I'd rather see Dr. Pepper*

I went to the dermatologist today for the skin cancer scan. While I was there, I asked her about this wonky spot I have on my arm from what had been a weirdo flesh eating virus and is now just a spot that looks like eczema, which I have never had in my life.

She did a cursory glance and then gave me a prescription for a cream. I tried to ask her questions, which she blew off. Then she left, never giving me an opportunity to pose any questions or explaining to me what she saw. Looking over my form, I see that she diagnosed me with a chronic dermatitis. Really? No mention of this. I don't have a chronic dermatitis. The cream is for eczema, which again, I do not have.

Grr. This is a big problem in my opinion. I feel like doctors rush in and rush out without ever spending any time with the patient, leaving the patient unsure and confused about their actual diagnosis and what they can do about it. This doctor had no interest in what I had to say. She came into the room with her preconceptions, and worked from those rather than what was being presented before her.

It's hard to say what a patient can do. A doctor rushes in and out so quickly, it feels like an imposition to ask questions. I have also found that a doctor is often dismissive of a patient's ideas. Look, I get that it may be irritating to a trained professional when a person who has webmd'd their symptoms attempts to diagnose themselves, but a person knows their own body and if they care enough about their own health to try to figure out their problems on their own and then go and seek actual professional help, the least that "professional" could do is listen.


*and I dislike Dr. Pepper. I am a ginger ale girl all the way! Yay!

Amateurs

I read in the paper (big news) that Joanna Pacitti of American Idol was booted for having connections to 2 producers that are involved with the show. I got to thinking about the Joanna I have on my iPod and realized, hold on. They are one and the same. I have that girl's album. I actually downloaded it from iTunes one day after it was recommended to me by some magazine (Self, maybe?).

I dislike that people who have worked their way through the system get to be on AI. I think it should be a show for amateurs. However, like the Olympic Games, somehow these professionals are finding a way into the whole process. I think it is a bit unfair.

She needs to go on a reality show like Surreal Life to reclaim her ticket, like the rest of cast out celebrities do. Let American Idol present us with delightful new acts for us disregard in a year or two. (Who can then go on to populate the next cast of "Sober House" after AI alum Nikki McKibben evacuates it).

Judging a magazine by its cover

I got my issue of the Washington Post's "Parade" today. The cover asked who the world's most wanted are. On the cover, with the expected Osama Bin Laden, is a Burundi ex-finance minister who made off with $6.5 million from her government. I expect we will see her popping up on the Hill or maybe being nominated into some Secretary position within the new administration.

Another face that is wanted is a MS-13 gang leader who is charged with attempted murder and escaped from jail. The dude has MS-13 tattooed across his face. I'm thinking that he is probably pretty easy to id. I can't quite tell, but his lips look tattooed, too. Can't cover THAT up with a bandanna. So everyone, be on the look out for a bandanna'd lipstick wearing fella.

Another most wanted is a former babysitter who was convicted of a sex-crime against a child. Seriously? He is most wanted in the world? The whole wide world? When they catch him, he will spend less time in prison than some kid who got busted buying some pot with grand plans to smoke it in his room and then eat all of his roommates Cool Ranch Doritos. (Though I personally believe that anyone who harms a kid in any manner should just simply be shot and save us all the hassle).

Dear Washington Post,
That was a strange group of people to put on your cover declaring "The World's Most Wanted". I have to believe there are people who have done worse things than the Cambodian police officer wanted for participating in an acid attack on a woman. Not to say that all people pictured on the magazine are not awful people. They probably are. However, "most wanted" is a strong term and I would expect these people to be wayyyy out of the league of the DC guys who attack their ex-girlfriends with flammable liquids and set them on fire.

Off to actually read the magazine now. Cheerio!