The work day before a long weekend or major holiday is usually a frantic one. There are often a lot of ‘no-shows’ as people forget they have an appointment today. There are also lots of frantic telephone calls from folks in hysterics about to leave for the airport needing their medications renewed right now – usually valium. I wrote this entry in piecemeal when people failed to make their appointments.
What I should be doing now is rummaging through my office desk and cupboards to discard old journals and such, the things I’ve squirrel away ‘for later’, papers I’ve completely forgotten about and are outdated anyway so into the rubbish they go.
I just saw a patient with “SAD” which is seasonal affective disorder. This means depression/anxiety worsens in the winter months. When I lived in Michigan I had a lot of patients with SAD. There are not as many of these cases in Arizona. All the same the lack of light this time of year makes even the locals sluggish and logy. On top of SAD are the ‘holidays’ with all their stressful elements hohoho. Unfortunately hibernation is not a feasible option for most: the co-pay on this prescription is outrageous.
My office – PHX branch
Speaking of winter my office is as cold as witch-tit. As you can see I have the corner office is half windows. When we moved into the place everyone was initially mad-jealous that I got the corner office with its view of the mountains and Evita-balcony. We soon discovered for half the year in the summer months the morning sun bakes it hot as an easy-bake oven and in the other half of the year it’s positively arctic. No one will swap rooms with me now for love or money. I need to remember next week to bring in a little space heater as I am freezing my wrists off even as I type.
Today at noon we are having a telephone conference sales pitch about some sort of device or metric flogged as something useful to my practice. At the moment I can’t think of anything useful I want right now other than someone or something that fills out prior-authorization forms. The salesman has already lost a few points by putting this at lunch time and not providing food. Thrall #1 (the dear!) went out to fetch us some tuna fish sandwiches served on buns and things.
Later – the teleconference zoomed in and out in half an hour and I still don’t know what it was about. Imagine someone trying to explain quantum mechanics in thirty minutes. It seems to be an on-line do-it-yourself cognitive exam for patients. It has all sorts of fancy charts ups and do-dads apparently to see how bad is your memory. My soul swoons with questions on its use, privacy issues/HIPPA laws, and the price of such shenanigans. Imagine me telling an elderly patient struggling with memory to go on line to a website and follow the instructions to set up an account and do all the tasks and have it generate a report to send to my office. The saleslady wanted me to sign up before I hung up and she wasn’t one to take no for answer. I’m afraid she had to live with disappointment – at least until I can figure out what the hell she was talking about.
It looks like I may get out today on time enough to go to the gym and then head home for my four days introverted cocoon weekend. This evening I plan on making some bread. It shall be my Thanksgiving treat.
39 comments
November 27, 2019 at 3:36 PM
anne marie in philly
I have SAD during these dark months. it constantly makes me question my sanity. what kind of bread are you making?
November 27, 2019 at 8:02 PM
Urspo
basic white bread
November 27, 2019 at 3:37 PM
larrymuffin
Your Office looks lovely, I cannot believe that it is hot and cold in AZ come on. This ain’t Canada. Have a good Holiday though it is late and into the Xmas Season. Oh well you guys catch up and enjoy.
November 27, 2019 at 8:02 PM
Urspo
It got down to 7C last night – it was quite gelid
November 28, 2019 at 6:00 PM
larrymuffin
you are a sissy.
November 28, 2019 at 7:11 PM
Urspo
You sound like my junior high school gym teacher.
November 27, 2019 at 3:43 PM
David Godfrey
Nice office, if the heat and ac worked as they should, you should have a table and chairs on the balcony. Online capacity assessment, oh my, nooooooo!
November 27, 2019 at 8:04 PM
Urspo
I used to have a table/chairs on there, but I never used it. It would be too hot in the summer time. Management took it away one day. Skunks
November 27, 2019 at 3:45 PM
Todd Gunther
We love home made bread. Do you deliver? Um, across time zones?
November 27, 2019 at 8:04 PM
Urspo
My bread is made in a machine. It is pale puny thing compared to what your wife makes.
