Amazon delivery leaves packages on the first flight of steps, which is a hazard when going down a stairway. Then somebody leaves a doorstop by the door, which has the door open 6 inches, which is quite a stupid way to start my day, on top of my allergies attacking.

And those allergies are kicking my ass. Woke up at 6:25, so incredibly weak after a fitful night. I was so weak, and it was so dark out that I immediately sat down and sent an email to the fruit stand superiors that I would not be coming in today.

When I’m in my apartment, and the window is open, it’s really bad. Right now. I am on the street, and it is not bad at all. I am thinking that the level of pollen rises up to the fifth floor, whereas on the street, it’s not as bad. I can see buds on the trees coming forth due to the suddenly warm temperatures. Maybe my body would be better acclimated if things were ‘normal,’ but I do not think we will be ‘normal’ again.

I have just opened the window, so we shall see if that theory about pollen levels on the fifth floor is true. Odder things have happened. I walked to the big supermarket to buy tissues, Benadryl, and some other things. As I walked, I was talking to Mike on the phone. Mike was surprised that I was walking and talking on the phone since that is something I am not fond of doing.

Mike said that his beloved is feeling very much the same way as I am with allergies in Northern California, as well as Mike’s ‘Pops’ in the Bronx. We’re all in the same age group, all going through the same thing. I am thinking about taking a nap, but I am wary about any changes to my sleep schedule at night. I’m not sick, I don’t feel feverish, just a head full of mucus.

And with the window open for a few minutes, my right eye and behind it, start to react. Watery eyes and a runny nose. It is definitely a fifth floor thing. The window is closed, and the TV is on. Good Times. Bill naps as I type.

I will be going to work tomorrow, I’m certain of it. No unlimited sick days. It is all ‘Personal Time Off,’ and those days need to be earned. That means I will have to put in more time to get time off. Lex Luthor, the former coworker, an alcoholic on dialysis, mentioned that the agency that placed him & me at the fruit stand was compassionate enough to afford him extra sick days.

I’m sure this was before his alcoholism was revealed, that his water bottle did not contain water. The fruit stand let him go, and the agency will place him somewhere else. Whether or not his extra days off were true, I do not know.

He also told tales of blowing various coworkers at the fruit stand. That was an odd confession, not just to me, but Janis and Kimberley told me the stories they heard as well. Wednesday, March 11, 2026.

I like to keep things going nicely, quietly, and frictionless. Though the music I like often has a little grit in it. Things are usually calm at the fruit stand. So calm that when a pebble is thrown into the pond, it tends to have tsunami effects.

At least in my mind, I tried helping out a coworker earlier, even though the lines are clearly drawn as to what my job is and what my responsibilities are. I had a minute available and thought I would pitch in, roll up my sleeves, and help a young woman doing her job, which is basically the same job I had when working with the Algerians (not from Algeria) years ago.

Stocking shelves, putting items in the fridge, and throwing out expired goods. In so doing, feet might have been stepped on, feelings may have been hurt. I backtracked a few times and explained my lack of malice. That is the problem dealing with people born in or close to the 21st century. Barry McGarry was rife with those kids, an infestation if you will. Here it’s more of the same, but there is a creative air about them, so things can be easily excused, I reckon.

The thermometer is pushing 70 degrees, which is nice, but allergies are coming forth as well, and I swear, I blew most of my body weight in mucus over the past 24 hours. The allergies seem to get worse every year. And here we are in the first half of March, and my nose is raw from soft tissue friction. I took Bill’s advice and had some Nyquil, which dried out my sinuses but also had me going to the bathroom way too often. Apparently, Bill had the same dilemma last night, though thankfully, we were not on the same urinary cycle.

Friction. Occasionally bumping heads with Yancey. I am trying to come across as competent, but the main thing Ithink is to prove I am not an alcoholic, which is easy enough. Last week Kimberky completed some templates for our team to use when needed. I applied them as I worked, but this morning, Yancey told me they were the old templates, and I remarked that these were what I was given.

I tried to fix things myself and made a bit of a mess of it. I returned to the bit of a mess a few times and, after a few hours, was able to get it together and actually figure it out. I asked for Jimmy Chile’s help, but I did not need it after all when I took a chance and clicked here and double-clicked there to find I had fixed whatever it was that I had done.

I’m lactose intolerant. I have been for years but only recognized it a year or so ago. I remember one stupid job I had about 6 years ago at Jaded Toes. I had half a pint of Ben & Jerry’s and about an hour later, bells were ringing in my bowels and thankfully, I was able to make it to a toilet without any problems. It could have been a lot worse.

I called this post Geordie Gillespie since he was in Konk, and that is who or what I am listening to at this moment, 3.10.2026. Tuesday.

My head full of mucus. It is like a domino effect. I want to talk to Bill, and he’s unavailable. I try to help 2 21st century girls, and I am rebuffed. A website link that I use for work no longer works for me, though it works for other fruit stand workers a few blocks away. A little over an hour to go before I head home, and it seems so far away. I hope I sleep better tonight than I did last night.