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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 25 of 43. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by beardedlady on March 26, 2003, at 19:17:47
How are you holding up down there in hell's basement? How's the love life?
beardy : )>
Posted by Greg on March 26, 2003, at 19:26:34
In reply to Hi, Shar., posted by beardedlady on March 26, 2003, at 19:17:47
Shar,
If you think grading student's papers is a drag, try proof reading engineer's design reports.
Sheesh...
xxoo,
GregP.S. Hi Beardy, how be thou?
Posted by shar on March 26, 2003, at 21:22:37
In reply to Hi, Shar., posted by beardedlady on March 26, 2003, at 19:17:47
All is hell, er...I mean swell. I know you could not be referring to the great state of Texas with that "hell's basement" comment...so you must be referring to my new job (it's temp)...grading student essays done as part of a standardized test!!!
Now, that is true hell. They come in batches of 40 essays, handwritten/scrawled, two pages max, high school juniors. It's enough to make you want to move somewhere where the leaders of tomorrow will not be able to find you! It is downright SCARY that these kids cannot put a sentence together (as in subject+predicate type regular old sentence). There is the rare really great essay, though. And a LOT of plagiarism from "Chicken Soup for the Teenage Soul."
I don't work in a basement, but it is a windowless room. Same thing.
Some GREAT quotes. But, I don't think I can say any of them because it's all super confidential. I will say, though, that I was surprised to learn that Sojourner Truth and Rosa Parks started the civil rights movement in the 70's, and it was Lincoln that said "ask not what your country can do for you... etc."
I've been wanting to tell you about the job--I knew you would appreciate it from a grammar and wordophile* perspective, but working 8-5 I haven't been too much on the boards of late. So, I'm glad you said hi! And, how's it up there in hell's attic?
*Now, when I don't know a word, I just make one up. It's so great to still be learning things.
Love life is great. Great to be loved, be loving, be in love. God's hand was in this one, that's for sure!
S
> How are you holding up down there in hell's basement? How's the love life?
>
> beardy : )>
Posted by shar on March 26, 2003, at 21:25:10
In reply to Re: Hi, Shar., posted by Greg on March 26, 2003, at 19:26:34
My heart goes out to you. At least I get a laugh every now and then.
Engineers make me think of Dilbert. The boss once said, "fax that to me on green paper." hahahaha, I thought that was great!!
xoxo
YIC> Shar,
>
> If you think grading student's papers is a drag, try proof reading engineer's design reports.
>
> Sheesh...
>
> xxoo,
> Greg
>
> P.S. Hi Beardy, how be thou?
Posted by wendy b. on March 26, 2003, at 21:40:33
In reply to Re: Hi, Shar. » beardedlady, posted by shar on March 26, 2003, at 21:22:37
> Love life is great. Great to be loved, be loving, be in love. God's hand was in this one, that's for sure!
I'm really happy for you about this - it's wonderful to also experience joy, isn't it, besides the bad stuff?
You're alive!best,
Wendy
Posted by beardedlady on March 27, 2003, at 9:05:03
In reply to Re: Hi, Shar. » beardedlady, posted by shar on March 26, 2003, at 21:22:37
> I know you could not be referring to the great state of Texas with that "hell's basement" comment...so you must be referring to my new job (it's temp)...grading student essays done as part of a standardized test!!!
Uh, yeah--that's what I meant. (!)
> Now, that is true hell. They come in batches of 40 essays, handwritten/scrawled, two pages max, high school juniors. It's enough to make you want to move somewhere where the leaders of tomorrow will not be able to find you! It is downright SCARY that these kids cannot put a sentence together (as in subject+predicate type regular old sentence). There is the rare really great essay, though. And a LOT of plagiarism from "Chicken Soup for the Teenage Soul."
Yes, it's totally scary. What's scarier is grading placement tests for adults. I used to do the test for getting into my composition class. Students had to read an article and respond to it. That's all. The response had to be coherent, mostly grammatical, and relevant.
When you see some of the people in my class, you can't believe they ever went to high school! And most of them are older adults!
Thanks for not double quoting that dreadful book!
> I don't work in a basement, but it is a windowless room. Same thing.
Okay, okay. I was talking about Texas.
