Called in sick today...

[Aristus]

I could use some company...

[AJT]

1. I'm pretty much feeling sick every day at this point.

I hope you feel better soon.

[Aristus]

3. Physical causes? Or political ones?

Either way, right there with you...

[AJT]

5. The emotional water boarding I get every day.

And I did one of those cartoon slip and falls and really hurt my hip. I had been working hard to get in shape(it ain't easy ay 60)and now I have to be very careful when I walk or bend over.....enough whining about myself.

[Aristus]

6. It's not whining.

Hip injuries are no joke.

Feel better soon...

[AJT]

9. Thanks. At least I don't have to feel guilty sitting around listening to Stephanie Miller.

[Aristus]

12. Not at all. Go for it.

I used to listen to Mama all the time on my way to work.

Then the local AM staton switched to right-wing programming.

[lunasun]

14. Since you are home , pick her up on my hometown station online if you want a listen

wcpt820
http://www.wcpt820.com/listen-live/

[Aristus]

15. Thank you.

I've often tried to stream her show at work, but my work computer blocks the site.

Thanks again.

[3catwoman3]

48. Have you tried getting WCPT...

...on your cell phone. That is the Chicago Progressive Talk station, and they carry her show in the morning - 8-11 Central time. IIRC, you are on the west coast so it would be 6-9. They also carry the Norman Goldman show in the afternoon - lawyer turned radio host. Very sharp guy.

820 AM or 92.5 FM. I get it thru the Tune In radio app.

[Aristus]

50. No, but I will, the next chance I get.

I listened to Stephanie Miller until she went off the air a few minutes ago. Thom Hartmann is on now, but I turned it off.

He's interviewing some right-wing hammerhead whose only strategem is bloviating "Well, well, well...what about Obama? And Bill Clinton?" I can't listen to that shit.

They're a one-note political party...

[3catwoman3]

53. "They're a one-note political party."

And a sour, off-key note, at that. The mental cacophony they generate is unbearable.

[Aristus]

55. That's a fact.

I admire lefties who can endure to hear interviews with right-wingers, or view them as some source of amusement.

I can't do it. Their mindset is unspeakably depressing...

[Heartstrings]

2. Feel better!

[Aristus]

4. Thank you.

[snowybirdie]

7. Opening Day

Flu?

[Aristus]

10. No.

It's gastrointestinal in origin.

More than anything else, I just feel tired...

[malthaussen]

19. Opening Day on 29 March...

... hell, there's still snow on the ground in some places.

-- Mal

[mercuryblues]

8. I freaked out at 9 Am

Thought I forgot to wake my kid up for school, because I didn't give him a ride in. Panic set in. Then I remembered that he got his license last week and I don't drive him any more. Took a sip of my coffee and said...ahhh life is good.

BTW it is harder for a kid to get a drivers license than it is for me to get a gun.

They have to have 8 hours of drive time. 2 of which have to be after dark. A permit for 6 months and drivers ed. Written exam and driving test.

[Aristus]

11. Well, at least it's done. He's on his way.

When you said that, I flashed back to high school when I would wake up in a panic, worried I was late for school, remember that it was Saturday, and then sink gratefully back down and go back to sleep with a smile on my face.

[mercuryblues]

16. just for shits and giggles

I have woken my kids up on Saturdays and told them to hurry up, they are going to be late. The fell for it. a lot.

The best one though, was good. Took the youngest with us to the beach for a few days. The other kids were away at camp.

Our last full day there we were wiped out after sitting in the sun and all fell asleep. Hubby and I woke up about 7/8 PM. We decided to just grab a burger at the hotel bar for dinner because it was late. I went into the kids room and shook him and saying in a panicked voice

Hurry up. Get up. We gotta check out today and over slept. Quick get dressed so we can get some breakfast 1st. We thought he figured out I was pulling his leg. We get to the bar and he orders an orange juice, we order beers.

He looked at the menu and asked the waitress where was the breakfast menu, he wanted pancakes and bacon. The waitress told him it was dinner time but he would check with the chef to see if he would make them. Hubby and about fell out of our chairs laughing. As it dawned on him what was up, the look on his face was priceless.

We explained to the waitress what we did thankfully she thought it was funny and not the worst parents in the world.

[Aristus]

17. That's funny...

[lunasun]

13. ++You are correct . Experiencing that with a teen right now. I think it was a nine month wait here

after verified drivers ed . Must show 50 hrs under permit , insurance etc.
Guns? Not so much

[mercuryblues]

20. I did forget that part

the required drive time was for his Driver Ed course. We had to attest to another 40 or so hours on our own.

