Doctor Who?

When I was little, Dr. Yates' office was a comforting place. While most kids don't enjoy going to the doctor, I always did, in a way. I think it's because I knew that shortly after I left there, I'd probably be feeling better. And I knew that because... he gave me medicine when I needed it, he did blood work to try to find out what was wrong, his nurse put a band-aid on my butt after I got a shot, or whatever. Basically, he just did his job. He was old-school. He was kind, but he told it like it was. He smoked a pipe in the exam room and it didn't even seem strange back then. Oh lord, imagine if that was to take place in this day and age. The lawsuits! The newspaper articles! It would be pandemonium.

You see, when I was little, there were two things "wrong" with me. First, I developed what Dr. Yates called "nervous stomach" when I started the first grade. I complained of an upset stomach so many mornings, that eventually I had to go see the doctor. He said it was most likely my nerves, and gave me this horrible tasting green medicine. To this day, I still sometimes wonder if the medicine was real, or made up to make me think it was helping a stomach ache. Don't get me wrong, my stomach really did hurt, but I mostly just didn't want to go to school. Man, that stuff was really awful. I can't even describe it. But if I think about it, I can still taste it. Actually, you know what it tasted like? It tasted the way heartburn feels... all the way down.

The other issue I had, was with my ears. I got a lot of ear infections and my eardrums were apparently inferior in some way, because they burst, twice. That's another thing I can remember vividly; that pain is the worst pain I've ever felt. I can remember laying on the living room couch, just wanting it to go away. My dad had stayed up with me that night, which was strange. I begged to go see Dr. Yates, so he would make it better. Unfortunately it was the middle of the night, so there wasn't much that could be done. Sometime later, after another ear infection, I heard Dr. Yates tell whoever was there with me - I'm sure it was either my mom or my Grandma - that if I got another one, I'd have to get tubes in my ears. I had no idea what that meant, but I knew it didn't sound fun. Thankfully, I either grew out of getting ear infections, or talked myself out of another one. It was about 22 years before I had one again. And let me tell you, the ear infection I had as an adult was just as miserable as all the ones from my childhood.

Anyway, the point is, I lived through it all. I was never afraid to get a shot or have my temperature taken, and I think that means something. I wish I could thank Dr. Yates now, for giving me that sense of security when I was young. I have a feeling he'd just tell me he was doing his job.

Dr. Yates retired when I was a teenager. I didn't go to a doctor again for probably 5 or so years. Since then, I've been through four or five other doctors. Each time I've swtiched, it was beacuse they moved, or retired, or started only doctoring commercial pilots, or something random like that. I didn't stop seeing them because I didn't like them. Well, except the one in The Village. He was just awful. But overall, I've been basically satisfied.

I like the doctor I go to now. He's a nice enough guy, and he seems to care. But I still long for the comfort I felt when I was young. Nowadays I'm not always convinced that I'll really be feeling better soon after I see him. I don't know if it's the health care system, if it's the fault of insurance agencies, or if it's just the fact that we live in a much more fast paced society, but things just aren't the way they used to be. Getting us in and out, as fast as possible, seems to be the policy these days. And that's if you can even get an appointment in the first place.

I have no idea what might work to improve the medical situation in this country, but I know a lot of people have a lot of different ideas. I also know that I'm one of the lucky ones, because I do have really good insurance that I don't have to pay a lot for. However, I guess I still need to go read the newspaper or something, and try to educate myself on the whole situation. I'm 32 now, and Dr. Yates isn't going to start practicing again anytime soon. I might has well learn to live with that.

Sex and Candy and Blood and Soup

True Blood is getting REALLY good. I'll start by saying that this is probably the first show I've ever been loyal to, that I've stayed completely un-spoiled on. I haven't read any of the books, I haven't looked to TWoP for speculation or spoilers, and I haven't even read any of the plots of the rest of the season's episodes. I'm even trying to steer clear of the TWoP forums for a few days after each episode, so that my own thoughts don't get muddled by other people's ideas, before I can get them all in order. So, these thoughts on the subject are spoiler-free and haven't been tampered with by others.

