The Doctor's Office

Yesterday I realized that I was out of my one prescription that I take only as required; consequently I don't pay as much attention to my supply as would be advised. Also, I live in a city in which there is such a shortage of docs that after 5 years here I still don't have one. So, its off to the walk-in clinic of my choice. This is always a treat. The one I go to most usually is my choice because the doctors are kind and polite. This is what I need when I am going in feeling like I'm begging for drugs to keep myself going.

The place tells me that, altho I am a resident here, I really don't know what goes on in my own backyard. Walking in, the days and hours of operation three times before you get to the reception counter. The reception area has been renovated since I was there last. It now reminds me of a barricks. The counter is over 4 feet high and there are pillars making three separations, which makes it feel very clostrophobic for those on the other side. Right behind the gals is a wall of files that is nine shelves high, just like a library.

The waiting area is very small but has lots of windows and has seating for a dozen along the perimeter with a set of four chairs, musical chairs style, in the middle . . . all full. I grabbed a seat and a magazine before sitting down with my journal to do some catch up writing, just in case. Good thing too, I was 4th in line till the regular patients with appointments came in. I sat for about an hour with screaming babies and a 9-yr old who had learned how to burp on purpose, it was delightful. Really lovely how parents let children behave these days.

The clinic, as I looked round, has been well used, very little space and things piled upon piles and a shredder right there in the middle of the room that went off every time clerical staff walked by. The rooms are tiny and all sorts of rules posted for our infomation. Each patient gets 7 minutes and can only come in with one complaint at a time. You must return for ailments that don't apply to this appointment. Okay!

I got my prescription filled and the maximum refills allowed so that I don't have to come back till absolutely necessary. I'll try to remember to get in early in the morning next time, it is much quicker before folk with children get moving around. Try to remember that this is one choice that I do have.

Meg

A Great Experience At The Keg

This weekend was the time to celebrate a friend's birthday. I like celebrating anyone's special day. Now, this particular gal makes any meal special; she has food allergies and by the time she can't have this, this, this, that and those, if there is anything left on the plate its special, believe me :) I always let her choose the restaurant to make the beginning easier. We went to the Keg, if all else fails she can have plain steak or chicken and wine so we knew that it was a good start.

Once we got in the door we realized that they really cater to people with physical limitations. My friend is on crutches for a broken foot just now. At the entrace they described the different sections, patio, bar, lounge (by the fire) or dining room and the seating in each section, this way we could choose what would most accommodate our requirements. The hostess stayed at the table till we got our jackets off and she was sitting so the crutches could be stored out of the way.

Next the waiter came and began his spiel for the daily specials, little did he know how not special that was. My friend said that she has allergies and he started writing to get it all right. He made a couple of trips into the kitchen to find out if what things contained and finally came back with a suggestion. They will bake a fresh chicken breast and put it on the cesar salad that she has said she can eat. That worked very well ~ make that a pair, please. There is a free desert for birthdays and they would do what they have to in hopes that she'll be able to order one also. In the end we did order mocha ice cream cake and I got to eat the crusty part on the bottom due to . . . er, some problem. Shhh, I forget !!

This was my first experience in a handicapped situation and there have been horror stories that sort of put me on edge. If you want to be guaranteed a good experience going out for dinner, I would suggest that the staff and service is just delightful and goes way above and beyond the call of duty to ensure you have your needs met.

Cheers, Meg :)

The Week That Was

This has been an unusual week. One in which every time I go to do something, things change and I end up moving in a different direction. The reason I call it a Mess.

I started the week with a trip to a doctor's office and X-Ray dept. Not for me, but for a friend who is injured and cannot drive. It was amazing according to my friend, we rolled in at 10 AM and she saw the doc, then we were off to a different building for X-Rays and got that done also. We were back at her place before noon with no big problems.

