Where did all the polite people go ??

I've noticed over the last year of working.. that Americans are getting more and more rude. We're more plugged in that ever, but that's making us tune out to actual human interaction.

I've done more exams in the last year to people who won't even shut off their iPods DURING the exam ! It's one thing to listen in the waiting room. But, have the decency to turn off the damn thing while I'm trying to do.my.job ! These are same people that will come back and complain that "there's something not quite right about my glasses". Well, maybe if you'd taken your earbuds out for even two seconds I could have done a better job. Some people will even leave them in after I ask them to take them out. They look at me like *I'M* rude for asking them to pay attention. You are PAYING me to do this right ? you'd think you'd want it done correctly.

The other major violation: Cell phones. TURN THEM OFF IN MY EXAM ROOM!! For god sakes when did this become acceptable. I'm completely flabergasted at how many people not only still have their phones ON in my exam room.. but ANSWER the phone! Now, about a third of people will have theirs ring and be very apologetic and turn them off. God created voicemail for a reason people. Getting a call from your mom is not more important than your exam at that exact minute. Now, if your mom is DYING and you let me know ahead of time that your call is an emergency... that's different. But, most calls are "yeah.. hey... well... no, i'm at the doctor... no.. can I call you back I'm in the exam room right now... yes, right now". Yeah, that call was worth me sitting there and waiting for. That could have gone to voice mail.

I just want to know when this officially became acceptable. i have signs ALL OVER my office about turning off your phone so the doctor can give you the best exam/attention possible. People flat out ignore it like it doesn't apply to them.

And no, it's not just the younger generation. Business people are just as bad. You can unplug yourself from the office for TEN MINUTES. You are NOT that important.. trust me on this one.

I guess part of this was set off by Whizgidget's Blog about the library and how it's become a nanny. Plug your kid into the DVD player and feel free to ignore them. Don't get me started on that one either. Especially dont get me started on the new "baby TV" they're launching on cable. *sigh*

I feel bad now...

Chris Simms had to have a splenectomy after yesterdays game. I feel bad for trashing him now. Granted, he was playing badly even before he ruptured his spleen... but now it just seems tacky. *sigh* oh well.

Bye bye afternoon...

G found this M&Ms game on USA Today's website. We spent about 30 minutes on it before we got REALLY stumped.. and then another 15 minutes after we started looking for lists of top horror movies.

Enjoy !

M*Ms movie game

These are the kids of games I really like !!

Chris Simms career is over...

Watching Chris Simms throw his career away is actually kind of entertaining for me. Not that I take joy in the misery of others per se.. but rather, I feel vindicated. All those people who claimed Chris Simms was a better quarterback while I was in college were sorely mistaken.

Poor Major Applewhite. His only drawback was height. Were he the size of Simms there's no question he'd have a NFL career right now and never would have lost the starting quarterback position at Texas. I stopped couting how many times Major was called in to save Simm's ass at Texas. Well, Major's not there to bail you out anymore Simms. And, you've now thrown 7 interceptions in 2.01 games. (yes, the seventh interception came on his FIRST PASS of the THRID game) Very sad.

G came in to see why i was laughing so hard. I Tivo'd back.. and then G was laughing too. It's kinda fun that I can read about Simms here as front page news. You're in the big leagues now Chris.. time to try and play like it.

Today sucked

Today was drama filled at work:

All was running so swimmingly. The patients were getting in and out. Everybody was happy. Life was good. Then, we got to our contact lens I&R. (an I&R stands for insertion and removal... someone who's enver worn contact lenses before) Everything went great for the exam part, the patient headed back to the contact lens room with a tech, the tech got the lenses in the patient's eye, then went back to check the acuities with the lenses. I was heading back to get a chart for a patient on the phone when I hear ... in a very calm, but LOUD voice... "DR H GET IN HERE *NOW*". Now, if you know my tech who was working today... he's very stoic. Nice, but not super emotional. The fact that he used this tone of voice made me literally RUN into the exam room. I walk in to our patient slumped in the exam chair seizing. I asked the tech how it all started. Apparently, the patient was giving the typical vasovagal responses: clammy, dizzy, nauseated, thirsty, etc. Tech goes to get patient water and comes back to patient seizing.

