June 15, 2005

Dunno

At home, finally. Watching Jack watch the Herbie DVD box set he got for his sixth BD. And working, of course. There are CDs to be sent out and calls to be made... I have so many things I've neglected.

Speaking of, I went to the doctor today. I very rarely see a doctor as it has been a universally unpleasant experience for me in the past and today was no exception. But I had to, 'cos I was in an intolerable amount of pain and need to drive to Portland this week and work and keep moving and work and... etc. After an incredible amount of phone juggling and hoop-jumping, I made an appt. with a "family practitioner", who was able to see me within a day. The doctor was a resident, just a kid fresh out of med school, probably up for review at this huge new shiny mega-med center right around the corner from my house. When I told the nurse that I had a chronic back injury, that I couldn't move, that I don't visit the doctor often, she seemed surprised and explained that the doctor/resident was going to be with the dermatology clinic at some point and that I might not wanna see him for back stuff.
"Well, is there a specialist that could see me within a day or two?"
"The specialists require a referral."
"Oh. Who could give me a referral?"
"The family practitioners."
"Is this dermatologist-resident-doctor-in-training considered a family practitioner?"
"Yes."
"Ok, so I SHOULD see this doctor?"
"Yes, but you shouldn't see him in the future."
"I explained the nature of my visit to the person who scheduled this appointment, why did I end up with a skin doctor?"
"Well, these clinicians are moving around a lot, as are the clinics themselves."
"Oh."
Exit nurse.

So this guy finally comes in after a wait of no less than 45 minutes. With utmost clarity and near-divine patience and confidence, he tells me. Nothing. That. I. Already. Knew.

"Wow. You have a back injury. So when you injure your back, your mobility is limited. You want to apply heat and ice and work out after you've recovered. Oh and for the pain, I recommend Advil."

Alright. I dunno about you, but when I'm really hurting (and I don't REALLY hurt too often), I want the pain to Go the Fuck Away. Advil is great if you have a headache. But if I'm paying $800 a month into a bloated evil industry like this country's healthcare system, I'd hope for some effing serious DRUGS when I need them. Let's be honest, that's the only reason I made this ridiculous trip to the doctor anyway. Every other physician is overmedicating the crap out of their patients and I can't get some Vico-Kill or muscle relaxant or whatever when I can't even walk from one side of the studio to the other? I don't get it. I guess I must look like some freaky dude trying to scam some pills. And I'm mad at myself for not protesting, but, then again, I didn't want to feel like some freaky dude trying to scam some pills.

So it's back to the usual regimen of vodka-while-prone, laptop and headphones, desperately trying to get something done. Or put two sensible thoughts together about it all. Apologies for the rant. I'll stop whining like a petulant child now. Jeez.

Music/production stuff: Deathray's on TV next Tues night, Night Night is out with a debut EP, I finish tracking the Jolenes record at Jackpot in PDX this week, then come back to continue working with the Goodmornings (including playing bass for them! right on), the HSS album continues to be ignored by Interscope (sadly), Max Hart just sent me some rad solo demos, Daisy Spot are entertaining a few different offers to put out their record, the California Oranges record is coming out on Darla, the Inversions are putting their album out soon as well, and I'm writing some songs for L.A.-based Rocket.

And I need get back to work. Right now.

YOUR FRIEND,
DANA

Posted by dana at 09:01 AM | Comments (2)