for a few days, it was still relatively high yesterday. Oh well, I guess the worst they can do is nag me.

Besides the AHA, it’s also parking re-registration day, where we all have to bring our vehicle registrations in, show our IDs, and get new parking stickers. I then proceed to take mine and stick it in my glove box, because I only need it is if I ever were to go down to the hospital (and not really even then, unless for some reason my ID doesn’t work to get me out of the garage, in which case I guess I just fall back on the old, “oops, I guess I forgot to put it on” story). I never go to the hospital, though, which I reckon is a good thing because NYS has a new rule this year, intended to intimidate and embarrass healthcare workers. If you don’t get a flu shot you have to wear a mask if you go into a patient care area or to an area where patients might be (like the cafeteria).

Oh, that’s the other thing. Along with the AHA, those who want can get a flu shot. Though they push it every year, I continue to decline. I haven’t gotten a flu shot in years. In fact, I think the last time I got a flu shot was the last time I got the flu.

As if that wasn’t enough, it’s also “you can wear a costume to work today” (for a suggested – though not mandatory – donation of $5). You might think this would sound really stupid to a bunch of professional adults, but you would be wrong. For some reason this is a big deal. Go figure.

This year, I think I’ll go as somebody with high blood pressure.

Y’all have a Happy Halloween, and don’t eat too much candy tonight. As for me, I think I’ll have a beer.