Baby Oil, Iodine, Tin Foil and More

I come from a long line of tanning people. My grandfather seriously resembled Uncle Remus. We have a skin tone that tans easily. My mother and my aunts used to slather ourselves and lie in the sun for hours. For the record, they don't do this any more.

The other day I went to the pool for a bit and then headed over to the golf course to watch the husband compete in a shoot-out. (I was hoping the description of this activity was accurate but no, it was just golf.) As luck would have it, I ran into my dermatologist. She frowns on that pool. She also puts up with me questioning every spot on my body.

In college, we used to use those tin foil blankets. Sometimes, we made a convoluted fire hazard that involved numerous extension cords and electric blankets stretching from our dorm room to the roof. For extra fire fun, we put foil on top.

I'm always attracted to the pool, the lake, the ocean. I'm on top of the sunscreen thing but I still get a tan.

Dressing for the Doc

I am compulsively on time for most meetings. Usually, I'm early. It shows a respect for the other person's time and it gives me time to freak out.

I had a doctor's appt. this morning and I was so early that I had time to kill. I try to do cosmetics and dress appropriately for clients and friends but I do not dress for my doctors. Dermatology is all about seeing your skin in its natural state. So, clean face and no make-up. I sat in my car and was cracking myself up remembering the many times I helped the Belle dress for various medical appointments. I was constantly griping, "Why are we doing this? You're just going to have to take all of this off." She made Hangdog wear a tie for a doctor's visit. I wear jeans or sweats.

I do not wear slips and girdles. I rarely wear pantyhose. I like some fun tights in the winter but that's about it. My docs know to expect me "as is."

I've Got Your Number

Really smart people know to go into duck and cover mode if they see me approaching with a pen and notebook in hand. I'm not going to write an expose -- I just need your phone numbers.

I've never let a vet treat my dog(s) without knowing his or her home phone, cell phone, office phone and fax numbers. If you are not willing to make these available to me, I am not willing to work with you. Every single person treating the oldies has my numbers and I have all of theirs.

My mom went to visit Hangdog today. I will be heading up there later. She stopped by and mentioned that the thing on my face (non-malignant, but unsightly) needs to be removed. So, I thought I could perhaps fit that in over the next few days. I called my dermatologist.

Like all doctor's offices, I had to meander through the convoluted system until I finally reached a recording that told me she will be out of the office until Monday. I am working on patience but it hasn't kicked in yet. So, I left a message on her home phone and her cell phone.

She'll get me in. But she probably regrets that I have her numbers.