> Some GREAT quotes. But, I don't think I can say any of them because it's all super confidential. I will say, though, that I was surprised to learn that Sojourner Truth and Rosa Parks started the civil rights movement in the 70's, and it was Lincoln that said "ask not what your country can do for you... etc."
Are you sure they started--and it in the '70s? I thought it was the Battle of 1912 that launched Civil Rights.
> I've been wanting to tell you about the job--I knew you would appreciate it from a grammar and wordophile* perspective,
Close enough. I think it's lexophile. I started to write a fabulous article comparing the top-selling dictionaries. It was called Lex-Ophelia--Get Thee to a Dictionary!
>but working 8-5 I haven't been too much on the boards of late. So, I'm glad you said hi! And, how's it up there in hell's attic?
Glad you popped in, too, and that the love life is grand. It makes everything else easier to take. I think your job's pretty cool (how did you get it?); it must be a laugh riot. That kind of stuff really gives me a chuckle (though it makes me totally frustrated).
I really like Michael Moore, who did "Bowling for Columbine," among others. But his speech at the Oscars floored me. I think I'm going to have to write a work of "fictition." Oh, Fictitia! Fetch me a lexicography!
beardy : )>
Posted by beardedlady on March 27, 2003, at 9:06:27
In reply to Re: Hi, Shar., posted by Greg on March 26, 2003, at 19:26:34
> P.S. Hi Beardy, how be thou?
Et tu, Greg?
Posted by OddipusRex on March 27, 2003, at 9:25:02
In reply to Re: Hi, Shar. » beardedlady, posted by shar on March 26, 2003, at 21:22:37
http://onion.com/onion3910/hilarious_hamlet_essay.html
:)
Posted by beardedlady on March 27, 2003, at 9:46:12
In reply to Hi comma Shar » shar, posted by OddipusRex on March 27, 2003, at 9:25:02
A.K.A. apostrophe.
Thanks for the funny link.
beardy : )>
Posted by Greg on March 28, 2003, at 6:50:26
In reply to more lovely and more temperate than a summer's day » Greg, posted by beardedlady on March 27, 2003, at 9:06:27
> > P.S. Hi Beardy, how be thou?
>
> Et tu, Greg?
>
Well Dearest Beardy,I am in financial disaster right now and am having to work three jobs, my doctors are playing russian roulette with my meds and I feel rather, er, strange, my son turns 13 in two weeks and then I'll have TWO teenagers in the house (God save me), and I have to do a brake job on my car tomorrow.
All things considered, I'd say my life is going according to plan :)
I need a vacation.
Greg
Posted by beardedlady on March 28, 2003, at 7:45:29
In reply to Re: more lovely and more temperate than a summer's day » beardedlady, posted by Greg on March 28, 2003, at 6:50:26
Well, Greg, how quickly things change. I noticed yesterday that I, too, am in financial ruin, having amassed $10,000 in credit card debt, just when I thought I was down to $5,000. One bill keeps rising with the late payment fees and the interest, and I seem to be paying $100/month to keep it the same.
But I am still sitting here, making little money from home. Do I get a second job? Or even a first one? (Well, I do teach part time and have this little business, which is dreadfully slow.)
If someone handed me $5,000 right now, I would still feel like the whole thing is dismal.
Plus we got a letter from preschool that asks us to bring enough clothing supplies for three days, in case the school is locked down and they have to use the fallout shelter.
As for teens, at least one is a boy. You can be grateful for that. Two teen-aged girls would be a horror.
More temperate? More lovely? Nah. Gimme the summer day.
beardy : (>
Posted by bozeman on March 28, 2003, at 10:06:21
In reply to oy vey » Greg, posted by beardedlady on March 28, 2003, at 7:45:29
<nods head supportively>
Yeah, WHY does being sick have to be so darned *expensive*??!!
Not like life itself isn't expensive enough? (kids, cars, sick kitties, clothes for job, decent place to live, etc. etc. ad infinitum)
AAAAAAAUUUUUUGGGGGHHHH!!!!bozeman
Posted by Greg on March 28, 2003, at 15:29:53
In reply to Re: Greg, beardy, et al » beardedlady, posted by bozeman on March 28, 2003, at 10:06:21
> <nods head supportively>
>
> Yeah, WHY does being sick have to be so darned *expensive*??!!
