Day Camp???

Jen and I were waiting for our doctor's appointment to see how the little guy is doing. Usually the wait is pretty quiet so I was playing games on my iTouch and Jen on her Palm Pilot. Not too much dialogue between the people in the waiting room. But not this week. There was a young guy waiting with his significant other who was well into her pregnancy. There was another loud gentlemen there with a one year old boy.

The young guy and the loud guy know each other and start talking about living in the Heights and so on.

Then the conversation takes an unexpected turn. Now mind you I wasn't eaves dropping. They were carrying on a conversation for all to hear.

So back to the conversation. The young guy asks the loud guy what the prison's are like here in Montana? Now this made me laugh a little bit out loud. It's not like asking for a recommendation for a restraunt or deciding between a Pepsi or a Coke. So Jen and I slowly and discreatly put our iTouch and Palm Pilot away.

I can only imagine what his significant other must be thinking. "Here I am very pregnant, and this winner is asking how the prison's in Montana are. I don't think he plans on being around too much. Maybe he's not a good role model for our child."

So the question was asked and naturally we need an answer. The loud guys responds..."It's like day camp." He goes on to mention the different groups of lockdown, the flat screen TV's. All of the ammenities from the State of Montana.

Then walks in another couple that knows the loud guy. This guy tells him he just got out. I'm starting to question the kind of people that come to baby doctor appointment. It's not like there's an office for the probation officers near by. I could have sworn it was a hospital.

So the loud guy starts talking about a prison up by Great Falls and how within 10 days of it opening he and a group of guys started it on fire. He seemed very pleased with himself. Then how he worked in the laundry room and the female inmates were there also. I found out in a short time 7 out of the 10 female inmates that worked the same shift ended up pregnant.

So as another reminder...WE ARE IN A WAITING ROOM FOR AN OBGYN. I scan the room after this gem was dropped. The women in that waiting room were intensely reading their magazines or watching the Food network on the TV.

Then saved by the nurse... We were called in for our appointment. I looked at one of the patients and I could have sworn she mouthed the words "take me with you."

I only wished I made this story up. I really had. Because no matter how funny I thought this dialogue was, it did take place. The sad part is it did happen. There are actually people out their trying to find just the right linens for that ever so special day camp, I mean prison.

So here's hoping for next week.

Mom's are Doctors???

A little history: My mom went under the knife three times in one week to solve some serious issues she had. Out of the three surgeries only one of the doctors decided on using dissolvable stitches (on her back) the other two doctors chose the ball of string and the hooked needle method.

While on her road to recovery mom argued (she must have been feeling better)with the nurse when the stitches should be removed from her side. The nurse decided on counting from the release date rather than the surgery date. My mom apparently lost the argument. So she was scheduled to have the stitches on her neck removed and the same doctor should be able to remove those from her side.

Before going into the office I made the point of telling mom again (must have been a suggestion in her mind) to tell the doctor to remove the stitches from her side. The doctor wouldn't have known about them because he didn't perform that surgery.

So at this point the stitches have been in for two weeks and my mom is dying to have them removed. As we are walking out of the office I commented on how good her neck looked and asked how her side was doing. She replied with "I didn't tell the doctor about the stitches on my side. I will take them out at home. I almost did it the other day anyway."

I have to say that the respect for my mom grew a little more at that moment, although being a mother myself I gave her "The Look". You know the one that says are you kidding me, you need to march right back up there and fix the situation! But being her daughter all I could say was "OooK Mom"with a tone of whatever you think is best.

Growing up on a farm there are a lot of things that you can do yourself that doesn't require any doctors assistance. Such things include removing stitches from almost any animal, docking your own pigs and sheep, helping with the birth of many animals, and giving antibiotics. We had a large bottle of penicillin in the fridge, with a needles of various sizes wrapped up in paper towels.

But we always went to the doctor when it was needed. You know if we had broken bones, were bleeding, or dying, the three basic rules for any farmer.

So when you sit down tonight picture in your mind a women (my mom) looking in a mirror with a pair of scissors, well most likely fingernail clippers cutting the stitches then taking a pair of needle-nosed pliers she pulled out of the toolbox in the garage and pulling out each stitch one by one. I am sure some will come out easy, while others will take a little more effort. I am proud to say that she is my mom and I would most likely do the same thing.

After all doctors still only "practice" medicine.