I'm going to a dude ranch in arizona in august to spend time with just about all of my living blood relatives. Do you really think this is the time for me to try and become nicer?

I don't know... it depends on the cuteness level of the dudes, now doesn't it?

I meant the Ms. Jane Doe, Ph.D. for the envelope. Inside, I would use "Dr."

Kind of surprised Ms. Manners didn't pick up on the real issue here:

I was introduced to a Dr. Soandso at a party and was embarrassed to have him say, after I had discussed at length an interesting disease in my family, that he didn't know anything about medicine.

It's no "can I kiss your belly" but sheesh. Maybe if you didn't launch into long involved stories with absolutely no prompting from the new acquaintance, you wouldn't get so worked up about having the proper code words to identify which tale you drag out.

Yeah, that was the really egregious part.

Umm-hmm. I think after a few of those conversations, the head of the Mayo Clinic would claim to be an art history professor at parties.

And then they'd get questioned about what they think of that Kinkade guy on PBS.

Basically? People=inappropriate.

I like to address letters to my parents as Rev. {my dad} and Dr. {my mom}, although I'm pretty sure she only pulls out the "Please, call me Doctor," when people are giving her lip.

Believe me, I know, sm. There is no other explanation for being in my thirties and having to answer ten years of stored up, well, crip questions. I thought one day I'd get old enough and everyday enough that I wouldn't have to do it anymore.

ION, The Manolo on PR's Jeff:

Speaking of the bad person, the Manolo cannot help but think that the Jeffrey must have been the much more pleasant person as the junkie. Indeed, slumped against the wall in the heroin stupor would be infinately superior to the rude, angry, aggressive, petulant child he is sober.

And here the Manolo he is risking much scorn and anger from the recovering-addict-American community, but what can he do, there are those people who would simply be better company stoned.

Heh. I work at a university, and the term Dr. is around. When I see these people socially, it's usually a university function, so I keep the Dr. What irritates me, though, is when I'm standing there with a Ph.D. and people call them "Dr. So and so" and me "firstname"