That might sound like a very good days work and now its time to relax or do something fun. To me it meant that I had accomplished this huge hurdle. At 8:30 that morning I was going to call and back out, the trip I had to make was in the downtown core and I was in a panic state over going down there and not getting parking. There was no worry over my friend and her injury or driving around, just the parking conditions. Getting a parking ticket has no place onb my radar. So, it was an absolute gift from God when we drove to the clinic and she said that she had never seen it this empty, she walked in and was the only patient, no waiting. I took the pooch for a walk, retruned and she was done. Went to the X-ray Lab and got an easy access spot right next to the door. Walked in and she was next, I used the washroom and returned to find her just coming out. The problem was that it took so much out of me that I didn't pay a lot of attention to what was going on in the offices.

The receptionist at X-ray was on the phone when we arrived and we had to stand and wait while she completed the call, that was very aggravating to me. I resent people who have jobs these days and do them badly when I am sitting on UIC and could do a better job. Also, they have the lab on 2nd floor and the ladies is in a staircase, back down on the main floor. Fine for me with no pain, but what about those patients who come in and can't quite make that same trip?

Tuesday I called the groomer for an appointment and was told that I could bring Ch'ng in on Thursday any time, so I chose 11 AM and she'd be ready at 3 o'clock. I put together a short list of errands to use the time constructively. But, I found that after going for groceries I was so exhausted that I needed to get the stuff home and empty the car, in order to keep things current, before going to pick up poochie. I had a rest with coffee and could have just drifted right off. When I returned to the groomers she was just finishing up with poochie and I was going to leave so I didn't cause poochie to want to jump off the table, but suddenly I was engaged in conversation about other customers and how they treat her like a free doggy sitting service for their convenience. I heard a lot more than I wanted to, I can't imagine leaving mine anywhere a second longer than necessary, she doesn't like it and I try to do those little things to keep her feeling loved and secure. I heard a lot more about pet owners and their shoddy ways than I ever wanted to; its bothering me a lot that people don't care about a dog's comfort. At times like this I'm very glad that I have allergies and can't work there, I know that I could never see the abuse that was described . . . and its legal.

I'm glad its the weekend, I finished one book last night and am going to start another that I'd like to just lie around and read over the next couple of days, this book was written in 1937, yea!!! my favorite era. That was the week that was and thank God its over.

Cheers, Meg

Trust That the Truth Will Show Itself

Things are not the same around here since I started this blog. In the beginning I was anticipating spending part of my days in some interesting place around town and then reporting on it, recording all the enjoyment of the visit. Instead, it seems that I am more caught up with things that don't take me too far from the house, or maybe not at all.

It took a bit of extra time to recover from my attack last weekend, so I have been making a list and reserving my energy for things that are a priority. Had a doctor who told me that I could live to be 101, didn't think she meant that I would wake up that way the next day, well that may be a slight exageration. But its teaching me a renewed value in lists to keep my mind from overworking

One friend was moving back to the UK and was telling me to stay home, she would be dropping by with things I could use and she was done with. We went for lunch last Friday, it was a final good-bye and for my birthday that was on June 1st and she would miss it. In trying to help her, I found that I have ended up with stuff that I have no use for and will be making a trip to the Goodwill shop shortly, its hard for me to keep things of others when they have gone like that.

I wrote a short story one evening, it was only about 1500 words and sort of came from a phrase that I had heard earlier in the day. So, now its in my book that I keep for Treehouse Stories, things I view when no one knows I'm watching. I want my title for today to become a mantra or slogan that I can incorporate into my life. Allowing others the space to show me who and what they are. Usually, I jump on things and nip them in the bud. This might not be my best interest.

All my rose bushes (11) had at least one bloom on them for my birthday. That is always the best surprise for me. Its been quite rainy and I have not paid much attention to the garden, with temperatures in the fifties I find it too cold to be outside working. Not an outside gal here!!!!! But today the I awoke to the sun shining and the temps already at y'days high, so I will mow this afternoon after the neighbor gets finished running the saw he's using for stumping.

I'm not sure if this blog is intended for my first impression, but I'm going to Trust and watch the Truth Reveal Itself. Maybe that's what its all about anyway.

Thanks for dropping in,

Meg :)