Sunday, August 29, 2010

The Common Cold ~~~ Ogden Nash

Of all the darndest things, one of the doctors came to work with a cold and infected everyone else. Some folks like to share, you know? It's completely ridiculous. In our organization, we have an initiative called "Infection Control" and we are required to attend seminars on how to wash our hands. For goodness sakes, I know how to wash my hands -- use hot soapy water and count the alphabet. All thoughout our offices there are little signs on everything from elevator buttons to door knobs, "5,650 people touched this button..."

*sigh*

We recently had a meeting where the Director informed everyone that if we are sick, we must stay home.

*achoo*

Does any of it work? Of course not. People still come to work sick, and they infect each other.  I guess the attitude is ... "Well, I'm already sick, so what does it matter...?"

My throat feels as if a gang of chimney sweeps is in there, scrubbing away ... my head is throbbing, I have chills and a runny nose, and I ache in places where I didn't even know I had places.  What a waste of a perfectly good weekend.

Am I going to work tomorrow?

"Well, what the heck ... I'm already sick, so what does it matter...?

*cough*

Go hang yourself, you old M.D.!
You shall not sneer at me.
Pick up your hat and stethoscope,
Go wash your mouth with laundry soap;
I contemplate a joy exquisite
I'm not paying you for your visit.
I did not call you to be told
My malady is a common cold.

By pounding brow and swollen lip;
By fever's hot and scaly grip;
By those two red redundant eyes
That weep like woeful April skies;
By racking snuffle, snort, and sniff;
By handkerchief after handkerchief;
This cold you wave away as naught
Is the damnedest cold man ever caught!
~~~ Ogden Nash

23 comments:

Charles Gramlich said...

This was funny, despite your not feeling well. I hope you get better soon.

Jennifer D said...

OH man! I used to work at a preschool and I would get so upset when parents would bring in their sick kids. They felt like they HAD to go to work. However one teacher sick means 12 students without a teacher, unless of course she came in... 'cause she is already sick! ;-)

I happen to be a Chimney Sweep... he he... I like that visual

feel better soon and stay home!

Sam Liu said...

It's just the same in school, people (students and teachers) often come to school, knowing they are under the weather, and infect everyone else. It's a pain.

I hope you feel better soon, Jo. I find a warming bowl of chicken soup always helps :)

Kathy's Klothesline said...

You would think a doctor would know better! I worked with a doctor once in the ER. This was before you automatically gloved up to see a patient. He was notorious for not washing his hands and I followed him an entire 8 hour shift once to see if I could catch him anywhere near soap and water. I did not go into the bathroom with him and I can't say with any certainty that he washed up then, but I know for a fact that he did not wash his hands on my shift. I reported this to his supervisor, another ER doc who was his friend, and warned him that I would take the issue to Infection Control in the hospital if he didn't take care of it. I also told my co-workers that if I were to be in an accident and need attention to keep him away from me!! Imagine being this man's wife ........


Hope you feel better sooner than later. Drink plenty of fluids and get lots of rest.

Kathryn said...

Hope you feel better soon. It is frustrating to work with folks who are inconsiderate.

Vitamin D3! Vitamin D3! Most everyone is deficient in this & it is being found that a sufficient amount protects from all manner of ills.

Feel better soon.

DJan said...

This is beyond belief, if you ask me. I can hardly believe that the DOCTOR does not wash his hands. I hope he does when he performs surgeries. I'd think he would learn how important it is. But you never know, do you?

TomCat said...

Scheeesch! You'd think a doctor would know better!

I used to work next to an illness warrior. Every time she got sick, she would come to work, piss and moan about how bad she felt, infect others, always including me, and go home after telling the boss how noble she was to come in when feeling so bad. :-(

The Bug said...

My problem is that I only have so much paid time off & I can NOT afford to take a day without pay - so I have to be pretty sick to not go to work. HOWEVER, I work in an office with just my boss, and our building has hand sanitizer everywhere, so I'm only infecting him & then he stays home because he can afford to. Hmm - perhaps I'm going to work sick on purpose LOL?

On the other hand, it's pretty inconsiderate for a DOCTOR to come to work sick.

Avril Fleur said...

Ha! I only WISH that was the policy at my workplace! My employer's (unofficial, of course) policy is pretty much that if you're not dead, you're well enough to work, and they're going to nag and intimidate us at every opportunity (by means that are lawful or not) to ensure that this happens. Makes for GREAT workplace morale.

Single and Sane said...

I had something like you have week before last. Actually, it sounds exactly the same. I'll confess to going to work the first 2 days (too much to do), but by the 3rd, I gave up and stayed home. No one caught it, but I did keep to myself as much as possible to help lower the odds. It was easy in my job, but I don't know how a doctor could avoid contact. =(

Owen said...

Get well soon Jo ! Love that poem... and if you get a little extra time at home, but can still sit up and blog, then so much the better...

Nancy said...

I feel for you! I had something a while back that was really awful. Now I use those little wipes they have near the shopping carts.

@ly said...

Awww feel better soon! There's always someone in the workplace who comes in sick & shares!!!

Katy said...

I thought lots of vacation and sick days were one of the perks of being Canadian. No?

No matter, I'm just as out raged as everyone else to learn a doctor would go to work sick. Of all people he should know better.

I know at my job I'm always in trouble for taking too many days off every year. Oh, I don't take above my sick/vacation time. Its just that, apperently, I shouldn't be taking any at all. Oh well, five years and four gilt trips later and I still don't feel bad about it.

Firefly the Travel Guy said...

Stay home Jo, stay home. Sleep late, read a book and get better.

Country Girl said...

Love your sense of humor. Hope you stayed home today!

Malinda said...

My daughter says the docs in her office do the same thing. I guess they are just so important that they feel they must come in no matter what. Indulge yourself with a day off in bed. Get well soon.

Anonymous said...

So sorry you're feeling puny. Hope you'll be feeling better soon.

I used to be the only person in my office who almost never got sick. Told one of my co-workers that I wished I could get sick like everyone else so I could get some days off also. I'm retired now, but those words have come back to haunt me. :-)

heartinsanfrancisco said...

That's what sick days are for. It's particularly appalling that a doctor would bring a contagion into work, even more ironic in a place that exists to control the spread of diseases. What's wrong with this picture? Everything.

I hope you feel better soon, Jo!

Marguerite said...

Sorry that you're not feeling well, Jo. That is one of my pet peeves, as well. Take extra vitamin C, drink some peppermint tea, and get well soon!

the walking man said...

Americans who still have jobs are too afraid to call in sick because they know they could be terminated, it's easier to replace a cold than it is to cure it.

Paula Slade said...

Funny and so true Jo! Hope you feel better soon.

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