Fairly ridiculous timing for two vaccinations and some dental work

I had my COVID booster vaxx on my birthday. Right square in the middle of my birthday, I go to CVS and get the shot. Then there was the whole "you have to wait 15 minutes before you leave in case of side effects" thing. I mention this last part because if you add up the time of the whole endeavor... yes, I spent a sad quantity of the afternoon getting vaxxed on my birthday.

Anyway, that was the first strangely timed vaccination.

Then on Sunday, Tom decides it's high time we both got our shingles vaccine. For one, our friend got shingles recently and it was scary and painful. Also, Justin Bieber with his Ramsay Hunt diagnosis, with Ramsay Hunt being a form of shingles and all.

It might need to be mentioned right about now that Sunday was the NYC Pride Parade. Also, we live in Chelsea, which is dead center Pride. Anyway, it took a really long time to walk to the CVS due to revelers and barricades and other assorted merriment related distractions.

photo credit: NYT

Nonetheless we eventually made it down there and I got my shingles shot while seated in a folding chair positioned directly in front of a huge condom display. A vast array of condom boxes promoting many many options and features and benefits. 

Meanwhile, Pride. 

Turns out many revelers need a CVS pop in for things like "plasters" and bathrooms and water and toe pads for three-inch platform red suede man-eaters.

If I were going to write an off-off-broadway production, I think this might be the opening scene. Who knows would happen next?

Back in my real life, however, that shingles shot hurt like a bitch, AND I felt like shit the entire the next day. Pounding headache, limp arm, very very grouchy.

But I was unstoppable. In another example of superior timing, the day after that, I got right up and went to the dentist to get a bunch of fillings redone. 

I told Bruce I kept having to check my look in the mirror to make sure that I wasn't walking around looking like a French bull dog. 

It's hard to know what your expression is up to when you can't feel your entire face for plus or minus 8 hours.