I'm not quite sure what to do other than to try to get the patient to not hit their head on the equipment stand. It lasts about a minute... not a huge thrashing seizure, but definitely clenched muscles, spasms, and loss of bladder control.

My tech calls 911. Mall security is notified by the Lenscrafters general manager. The patient regains consciousness about 1.5 minutes in. (yes, i was timing for EMS) The patient regains consciousness, I tell the patient what happened, etc. I think the patient was more embarassed than anything. I mean, how many people go to the eye doctor and have a seizure... complete with loss of bladder control, from putting contact lenses in. now, I've had PLENTY of people pass out. But never seize. That is something I've never seen in syncope.

EMS shows up THIRTY MINUTES later. The patient is antsy... ready to bolt. Doesn't want to wait for EMS. I have to explain that since there was a loss of consciousness I have to call them in to evaluate. Have to. Sorry, you can come back later this afternoon to try contacts again if you want to... but it's totally up to you.

And on EMS taking thirty minutes.. remind me to never have an MI at the mall.

So, we get through that. But, the drama keeps coming. One of my other techs calls in. Her mom is very ill with cancer. She can't come in tomorrow. Totally fine, be with your mom, she needs you... we totally understand and would think you were cracked if you still came to work. Go be with her... take all the time you need.

Now we're in warp drive. My other two techs have class tomorrow night and can't work. Dr W's other office has everyone working or in class. Brandon stores have no free techs. Carrolwood has no free techs. AHHHHH ! i don't wanna work alone. I could do it, but it would suck.

Finally, the general manager calls her old office! YAY! She scores me a tech who can fill in tomorrow from 10-7. I'm definitely buying him lunch tomorrow. He's saving my ass.

After all this drama... I need a beer. Alas, I don't have any.

International House of Me

Apparently my blog is reaching international viewers. Don't ask me how.. but Blogpatrol says I'm am.

United States
Germany
Madagascar
South Africa
Canada
Norway
United Kingdom


Now, I know who the United Kingdom one is.. HI FIONA !! The others.. not so much.

Day off at the dentist

I finally had a day off mid-week, so I decided to use my dental insurance and go to the dentist. I hadn't had a cleaning in a year and a half. DEFINITELY over-due.

The new dentist seems nice. She was pretty quiet, but friendly. Definitely more personable than the guy I went to for an exam in May. (I hated him which is why I didn't go back) Her office is completely bilingual, which I thought was fabulous! Seeing the schedule on the wall behind my hygenists head I was the only non-hispanic name on it. speaking of which, they're not supposed to put anything up on the wall with patient names on info on it.. it violates HIPAA. I kept my mouth shut though.

I do have to go back next month since I have two weak spots in two teeth that she wants to patch up. She said they were so small I don't even need novocaine. I also found out I have EXCELLENT dental insurance. No co-pay. And, the patching she's going to do is only going to cost me $13 a piece. Nice ! I'm a little sad i need work done. I've always prided myself on my dental care. I'm 30 and have only ever had one cavity. And, even the one I had my dentist said was almost too small to fill, but he thought I should. Which, is exactly what this dentist said about the two others she saw at this visit. Stupid teeth. I guess this is what I get for not having dental insurance while in grad school. I think I've only been to the dentist three times in the last five years. It's EXPENSIVE to go if you have no insurance and I went as much as I could afford to. I guess that means my teeth paid the price of my neglect. Poor teeth.

Back at work

I'm a sad Longhorn :( My team fell apart and lost to Ohio State. I'm sure you all know that by now. But, redshirt freshman quarterback vs the number 1 team in the country... you have to kind of expect it.