> Not like life itself isn't expensive enough? (kids, cars, sick kitties, clothes for job, decent place to live, etc. etc. ad infinitum)
> AAAAAAAUUUUUUGGGGGHHHH!!!!
>
> bozemanYou got that right! When your pharmacist knows you so well that he even reminds you when it's time to get your car serviced, then you've spent a little too much time, and money, at the pharmacy...
Shouldn't you get like a frequent filler's discount?
G
Posted by NikkiT2 on March 28, 2003, at 15:49:43
In reply to Re: Greg, beardy, et al » bozeman, posted by Greg on March 28, 2003, at 15:29:53
hey babe.. been emailing you.. you getting them (you don;t have to reply.. just let me know you're still hanging on in there!!)???
I popped into my local pharamcy with a friend who wanted to get something.. she was very taken back when they greeted me by name!! *lol*
It freaked me out so much, I changed pharamacists!!
Nikki x
Posted by noa on March 28, 2003, at 18:50:45
In reply to Re: Hi, Shar. » beardedlady, posted by shar on March 26, 2003, at 21:22:37
Shar, sounds like a lot of work. Shall we chalk this up to the new love affair with high stakes testing?
Posted by noa on March 28, 2003, at 18:58:35
In reply to Re: Hi, Shar. » shar, posted by beardedlady on March 27, 2003, at 9:05:03
Hey, I can top that.
In grad school about 15 years ago, one Friday night I went to movies with two classmates after working on a project together. We saw "Glory". Halfway through the movie, one classmate pokes me and asks, "What are they fighting about?" so I answered "it's the Civil War." A few seconds later, she asked, "what was that?" After I realized she wasn't joking, I gave her the total grade school version--you know--the South had slavery, the North wanted to abolish slavery, etc. She said, "Oh."
In the car afterward, she asked more questions. Believe it or not, this woman had graduated from high school in the northeastern US, had attended college and earned a bachelors degree, and was one month or so shy of a masters degree, and had no idea what the Civil War was. My other friend kept looking at me funny as he drove because he couldn't beleive it either.
It was rather scary in a way!
Posted by bozeman on March 28, 2003, at 23:51:38
In reply to Re: Greg, beardy, et al » bozeman, posted by Greg on March 28, 2003, at 15:29:53
You would think that we would. :-)
Sadly, my pharmacist *also* knows me by name, and I've taken to flirting with all the assistants so they all know my name too. Not like I would ever go out with them, but they're the only guys I see these days, sadly. :-( Hopefully that will all soon improve.
I had an experience somewhat similar to yours, Nikki . . . the pharmacist (whom I am on a first name basis with, even though tens of thousands of other people get their meds there) was about to hand me a prescription one day, then snatched it back and said, "Hang on a minute. I need to check something." He looked up my file, then picked up the telephone and called my doctor. I heard him argue his way past the office staff until he got the doctor himself to approve an on-the-spot substitution for that medication so I wouldn't have to wait, and filled the prescription himself. My *doctor* (who should have known better, since my chart was clearly marked) had prescribed a variant --different name, same drug -- of a medication to which I am seriously allergic. If the pharmacist hadn't caught it, I would have never known it until it was too late, as I had never heard of the new name.
Bob (my pharmacist) apologized sincerely for the mixup and gave me the new prescription. I thanked him profusely, then asked what made him think to go back to my file to check for allergies. He said that an assistant (who I later found out he fired after that event) had actually filled the prescription and should have noticed the warning on the file, but had apparently missed it. When Bob checked the prescription before allowing it to be released, he verified that it was correctly dispensed but did not go back to the computer to cross-check allergies. But when he saw my face, he *remembered* the conversation we had had on my very first visit to the pharmacy years before, when he had taken my allergy history.
Even though I had a fever of about 103F that impressed me. This happened years ago, and I have since changed doctors (of course!) and moved, so the pharmacy is very much out of my way now. However, I will continue to go there as long as Bob is still the head pharmacist -- considering he probably saved my life.
Sometimes being on a first-name basis with those guys is not a bad thing. :-)
Wishing each of you well!
bozeman
Posted by NikkiT2 on March 29, 2003, at 9:18:38
In reply to Re: Greg, beardy, Nikki, et al » Greg, posted by bozeman on March 28, 2003, at 23:51:38
What a great story... I do hope you wrote to his "boss" and let him know what a great Pharmacist Bob is!!!
