Maybe they think I'm having too much fun?

Oh, it sounds like the funnest time ever. Horrible pain, not adequate or effective treatment and being told you have no other options is a laugh-a-minute. I don't see why we're not all at the ER daily. Like Disneyland.

But I was glad that I could, you know, reach out to her just then. I thought hugging would be too much, but I did grab her arm and squeeze it--we had had more than one long conversation about cancer, and it turns out she got home mere hours before her sister died.

That is one good thing. Just reaching out can be a great comfort.

And I'm glad she got home in time.

Oh, ita. Yeah, I hate that you have to go to the ER, but I'm glad that you and the nurse got that shared moment out of it, at least.

In much shallower news - even after going clothes shopping I do not know what to wear for my interview tomorrow. I couldn't find any suits, I don't know what to do about that. I did get yet another pair of black pants, but these are closer to actually fitting me than most of mine and made of a nice feeling fabric. if I wear those with a black blazer and a black&white print shell, that's pretty formal without making me look like I'm dressed for a funeral, isn't it? I wish I'd found something in gray like I wanted - I actually did find a matching set of capris and jacket/blazer (what is the idea there? But on me the capris were basically ankle-length) but they were "sateen" and way too shiny for my purposes.

I'm glad you are headed home, ita. I hope you can get some sleep.

My personal theory of business jargon is that in your average desk job there are only, like, ten conversations you're likely to ever have with a fellow business person, and everytime we get bored repeating ourselves we just invent another bullshit jargony way of saying the exact same thing.

In my more cynical moments at work (which have been a lot, lately), I will totally agree with this.

ita, I'm glad you're headed home.

Can't believe I missed a discussion on cannibalism. Dang!

I hope you got relief and got home speedily, ita.

My current language pet peeve: what's the deal with "reach[ed] out to"? When did "contact" fall out of favor and get replaced by this feel-good bullshit phrase?

Damn, Steph, we are one brain sometimes. I've been gnashing my teeth over this very phrase for weeks now. Our new assistant is great but she constantly uses "reach out to" and it drives me crazy, and of course I can't ask her to stop. She's a recent college grad, and clearly someone taught her to say that and she thinks she's being business-like. I can't call it "feel-good bullshit" even though i agree.

In both instances, the program is trying to reach out to new students. It sounds better than strong arm.

Okay, sure, in that context you are in fact "reaching out to" someone. It's appropriate. When you're talking about, say, contacting authors who are weeks late with their proofs, we're not reaching out, we're demanding and threatening, politely.

Also, I note with amusement that in the 1930s people were railing against the use of the word "contact" (a noun!) to mean "to communicate with," and its use as a verb was controversial until 1969. Nero Wolfe would be scolding me for wanting my assistant to just say "contact"!

But then shouldn't orientation being oriention?!!! American English, I hatesez you some(a lot of)times!

Going to bed late. Hopefully the meds should be kicking in now. Fingers are crossed for efficient kickage in.

I did mention to a few of the nurses that I didn't miss the ER, but that there were some great people there, and I thought fondly of them. Some were flattered, and some told me to stop being stupid and never come back.

But the look on the J'can woman's face made it feel--worthwhile? I mean, the good ones of these people saved my sanity (inasmuch as any is left, it's not their fault there's so little), my heart broke for her and the thought that she would share that pain with me, and that there was an ounce of anything I could help with...it's nothing compared to what they do, but I always loved being helpful for them. I also drew one of the pharmacists and gave him the picture. Uh, different kinda thing.

and the thought that she would share that pain with me, and that there was an ounce of anything I could help with...it's nothing compared to what they do

Offering comfort to someone grieving is not nothing. There are days when that moment is everything.

I hope your meds are already kicking in and you get good sleep.

Um.

No one can use words anymore; this guy used them ALL.

It ain't pretty. [link]

In both instances, the program is trying to reach out to new students. It sounds better than strong arm.

Okay, sure, in that context you are in fact "reaching out to" someone. It's appropriate.

I'm good with that. Or, say, "reaching out to" offer comfort to a bereaved person.

When you're talking about, say, contacting authors who are weeks late with their proofs, we're not reaching out, we're demanding and threatening, politely.

But...also this. And really, when you are a reporter trying to get ahold of a grocery store manager, "reaching out to" just sounds so hippie-dippy, like you're trying to make a deep soulful connection, when all you want is some cold hard info so you can put together a 15-second clip about soup for the 10:00 news.

It just implies some sort of emotional investment, when, in the vast majority of the cases in which I hear it used (my experience, okay?), all it means is "we called this dude and we got dumped into voicemail."

Also, I note with amusement that in the 1930s people were railing against the use of the word "contact" (a noun!) to mean "to communicate with," and its use as a verb was controversial until 1969. Nero Wolfe would be scolding me for wanting my assistant to just say "contact"!

Ahahahaha! I would be the scold in 1930 saying "stop using 'contact,' you hippie-dippy weirdos!" BUSTED.

ION, I am awake and chugging 32 oz. of water for an abdominal ultrasound in 90 minutes (for as-yet unexplained pelvic/abdominal pain). This is the transvaginal ultrasound that requires a full bladder and SUCKS so very much because not being allowed to pee is the cruelest thing in the world.

And unexplained pelvic pain sucks a lot, too.