November 27, 2019 at 4:29 PM
taniapink
Have a wonderful thanksgiving, my friend. I’m grateful for all the years we’ve been blog pals xx
November 27, 2019 at 8:05 PM
Urspo
As I am grateful for you my dear
November 27, 2019 at 4:49 PM
Bob Slatten
The smell of freshly baked bread. Oy, I’m hungry …..
November 27, 2019 at 8:05 PM
Urspo
it is one of the best aromas there is.
November 27, 2019 at 6:19 PM
Steven
A great looking office with nice views! I, too, have a corner office with walls of glass. However, I seem to have the opposite effect. It’s cold in Summer and blazing hot in Winter. It’s hot in Winter because the sun is lower in the sky and shines in the office quickly baking it. In the Summer, the angle of the sun is above the roofline and no direct sunlight shines in. So the A/C keeps things almost too cold. Enjoy the bread and extended weekend!
November 27, 2019 at 8:06 PM
Urspo
It is a nice view. The photo doesn’t do it justice I can look out onto the mountains and downtown. I used to have the desk the other way around but I would stare out the window not at the patients.
November 27, 2019 at 7:15 PM
Linda Practical Parsimony
You can and will write prescriptions for valium. Well, my friend, I could zip over to be your patient!
November 27, 2019 at 8:06 PM
Urspo
I would love you to zip by
November 27, 2019 at 7:34 PM
Ron
Thanks for posting a picture of your office. Looks lovely but it proves the old adage “be careful of what you wish for.”
November 27, 2019 at 8:07 PM
Urspo
There are times when I prop the door open – with your red heeled shoe by the way! – and the breeze is lovely.
November 27, 2019 at 8:38 PM
Debra She Who Seeks
Enjoy your 4-day long weekend! Happy Thanksgiving!
November 27, 2019 at 9:10 PM
Urspo
See you soon on line
November 27, 2019 at 8:42 PM
Jennifer
Couldn’t you hang some sort of drapes to keep out the sun/heat in summer and the cold air in winter? The view is awfully nice despite the temperature challenges!
Homemade bread sounds wonderful. Enjoy your long cocoon weekend! I’ll be doing the same!
November 27, 2019 at 9:10 PM
Urspo
We put up filter film on the windows to a modest success
November 27, 2019 at 9:10 PM
Old Lurker
Hello doctor I accidentally flushed my Xanax down the toilet could you please write me a refill because I won’t be able to give thanks this weekend otherwise thank you.
November 27, 2019 at 9:11 PM
Urspo
You got the speech down pat
November 28, 2019 at 12:28 AM
Parnassus
My old office window looked out half over Lake Erie and half over an area of old warehouses and Cleveland’s lakefront airport–exactly the kind of view I prefer (also fun during the annual air show). It’s funny that the fancy offices had complete lake views, which I would have hated. I have that same type of film on my Taiwan living room windows, and it helps, but in the bedroom I have lined my windows with black builder’s foam, the modern equivalent of tar paper.
–Jim
November 28, 2019 at 9:30 AM
Urspo
Tar paper !
November 28, 2019 at 1:52 AM
Robert
Loving the occasional table with cloth. It add softness.
November 28, 2019 at 9:29 AM
Urspo
The tablecloth changes with the seasons 😊
November 28, 2019 at 3:52 AM
Moving with Mitchell
Unfortunate about the heating and cooling. It does look inviting. This time of year sucks I think for most people.
November 28, 2019 at 9:29 AM
Urspo
Not a happy time indeed in my line of work
November 28, 2019 at 5:22 AM
johnmichael42003
One software person came to an early morning pitch bringing a bag of apples and oranges. While the healthy choice was appreciated, he forgot to bring water or better yet coffee.
November 28, 2019 at 9:28 AM
Urspo
Oh the pain
November 28, 2019 at 10:45 AM
Brian Dean Powers
The DeLonghi radiator space heater is very effective and safe. Possibly a solution for your office. Check it out on Amazon.
November 28, 2019 at 2:25 PM
Urspo
thank you I need something
November 28, 2019 at 1:52 PM
Lori
Happy Thanksgiving! Enjoy your extended weekend.
November 28, 2019 at 2:25 PM
Urspo
So far it is quite enjoyable.
November 28, 2019 at 2:32 PM
Todd Gunther
thinking of you when I see this: