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Tuesday, August 28. 2012

Well, not unexpectedly, I've postponed my tumor operation a few weeks. I'm tentatively scheduled for Sept 24th. Between getting much less for my stocks than I'd hoped for and losing my web job until October, I simply don't have the money yet.

But it's cool. As I mentioned in the last update, the tumor hasn't grown any worse, so there's no need to panic. I'm currently designing a web site $600, so I'll get there. For those of you just tuning in, the back story is here. Contributions to the Save Our Doc fund are more than welcome. To those of you who have already pitched in, my sincerest thanks.

One thing I've noticed that seems to be common amongst cancer docs is that they tend to be a fairly upbeat group. My doctor in Miami is a riot. At one point he adopted his 'tough guy' voice and growled, "Just rub a little dirt on it — you'll be fine!" The doctor in Mexico was the one who, after looking at the scans, said "Good news. You have a cancer, not the cancer." Whether or not hospitals specifically seek out cancer docs with an upbeat personality is anybody's guess, but it sure has helped on this end. Whenever I start feeling down and picturing the worst, something one of the docs has said inevitably comes to mind and cheers me up.

I also notice they have a particular reticence to using scary words like "cancer" and "tumor". It's usually just "your condition" or "the problem". I happened to be watching an episode of 'House MD' a few weeks ago and Wilson, the resident oncologist, was talking to a patient and referred to "your condition", so I gather it's just part of the biz.

To finish up on an upbeat note, two of my friends are delighting in sending me 'gallows humor' cartoons to cheer me up. I posted one a few weeks ago; the 'Dead End' sign next to a graveyard. This one's pretty funny:

Posted by Dr. Mercury in Hot News & Misc. Short Subjects at 10:00 | Comments (16) | Trackback (1)

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Weblog: www.dailypundit.com
Tracked: Aug 28, 11:20

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I just threw another little something into the kitty, Doc. As you said, it all adds up. When you said your doctor was a "riot", I was reminded of a friend of mine who had breast cancer a few years ago. She said her doctor was a "scream", a very funny guy, knew every boob joke in the book, and made her feel a lot better about the whole thing. Maybe hospitals actually do look for upbeat oncologists? It'd make for an interesting study.

#1 Kathy S. on 2012-08-28 10:59 (Reply)

(gasp!) Are you suggesting they're profiling? Doesn't that violate federal law?

I do know that certain companies look for certain types for the Customer Service department. Over the years of calling places like the phone company, I noticed that the girls always seemed chirpy and upbeat, whereas the guys were usually down to earth, almost to the point of being droll. I eventually asked one of them if the company did that and she readily admitted they did. Most people who call are in surly or angry moods, so the upbeat girls help alleviate the sour mood and the down-to-earth guys won't blow up back at the customer. I'd last in one of those jobs about a day. :)

#1.1 Dr. Mercury (Link) on 2012-08-28 11:07 (Reply)

I'm throwing in the kitty, too. It's a way to thank you for your excellent Wordpress guide that I'm using to set up an author's website.

Re: customer service, I like pleasant and efficient; I mistrust chirpy, but am fine with it as long as the rep is competent and doesn't send me around the menu until I'm back where I started.

My prayers for you to come through this.

#2 Portlandmermaid on 2012-08-28 14:55 (Reply)

Glad you're enjoying the WP guide. Great program, eh? A bitch to work with (the themes), and an absolute joy to work with (the plugins). Any questions, either ask here or on the Contact page. And thanks for the help.

#2.1 Dr. Mercury (Link) on 2012-08-28 17:07 (Reply)

paypal is not my friend, is there an address you would be willing to share where I could send a check? Feel free to contact me via my email account. PM

#2.1.1 portlandmermaid on 2012-08-30 22:43 (Reply)

Will do. Given your handle, did you enjoy my mermaids post a while back?

#2.1.1.1 Dr. Mercury (Link) on 2012-08-30 23:28 (Reply)

Not to go morbid on you, but just as a reminder I assume by now you've got all your "paperwork" done in preparation for the Big Event on the 24th, by which I mean your legal documents like a will and advance health care directive (or Power of Attorney for Health Care). I don't know whether those forms and directives have any force in Mexico, but since you have a doctor in Miami as well as Mexico, someone ought to be able to fill you in on what is appropriate and valid outside the US.