[malthaussen]

18. Happy to have a cup of coffee with you.

What ails you?

-- Mal

[Aristus]

21. Some pretty bad nausea and fatigue.

I think a patient I diagnosed with viral syndrome yesterday infected me.

It wasn't gradual at all; it was as if someone had flipped a switch.

I managed to finish the workday, but I came right home and jumped into bed. Called in about two hours ago.

I'm ready for another cup of coffee...

[malthaussen]

22. Chicory in mine...

... my brother gives me respect because I take Cafe du Monde black.

Rest and fluids, nyet? Maybe coffee isn't the best idea.

-- Mal

[Aristus]

23. How does chicory improve coffee?

I've never tried it.

I'm more of a Belgian endive kind of guy.

[malthaussen]

24. Makes it more bitter.

Chicory, like acorns, has often been used to make ersatz coffee when the latter couldn't be imported (usually because of a military blockade). It is usually much too bitter for normal palates, hence chicory coffee is usually used in cafe au lait, latte, or other coffee/cream/sweetener combo.

-- Mal

[Aristus]

25. Why would anyone want to make coffee more bitter?

I have to clear-cut Haiti and Jamaica just to get enough sugar for my coffee.

I can't figure out going the other way...

[malthaussen]

27. Mostly, I think, to prove they're a badass...

... it's also possible that black coffee concentrates the caffeine more, since it isn't diluted. Some claim it is better for those who work long hours, but plenty of folks who have jobs like, oh, say clinic physician use lots of sugar and cream to give them an additional jolt.

I've taken my coffee black since I was a teenager, except in cases where I don't know how long they leave it on the heat element. Then I'll take it regular in case it's burned. Which, come to think of it, makes it more bitter too, so go figger.

-- Mal

[Aristus]

30. Looking badass is pretty important in some professions.

Guys I knew in the Army would drink their coffee black or, like me, drink it with sugar but no cream so it would look black to any observers.

Tankers are very protective of their macho rep...

[malthaussen]

31. Marines, too, if you believe NCIS. :)

My brother, who was a Gunny, takes flavored creamer in his, but rarely sugar, as his blood sugar is fickle.

-- Man

[Aristus]

32. Most flavored creamers are loaded with sugar, though.

Especially the ones marked 'Fat-Free'.

Fat tastes good. If you remove it from food products, you have to replace it with something else that tastes good. The universal substitute is sugar.

[malthaussen]

37. Oh, he gets the sugar-free stuff...

... I just checked the label to make sure. We were having a similar discussion about margarine the other day. I won't touch the stuff, he gets it but has to be sure it is free of tans fats or hydrogenated oils. Like I keep telling him, the only way to stay alive is stop living -- all the fun stuff is verboten.

-- Mal

[Aristus]

38. Portion-for-portion, butter is actually better for you.

And it tastes wonderful.

Like everything else: moderation.

[3catwoman3]

51. "Butter is Better" is a slogan...

...I could get on board with.

[Aristus]

54. I'm sure it's been used before at some point.

[3catwoman3]

60. My soon-to-be 96 yr old mom...

...loves, loves, LOVES butter. When she was a little girl, she used to put it on chocolate cake. Maybe she still does. I figure, at 96, eat whatever the hell you want.

[Aristus]

61. I agree.

96 is officially "Too Old To Care."

[TexasBushwhacker]

78. Chicory makes coffee taste "stronger" without raising the level of caffeine

But actually, light roast coffee has the most caffiene, measure for measure.

[CTyankee]

81. I'm experiencing that same but I'm afraid if I tell my gastro doc he'll order up some disgusting

test with me having to swallow a device for looking at my gut. They say "just relax your throat and let is slide down." RIGHT...

[Aristus]

82. Well, my diagnosis of my own current condition is mild viral gastroenteritis.

It will resolve on its own. Treatment is supportive care; rest and plenty of water.

Gastroenterologists, like most specialty care medical practitioners, make their money from expensive procedures. The vast majority of specialists are ethical people, but I'm sure there are a few scam artists out there, who order unnecessary diagnostic tests and treatments in order to pad their bill.

If you were my patient, exhibiting the same symptoms I'm having, I would (depending on my observations from the physical exam) prescribe the supportive regimen I mentioned above. Nothing to swallow but water and whatever food you can tolerate.

[CTyankee]

83. Thanks for the info.

Due to another condition I have I am limited to one quart of fluid a day. I do find that cold Polar brand seltzer in those little 8 oz. cans help. I just open one per day and sip occasionally on it. It keeps my mouth from getting too dry...and seltzer helps with the nausea.

[True Dough]

26. I would assume there's a higher rate of sickness among health care staff

I've never researched it. I'm sure there's plenty of contradictory studies, just like with almost anything. But you're exposed to more bugs than the average person so common sense would dictate, even with precautions taken, that you'd be more likely to fall prey to illness.

Anyway, get well soon!

[Aristus]

28. I actually get sick very rarely.

The number of paid-time-off hours I have saved up is proof of that. (That, and I haven't had a vacation in four years...)

I've always had a pretty strong immune system. This time, it let me down, though...

[malthaussen]

29. Definition of "hospital:"

"Free-range virus farm."

-- Mal

[irisblue]

33. What you doing for the hip pain?

[Aristus]

35. I'm not the one with hip pain.

It's AJT.

I hope it's been properly evaluated and treated.

[irisblue]

41. Sorry...my cup of Cafe DuMonde not quiteengaged.

I'd like to know which Dr Mom/ researcher figured out teas restorative powers?

[Aristus]

42. People have been drinking tea for five thousand years.

Plenty of time for both scientific and anecdotal observation of its properties.

[irisblue]

34. BRAT for the GI stuff?

[Aristus]

36. My first line of defense was a nice cup of tea yesterday when I got home.

Now, some coffee and cereal. I'm doing all right so far.

[irisblue]

43. Which Dr Mom or researcher figured out

The restorative power of a cuppa tea?

[cilla4progress]

39. Good morning, Aristus. Today is

MY BIRTHDAY!

63 years young! And proud of every wrinkle. I worked hard for them!

Get well.soon!

[Aristus]

40. HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

[cilla4progress]

44. Aww...

Thanks! I'm a lucky lady...!

Hope you feel better soon! Meantime, enjoy your downtime!

[Aristus]

46. Will do.

Thanks!

[elleng]

45. SORRY!

Join me in my listening pleasures. Eroica just ended, but more in store.

https://weta.org/listen-live

Here's the playlist: https://weta.org/fm/playlists

[Aristus]

47. I like the 'Eroica'.

Did you know that one of the major themes of the 'Eroica' was taken from a series of dances that Beethoven had written years before?

They're called the Twelve Contradances, which I have on LP, but haven't been able to find on iTunes.

[elleng]

49. No, I didn't know that. I missed the intro on the station,

where they often provide such anecdotes.

[Aristus]

52. I had heard the dance theme first.

Then later, the first time I heard the 'Eroica', I thought: "Hey! I know that! I've heard it before."

It was like Dance #6 or 7 in the piece.

The very first time I heard the 'Eroica' was an arrangement for brass quintet and played by the Empire Brass.

[Aristus]

79. Here it is!:

[elleng]

80. Thanks!

[ailsagirl]

56. Good morning, Aristus

My cat accidentally bit me the other day and I ended up in the ER. Was given a tetanus shot and
a megadose of amoxicillin. Unfortunately, the antibiotic made me sick for two days.

Brutal! Here's a prime example of the cure being worse than the disease.

[Aristus]

58. Did your provider get a culture of the bite lesion?

It's good to assess for Pasteurella, a common bacterium in cat bites.

The PA who trained me told me: "Culture everything."

It's served me well in clinical practice.

Feel better soon.

[ailsagirl]

67. No culture was taken

I didn't realize they perhaps should have.

I had to take two doses of amoxicillin (875 mg each) for three days. Horrid stuff.

Have a good day off!

[spicysista]

57. Good morning, Aristus.

Sending healing thoughts to you. ?itemid=8773797

[Aristus]

59. Thank you. Minions always help.

My desktop Minion is a king with a crown and robe.

[spicysista]

62. Happy to have helped!

?itemid=4373382

[taterguy]

63. I'm working

But I'm not working for you

[Aristus]

64. Right now, nobody is.

...

[taterguy]

65. THat's not the next lyric in the song

[Aristus]

66. Sorry...

I don't know which song...

[taterguy]

68. THat's because you're a Slack MFer

[Aristus]

69. Yeah, I get that a lot...

[taterguy]

70. You damn smokestack

[Aristus]

71. Okay, I don't get that one very much...

[taterguy]

72. You've wasted my time I'd like to see you try to give it back

[Aristus]

73. Nope. Too late. It's mine now.

Get used to saying: "There's 'X amount' of time I'll never get back..."

[taterguy]

74. Do not pass me

Just to slow down.

[Aristus]

76. Yes! That was ME!

Don't tell me you didn't deserve it...

[taterguy]

77. Sigh

[Skittles]

75. fact

the last time I called in sick, the first plane hit the tower an hour later