Building a House (26)
Landscaping is in. Sod will be placed either the day before or the day of settlement, still on target for next week.
We had our walk through yesterday and everything looks great. Well, except for the dozens of sticky dots indicating painting and spackling imperfections to be addressed by yet another once-over by the painters and trim guys.
Moving day tentatively set for week after next. The journey is coming to an end…with a brand new one about to begin.
(Source: Musings of a Dinosaur)
Source: Musings of a Dinosaur - June 25, 2014 Category: Primary Care Authors: notdeaddinosaur Tags: Family/Personal Source Type: blogs
Yahrzeit
28 years. Gone from our lives, never from our hearts. (Source: Musings of a Dinosaur)
Source: Musings of a Dinosaur - June 16, 2014 Category: Primary Care Authors: notdeaddinosaur Tags: Medical Source Type: blogs
“Energy” Does Not Mean What You Think it Does
Every time I think I’ve seen it all, something new blows me away:
For those with trouble reading the fine print, this is “Energy Wataah”, on the shelves along with regular “Wataah”. As soon as I saw that word “Energy”, I thought “caffeine”. But no. Here’s what that green fine print on the label says:
Forget about caffeine and sugar. Ultra pure water with just enough oxygen is all the clean fuel your body craves.
WTF?
Water and oxygen are both critical for proper bodily functioning, but “energy”? “Energy” or “fuel” for the body ...
Source: Musings of a Dinosaur - June 15, 2014 Category: Primary Care Authors: notdeaddinosaur Tags: Medical Source Type: blogs
Building a House (25)
The front door has been painted black, and the final trim/flashing/whatever-it’s-called has been added across the bottom parts of the roof line over the garage. Now the outside just needs some sealing and painting (mainly the half columns on the front porch), landscaping, and sodding.
Inside is practically done. They’re working hard on the final painting and trim; then it needs a really thorough cleaning. Everything still on schedule though.
(Source: Musings of a Dinosaur)
Source: Musings of a Dinosaur - June 14, 2014 Category: Primary Care Authors: notdeaddinosaur Tags: Family/Personal Source Type: blogs
Driving While Hypertensive
The Second Law of the Dinosaur states:
It is impossible to make an asymptomatic patient feel better.
So true.
Chapter 2 of my book, Declarations of a Dinosaur, discusses how I handle a patient who may be asymptomatic at present but who will not remain so for long without taking my advice. Essentially, I explain in as much detail as necessary to create just enough anxiety, which can be relieved by doing what I say, be it taking pills, quitting smoking; whatever.
Another way of looking at it is that although the patient may not feel there’s anything wrong with him, my anxiety spikes when I see things like a hemoglobin...
Source: Musings of a Dinosaur - June 12, 2014 Category: Primary Care Authors: notdeaddinosaur Tags: Medical Source Type: blogs
Building a House (24)
We now have trim over the garage and windows, a lamppost, and downspouts. The deck — really just a landing and a few stairs — out back is also done:
Just a few more weeks to go. (Source: Musings of a Dinosaur)
Source: Musings of a Dinosaur - June 10, 2014 Category: Primary Care Authors: notdeaddinosaur Tags: Family/Personal Medical Source Type: blogs
Building a House (23)
Brick is completed and cleared from the front yard. Shutters are up. The deck is going on the back (really just an oversized landing with a small flight of stairs.)
Inside: tile is complete. Finishing is in progress.
Closing 4 weeks from today; on schedule.
(Source: Musings of a Dinosaur)
Source: Musings of a Dinosaur - June 4, 2014 Category: Primary Care Authors: notdeaddinosaur Tags: Family/Personal Source Type: blogs
Building a House (22)
Finally the brick is done. Actually, there’s still one small row of it to go under the front door, but clearly the vast majority is completed. The “holes” over the garage doors and window are where the trim will go. The front door will be painted and shutters will be added to the single first floor window.
Indoors; well, indoors is magnificent! Hardwood flooring is down (and protected with cardboard and duct tape), the kitchen cabinets are in, as are the counters (covered with protective plastic that makes them look weirdly blue.)
Still a lot to do: bedroom carpets, installing appliances, finishing up t...
Source: Musings of a Dinosaur - May 31, 2014 Category: Primary Care Authors: notdeaddinosaur Tags: Family/Personal Source Type: blogs
American Rights
Americans have rights. Most of these rights have limits, though. For example, even though the First Amendment to the Constitution guarantees the right to free speech, Americans do not have the right to yell “Fire!” in a crowded theater.
There is one right, however, that would appear limitless. I’m referring of course to the right to be stupid. I suppose this means that someone can walk into a gun show and yell, “Bad guy!” (Source: Musings of a Dinosaur)
Source: Musings of a Dinosaur - May 31, 2014 Category: Primary Care Authors: notdeaddinosaur Tags: Politics Source Type: blogs
Urgent Hypocrisy
I received a solicitation in the mail to apply for a position at a new company moving into my area, forthwith to be known as the “Facility for Urgent Care, Killer-Docs, that’s going to be opening a new office nearby:
FUC, K-Docs is looking for physicians who enjoy the practice of medicine, and the chance to focus exclusively on patient care. If you are looking for freedom and autonomy without the heavy financial and administrative burden associated with establishing and maintaining a practice, FUC, K-Docs may be right for you.
Cool. Unlike too many other primary care docs these days, I still very much enjoy th...
Source: Musings of a Dinosaur - May 24, 2014 Category: Primary Care Authors: notdeaddinosaur Tags: Medical Source Type: blogs
Building a House (21)
Approximately one half of the brick done. It took three days, which means that the unofficial estimate of another three days sounds about right. Unfortunately, nothing is going to happen until after the holiday weekend, though we’ll probably still go out there and keep poking around. (Source: Musings of a Dinosaur)
Source: Musings of a Dinosaur - May 23, 2014 Category: Primary Care Authors: notdeaddinosaur Tags: Family/Personal Source Type: blogs
What if Car Seats Were Like Vaccines
What if a big TV station, say WTOP in Washington DC, came out with a blockbuster story claiming that infant car seats were implicated in cerebral palsy? After all, something like 99.7% of babies diagnosed with cerebral palsy had been brought home from the hospital in a car seat. In fact, every single time they went anywhere in a car, they were strapped into them. That’s an impressive number. There has to be some connection!
Imagine video of kids crying piteously as they’re buckled into the wretched contraptions. After all, car seats are restraining and uncomfortable. Kids hate them! But parents have been duped ...
Source: Musings of a Dinosaur - May 22, 2014 Category: Primary Care Authors: notdeaddinosaur Tags: Medical Source Type: blogs
Building a House (20)
New mailbox.
Inside: Painting has occurred. Final electrical has begun. Most light fixtures are in, though not all. On track to close in about 6 weeks. (Source: Musings of a Dinosaur)
Source: Musings of a Dinosaur - May 20, 2014 Category: Primary Care Authors: notdeaddinosaur Tags: Family/Personal Source Type: blogs
To Refill, or Not to Refill?
I have an ethical dilemma, and would appreciate the opinion of the Collective.
Patient with controlled hypertension who hasn’t been in for a visit for over 2 years keeps requesting refills on her medications, despite multiple requests and decreasing quantities first of refills, then of medication quantities. We are finally down to my Note to Self in the Refill field, “No more refills without visit.”
Pharmacy request comes in for refill. No call from patient; no appointment on the schedule. Ideally, I like to see my hypertensive patients twice a year, but I’ll settle for annually. This patient hasn&#...
Source: Musings of a Dinosaur - May 20, 2014 Category: Primary Care Authors: notdeaddinosaur Tags: Medical Source Type: blogs
Building a House (19)
And garage doors.
Not sure why the brick hasn’t gone up yet.
We have reason to believe that painting will begin inside today. (Source: Musings of a Dinosaur)
Source: Musings of a Dinosaur - May 16, 2014 Category: Primary Care Authors: notdeaddinosaur Tags: Family/Personal Source Type: blogs