#3 Agent Cooper on 2012-08-28 15:08 (Reply)

Yep, all that's taken care of, and thanks for the concern.

#3.1 Dr. Mercury (Link) on 2012-08-28 17:08 (Reply)

What's with all the hostility towards kitties around here? I mean, I'm not all PETA wackity-wackity-wackity, but throwing kittens is just not cool. At least have the decency to wait until they're cats.

#4 Jephnol (Link) on 2012-08-28 19:45 (Reply)

Perhaps you misunderstand the dynamics involved, old friend. Kittens are much lighter than full-grown cats, therefore using less energy to throw, thereby helping to save the planet. Also, full-grown cats produce much more methane gas when they fart than kittens do, so there's another factor to consider. It's really quite simple, Jephs -- either you want the planet to die or you don't. Make up your mind.

#4.1 Dr. Mercury (Link) on 2012-08-28 19:52 (Reply)

Your assertion sounds suspiciously like science, which makes my job easy.

Let's say you were going to wale on your buddy and all you had in your hand was a kleenex. So you take the tissue, pristine and uncrumpled as if just drawn from the box, and hurl it at his head. You would agree, he will suffer little to no injury from your attack. Correct? That is like throwing a kitten. They're like cute little parachutes. The physics are all wrong.

Now let's say your buddy, seeing this failed attack as an invitation to retaliate, picks up a large cactus in a smelly coonskin cap. He winds up and throws it straight at your chest. It sticks through your clothes and into your skin, and the more you scream and try to pull it off the more it scratches and clings. This is like throwing a cat. The physics are good.

Donc Dieu existe!

As for the planet, Gaia is fickle: She made tasty snacks fattening and gravity far too unflattering. I'm indifferent to her fate.

#4.1.1 Jephnol (Link) on 2012-08-28 20:28 (Reply)

Ah, I understand the ultimate goal now:

Maximum maiming.

Of course, I hate to call you a 'wimp' -- you wimp -- but if that's the goal, wouldn't something like an ocelot be more effective than some ragged alley cat? It would still have to be light enough that the average man could give it a good heave at his enemy, so lions and tigers are out, hence the ocelot; nature's perfect projectile.

As for Ma Gaia, you make an excellent point. Respect has to be earned, and what have jelly donuts and heavy, unrelenting gravity ever done for us -- outside of making us pudgy? That's hardly respect-inducing stuff.

I'm currently watching the convention and I believe the word "built" ("We built this!") has just been used for the 1,000th time. Way to start a meme, Barack.

#4.1.1.1 Dr. Mercury (Link) on 2012-08-28 20:50 (Reply)

You've never tried to pick up an ocelot, have you? Picture rolling around in a bed of razor wire. If you can't pick it up, you can't throw it.

#4.1.1.1.1 Jephnol (Link) on 2012-08-28 21:21 (Reply)

Now you're just being silly. I've swung lots of cats around by the tail and there's no way they can overcome the momentum as you swing them 'round and 'round and then let them go straight at your enemy's face gonads.

Might have some trouble with a manx, tho'.

#4.1.1.1.1.1 Dr. Mercury (Link) on 2012-08-28 21:25 (Reply)

If you got the manx fighting with an ocelot you could grab the ocelot by the tail and wing 'em both while they're tied in knots. It's a Wing Chun, Kung fu style called, Tail of Two Kitties. (Chun means annoying house pet in Mandarin).

#4.1.1.1.1.1.1 Jephnol (Link) on 2012-08-28 21:45 (Reply)

You forgot to include the word 'rabid'. :)

Ann Romney is currently speaking. I've seen her in chats before, but never addressing an audience. She's a kick. She has a great connection with women -- hopefully many of those being independents sitting home watching her on TV. Fresh blog on it t'morrow.

#4.1.1.1.1.1.1.1 Dr. Mercury (Link) on 2012-08-28 22:29 (Reply)

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Tuesday, August 28. 2012

Big C update