Traditional circus dog [link]

Why is that dog smoking a pipe?

Smonster, that's terrific!

Askye, I hope that dietary stuff makes Dean feel better soon.

Circus creatures live dangerously.

smonster! That is so cool . I can't wait to see you two. Had my ejg & ct scan. & also some broth & cranberry juice but still no doctor.

My dad just called me to tell me he's going to the hospital because he's having chest pain (he's actually calling the ambulance instead of driving himself).

And it occurred to me that it's been so long since he's had any heart problems that I'm no longer blase about it. For a long period, his twice-a-year hospital jaunts were stressful but pretty much routine, and they didn't freak me out so much as make me wonder "Well, what NOW?"

But it's been 3 or 4 years, I think, and in the interim, 2 of his brothers have died, and he's 70 now, and I'm -- not freaked out, but worried.

But he sounded fine (which I know is no guarantee of anything other than maybe a career in radio), and the pain only started today (unlike his usual M.O. of waiting a few days before going to the hospital), and he's actually called the ambulance instead of driving himself.

So that's all in the "good" column. But I'm still worried.

And I remember when M and I got together, I really *did* like just chatting a bit with him whenever we were both online, because I wanted to know more about him. So I'm guessing if that's not the case for you with this guy, he's probably not someone you're all that interested in. Uh, not that that conversation is any easier to have...

Yeah. I'm figuring I'll go on a second date with him, since everyone is telling me not to judge too quickly, but so far, I'm just not seeing much there.

I hope everything is OK, Steph.

Being concerned is totally legit, Steph. I hope you get some calming news soon. For you and for your dad.

I am so pleased he isn't driving himself!

My doctor said that she knew so many patients who would drive themselves and says that driving around emergency rooms can be the most dangerous place to drive in an entire city.

Being concerned is totally legit, Steph.

I know it is; it's just funny (strange-funny) to me that I'm sitting here thinking, "WHY is this making me worry like this? This never USED to happen!"

So, apparently I got a bit jaded about the whole heart disease thing for a while, there. Huh.

driving around emergency rooms can be the most dangerous place to drive in an entire city.

Oh my god, that just made me laugh my ass off! I never thought about that!

And, seriously, he really used to drive himself to the hospital almost every time. Not even a heart attack could deter him. (I always say he drove himself because EMTs won't go through the McDonald's drive-thru on the way to the hospital.)

So. Should I have beer, wine, or whiskey? I think beer, although I only have 1 in the fridge and I might want another and I don't want to switch to something else after 1 beer. Hmmm.

Tim is about to go to the store b/c he's leaving tomorrow morning to go camping, so maybe I will have him get me more gluten-free beer.