Maybe I will go back to my old pharmacy :o)
Nikki x
Posted by Greg on March 29, 2003, at 16:40:32
In reply to Re: Greg, beardy, et al » Greg, posted by NikkiT2 on March 28, 2003, at 15:49:43
Nikkers,
The last one I got (over a month ago at least) I responded to. Have you sent one since then? Try me again, I promise I'll send one back. You have so many damned addys I never know which one to write to... :)
Love ya,
Greg> hey babe.. been emailing you.. you getting them (you don;t have to reply.. just let me know you're still hanging on in there!!)???
>
> I popped into my local pharamcy with a friend who wanted to get something.. she was very taken back when they greeted me by name!! *lol*
>
> It freaked me out so much, I changed pharamacists!!
>
> Nikki x
Posted by Greg on March 29, 2003, at 17:05:44
In reply to Re: Greg, beardy, Nikki, et al » Greg, posted by bozeman on March 28, 2003, at 23:51:38
Dear B,
That's a great story, and you are very lucky to have a pharmacist who watches out for you like that. I have two, Nick and Paul, who are the same way. I've been going to the same place for about 5 or 6 years now. I have a story similar to yours.
I have cronic back pain and was seeing a doctor for it for about six months. He rx'd oxycontin, 20 mgs extended release to me at one point. That's not really a high dose but it really knocked me for a loop and I couldn't function on the job when I took it, so I called him and asked if he could rx the 10 mg instead. He told me to just cut the tab in half. Well, I didn't know any better and said OK. That same day I happened to be at my pharmacy and mentioned to Nick that my doctor had told me to cut the tab and he went ballistic! He said you never cut oxy in half, that because it's a XR pain med, releasing all of the med into your system at once could be very dangerous. I went home and checked the manufacturer's website and they even said that doing that could potentially be fatal. I called my doctor and told him what I had been told, and he said not to worry about it and cut them anyway...Needless to say, he's not my doctor anymore.
There are definite benefits to having a pharmacist who knows you really well and keeps an eye out for you. I've even had mine call me when it's getting close to time for a refill, that's pretty cool. I'm glad you have a really good one. It's worth driving a little further for that extra special service.
Oh well, enough of my rambling. I hope you're having a great weekend!
Be well,
Greg
Posted by NikkiT2 on March 29, 2003, at 17:13:20
In reply to Re: Nikki Babe..., posted by Greg on March 29, 2003, at 16:40:32
I sent one about a month ago.. no reply *sobs* And one about 2 weeks ago.. maybe my yahoo mail is playing up...
best way to get me is nikki@mysurname.com (I'm hoping you know my surname here!! *l*)
*hugs*
Nikki xx
Posted by bozeman on March 29, 2003, at 23:44:05
In reply to Re: Greg, beardy, Nikki, et al, posted by Greg on March 29, 2003, at 17:05:44
Wow. I'm glad Nick was there to look out for you!
When I was younger, and moving around the country a lot, I never realized how comforting -- and necessary -- it can be to find professionals you can trust. A doctor. A hairdresser. A pharmacist. An attorney. A therapist. An auto mechanic. An optometrist. Etc. Especially at our lowest points in life, having those relationships established can literally be life-saving. During the good times, they sure make life easier.
Here's to professionals who know what they are doing, and who care about their customers/clients/patients. Cheers. <clinks juice glass against computer screen>
You have a great weekend as well.
bozeman
Posted by bozeman on March 29, 2003, at 23:46:10
In reply to Re: Greg, beardy, Nikki, et al » bozeman, posted by NikkiT2 on March 29, 2003, at 9:18:38
Sometimes there is comfort (safety even??) in being known.
And, yes, Bob has received the benefit of my gratitude . . . . a letter to his boss (official) and a bottle of champagne (unofficial.)
:-)
bozeman
Posted by noa on March 30, 2003, at 11:04:31
In reply to Re: Greg, beardy, Nikki, et al » Greg, posted by bozeman on March 28, 2003, at 23:51:38
WOW--that is a great story!
Posted by noa on March 30, 2003, at 11:05:55
In reply to Re: Greg, beardy, Nikki, et al, posted by Greg on March 29, 2003, at 17:05:44
Hey, Greg! I have been meaning to ask you. Did you get the B12 treatment and is it helping? How are you doing?
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