I still remember that in elementary school, some kid said I smelled like fried corn. I never really understood that.

I was good-looking in college. Big tits, red hair, not too pudgy. I hated it, because I had no frame of reference for why guys kept sidling up to me. I suspect a lot of the weight gain was so that jerks would stop yelling across the street that they liked my tits. (Of course, if I lost the weight now, I'd probably have a National Geographic style droopy bustline, but hey.)

In somewhat related news, yay, Totino's! Their Canadian bacon is so yummy.

some kid said I smelled like fried corn.

Yeah, but he didn't call you ugly fried corn.

Sophia, I've met you in person and I don't know how to break this to you - I mean I don't want to shatter you illusions - but you're pretty.

Though I will concede you do look exceptionally pretty when you're laughing.

Pshaw, David I am really just a person looking person, I think.

The weird thing is that the girl who told me I was pretty was the sister of the boy who gave me one of the worst ugly comments he used to call me Medusa because I wore my hair in braids and was so ugly I would turn people to stone. He died rather tragically in 7th grade, and later I became friends with his sister. And later still, with his mother.

Angela and Jordan 2010

Steph, my friend posted the following as her Facebook status:

Normal human beings don't live through five heart attacks. Therefore, I propose that Dick Cheney is an evil avatar sent to us from an alien planet.

I responded thusly:

Actually, my friend's dad has lived through five heart attacks.

(My friend's dad is not Dick Cheney.)

She responded:

Wow, resilient. Is your friend's dad an avatar?

IS HE?

Wow, resilient. Is your friend's dad an avatar?

IS HE?

I'M NOT ALLOWED TO TELL!

I have a mild fever, a headache, a sore throat, and I keep getting the chills.

I'm trying to figure out if I might have something that's contagious and should stay home for work. I don't really want to because I'm low on sick leave but on the other hand I don't want to be the person that makes the whole office sick.

(Not an avatar.)

(I mean, as far as I can tell.)

Teppy, I'm glad you went to the ER. I just attended the funeral of my friend's mom who died of a very sudden massive heart attack at age 57.

My DH has searched in vain for what he calls a "fat friendly" doctor because he doesn't like lectures. But he'd happily deal with a lecture if he could get into an appointment on time. The wait times in the office usually drive up his blood pressure.

The medical profession isn't perfect but I think it's important to remember what we each take into the appointments with us. We build relationships with medical personnel. Those relationships can be as fraught as anything.

Andi, I wish your experiences were better. Health and happiness are things which every person deserves. Except maybe Cheney.

I've been extremely lucky. I'm obese but fairly satisfied with my appearance and health. I'm also educated and self-confident in medical settings--so much so that I've had two surgical nurses ask me if I was a nurse prior to surgery.

Drew, I'm glad you and Lisa spoke up. It's important to be able to express how we feel--and if this has been bothering you guys, it's good a good reminder. Rants are sometimes difficult to derail, especially in this case when it's nearly possible for EVERYONE to have had a bad experience with a doctor. Doctors and nurses are human beings often working in inhuman conditions of sleep dep and stress.