Right now, we're up to Season 2, Episode 7 (Release Me). So, if you're not up to date and don't want to be spoiled on anything, stop reading now.


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I'm sick of Maryann. I hope this story has a damn good ending, because if it doesn't just surprise the shit out of me, I'm going to be VERY disappointed that we had to waste so much time on it. We've known for 2 or 3 episodes now, that Maryann was the creature that attacked Sookie at the start of the season. Was this past episode's opening supposed to be a big surprise? I'm also sick of Eggs, but I'm worried about Karl. Where was he this episode? And why do I care?

Anyway, I am glad that Tara finally seems to be starting to wake the hell up about all the weirdness going on in Bon Temps. Her conversation with Arlene about how Arlene has possibly date-raped Terry, was some funny business (never thought I'd be saying possible-date-rape = LMAO). However, now I'm even more worried about Terry than I am about Karl. I hope he hasn't gotten into any trouble stemming from the orgy-arm-breaking of Andy. And by the way, POOR Andy. I know he's just the town drunk at this point, but he's finally right about something for once. And now that the PIIIIIIGGGGGGG is gone, he won't have any evidence to prove himself right. I hope that Sam speaks up for him soon.

Speaking of Sam, I'm glad we finally got to see him shift into something other than the Collie. Don't get me wrong, the dog is fabulous and adorable, but that owl shift was pretty neat. I can't figure out where this will go with him. Of course I hope he is around for further seasons, but I can't see how this will be a good ending for him. Can Maryann even be destroyed, or will she seek him out forever? And, the fact that Daphne basically said that even if Sam sacrifices himself, Maryann will still keep Bon Temps as her own personal project, doesn't bode well for the town. I know they'll wrap the Maryann story up sometime soon, but I can't even imagine how it will be done.

Moving on to Lorena and Bill... they are an interesting couple. I know few others agree with me on that , but I find their relationship fascinating. I'm glad that it seems Lorena might be around for a while. I want to hear more about their first 70-ish years together. I also REALLY want to see Sookie's reaction to Lorena. However, I am terrified to see Lorena's reaction to Jessica. There's no way Lorena will be happy to have that particular competition. Kudos to Bill for not bringing Jessica up to her yet.

Speaking of Jessica, I LOVE Jessica. She's my favorite character of the whole series. I would watch a cheesy sitcom of her and Hoyt all Dick Van Dyke-style. Seriously. It would be precious. Oh, Hoyt! But, you know the pessimist in me thinks things will likely end badly for poor virgin Hoyt. Either Lorena will not approve and will dispose of him herself, or Jessica will get going and not be able to stop before she drains him. I truly hope they can live happy ever after, but I know they won't.

All of my other favorites were kind of boring this episode. Not much happened with Eric. And by the way, I didn't like Eric at all last season, but as soon as he said, "Do I have blood in my hair?" I was smitten. Lafayette still isn't back either. He was playing the role of Lafayette, but that wasn't the real deal. He's a broken bitch and I'm ready to have him back. I don't think we'll ever truly get him back though, and that makes me so sad.

I am glad to see that the stuff with Jason is finally getting less dull... just as it's coming to an end. I don't think Sarah shot him with a real gun. I think it looked like one of those paintball guns that Jason and creepy-rev were using a few episodes back. Either that, or Jason was dreaming. I don't know, but I'm anxious to find out. The rest of the Fellowship of the Sun stuff is going to get crazy, I'm sure. I can't figure out how Bill or Eric or whoever will save Sookie. But, I kinda hope it's Jason that does instead. I have a feeling he'll be locked up down there with her soon. Also, poor Hugo... he's never going to get turned now.

So, to sum things up, I think that was possibly the best last 10 seconds of an episode of anything ever on TV (the last 10 seconds of The Sopranos finale being the worst!)

I am pretty sure that Godric just Glamoured me.