Life is Funny Like That

Things have been rough lately. I'm really struggling with how many different things are out of my control within my world right now. I can't make anything go the way I want it, and that been piling on top of me. I'm exhausted and overwhelmed.

The Universe likes to show itself in strange ways to remind me that not everything has to be in my control.

There is a guy [read: total jerk] who picks up the specimens daily for the lab that is on the bottom floor of our office building. Every day, he parks in a place where he is not supposed to park. Every day, he blocks cars underneath an overhang that people use to load children and disabled people in to their cars. He has been asked not to multiple times. Multiple times he has ignored us.

Yesterday, it was pouring down rain and the sky was black as night in the middle of the afternoon. Lots of cars were using the overhang to get their loved ones in and out of the building. This guy arrives and BACKED HIS CAR IN. He made it so that no one else can get in and a few people cannot get out. Mind you, this car is marked with the company name and phone number. He was told to move, and his answer was "I don't have time for you. I do what I want."

He brilliantly said this in front of a handful of witnesses.

I was incensed. The idea of someone who finds his job so important that he can inconvenience people IN A STORM had me fuming. I only have one rule for behavior: Don't be a douchebag.

It was after business hours when all of this happened, and I wouldn't be able to get to any of his supervisors even if I tried, so I put it on the back burner and decided to wait until this morning to call. This morning was really busy, and by the time I realized it, it was two hours in to the day. I heard the front door of the office open, and went to greet whoever was there. Standing in my window were two of the area managers for the lab company who were just making a sales call. They had no idea what had happened the day before.

They were not happy when they found out. They gave us the name of who to talk to in the future, and assured us that it would be "handled".

And it took me no work to get it done.

So thanks, Universe, for reminding me that I don't have to do all of the work myself as long as I keep my nose clean and fight for what's right. You do a pretty good job of making sure I get a break when I need it.

As always, it's hip to be square, kids.

Just 'Cause You're A Doctor Doesn't Mean You're Not an Idiot

Medicine doesn't always make things better. In fact, sometimes it makes things worse. I don't just mean the pills that you take, I mean the medical interventions, surgical or otherwise, that are supposed to help.. It's happened twice in the last couple months. I get frustrated with medicine because I work in it, and I would never want to make something worse for someone, but it seems like it's just not avoidable sometimes. 

Doc was supposed to have the shunt put in his brain to help him walk. It was supposed to be life-changing. It may be life-changing, but it won't be for a while. At the end of November, Doc was having chest pains, and failed to tell us until many days later. His doctor sent him to the emergency room where they admitted him and did a whole bunch of procedures that were supposed to help with the chest pain. The chest pain was never that bad according to Doc. I don't know if I believe that, but that's what he says. The procedures they did are not designed to lengthen lifespan, but just to relieve pain. He wanted to know why he should have a procedure that wouldn't lengthen his lifespan for pain that was not severe, but we all felt like it was a good idea because when he does have pain, he doesn't tell us. We went along with it even though he wasn't totally on board. He's a doctor, and doctors know that you don't have surgery just for fun. It's  has to be something you need, where the risk is less substantial then the quality-of-life improvement would be. We did it anyway. 

In the process of prepping him for the shunt, the stents that had just been put in had been completely overlooked. Shortly before he was supposed to have the procedure to put the shunt in, these brainiacs realized their mistake, and now this non-life-saving procedure that they did is inhibiting him from what could be a life-saving procedure. At least a quality-of-life saving procedure. This is frustrating. I was angry. I yelled. I yelled a lot. I asked why a lot. I'm past that point, but it doesn't make it any less frustrating.

Medicine is supposed to fix things. I work in medicine, and I've seen it do lots and lots of good for people. Today, I don't have a lot of faith because I really feel like everyone who should know better is just screwing up all the things.  I feel like we've been let down on so many different occasions by things that were supposed to be minor and not life-changing. It's frustrating. 

It's so frustrating.

As always, it's hip to be square, (and frustrated!), kids.

Addiction Is Not A Character Flaw

Addiction is not a character flaw or a lack of moral compass. It's a disease that is inherited and cannot be cured. Getting clean and sober isn't a matter of "growing up", it's a daily struggle that requires support, tough love, treatment programs and complete surrender. If you don't understand why someone is so destructive, it's because you can't understand. If you know someone who was able to get clean, be proud of them every day. Sobriety is a daily struggle in a fight that so many people lose.

To be a little more blunt: If you don't know anything about addiction, keep your mouth shut. You're hurting people by running your mouth about something that you cannot even comprehend.