I'm SO HAPPY to learn that Battlestar Galactica has put up Webisodes to lead up to the Season 3 launch in early October. Check them out if you haven't heard already: Battlestar Galactica Webisodes It's making me SO excited for Season 3.

G and I spent most of yesterday at the Devil Rays game. We were shocked that they were still letting people into the 10,000 gallon "Rays touch tank" where they have 30 rays you can go pet. I'm shocked there weren't spastic mothers there protesting after Steve Irwin. I kind of expected there to be. But, kids were still lining up. The Rays lost.. SHOCKING. But, they were playing the Oakland A's who are leading their division right now. I got the tickets free from the Bausch and Lomb rep. They were FABULOUS seats right on the third base line about eight rows behind the A's dugout. G was so excited.. he loves the A's.

G and I spent the evening watching Season 3 of Arrested Development on Netflix. And, today I'm back at work. yes, I only had one day off. (ugh) I'm working today and tomorrow to cover for the doctor at Vision West... which doesn't start til Thursday I might add. *sigh* But, it's extra money and when you're in as much debt as I am from school money's good.

Texas vs Ohio State

GO HORNS GOOOOOOOOO !!!!!

Survivor : The Racial Season

In case you've been living under a rock.. I'll fill ya in. This season of Survivor features twenty people split into four tribes. The catch --- the tribes are split up by race. (white, black, asian , and hispanic) It's causing quite the hub-bub here on the local news and nationally too. The local paper has had many editorials about it.

I think this is going to be an interesting experiment on the part of CBS. People are already calling for a boycott. And, you know, boycotts are GREAT for ratings ! But, if you stop and think about it.. as much as America is supposed to be the "melting pot".. it's really not. It happens every place you go. Look at any high school lunch room. The black kids sit with the black kids.. the whites with the whites.. and the hispanics with the hispanics etc. I'm NOT saying it's right... don't get me wrong. i'm just saying that's the way it is. People are friends with people like themselves. People with a certain level of education tend to make friends with other with the same level of education. They just have more in common. Same goes for social class (which, I guess goes hand in hand with education as well)

I have to hand it to CBS for coming up with something new to get people to watch a struggling Survivor. (the ratings have been sliding every year I do believe) Now, everyone I know is talking about it. "Did you hear what they're doing on Survivor??" People will watch.

Random bloggity goodness

I'm feeling rather random today. I don't have anything conrete to talk about...

The past week I've been working quite a bit. The part time doctor at Tyrone Square is in Vegas for Vision West -- lucky her-- so Dr W and I are covering both offices solo. FUN!

In happy news: NIP/TUCK is back !!! And, all is right with the world. Thank all that is holy and good with the world that The Carver plot line is dead and gone. It seems they're trying to go back to the formula that made them good in season 1. It even started the same with the contrasting parallel sex scenes. Overall a good set up to get us back into this show. Now, I just need to get BSG and the Amazing Race back and life will be totally wonderful again.

My parents were in North Carolina for the last week.. so I've had a week free of mom phone calls. It's been kinda nice.. and quiet.

I'm taking more charity patients in my office. I'm seeing at least three a week now. I'm working through lenscrafters "gift of sight" program and the local chapter of Prevent Blindess Florida to give free exams to people living below the poverty line. Which, if you know which area of town my office is in.. is kinda ironic. My office is next door to Nordstrom .. but i'm helping people and it makes me feel good to give back as well. One patient told me should could go out on job interviews again now that she has her new glasses. Those kind of things make me happier than feeling like the liason between my patients and their contact lens refills.

Tonight, on the agenda... cleaning.. and probably some Project Runway (if I remember). I'm also desperately trying to finish my book. I'm only half way through though, so probably not going to happen tonight. The book has over 900 pages.

Labor Day

I woke up feeling sorry for myself today. I feel like the only person on the planet who has to work today. G knew that, so he got up early to make me waffles. I love G. I'm hoping I can get out of work early-ish. It's not like I have any patients today. We're losing money being open.