Tag Archives: Stephen Purdew

My Doctor Weighs in on Sicko

scale2 744338 My Doctor Weighs in on SickoI spoke with my doctor over the weekend who very generously gave me plenty of time to go over the results of my annual physical. Other than higher-than-I-would-like cholesterol, I seem to be humming along pretty well.

At the end of our phone conversation I decided to ask him if he has seen the movie Sicko. Wow – did I get an earful! Ranting about how Michael Moore is crazy, that he is spreading lies, that he is almost a Communist, etc. After listening to the tirade I asked again if he had actually seen the movie to which he said “no” – he wouldn’t dream of giving Michael Moore any of his money. So I offered to buy him a movie ticket because I would rather talk with my doctor about Sicko after he has seen it than before. I have some questions.

One valid point my doctor made (without having seen the movie) was that there may be a better solution than what Michael Moore proposes in Sicko. Just adopting a health care system from another country – such as Canada or France – may not be the best answer. There might be a third way, by taking some aspects of both systems and even adding a part that doesn’t seem to exist anywhere. He suggested more free market aspects.

Anyway, my thought today is that I do hope that the conversation continues and shifts from whether or not we like Michael Moore to some smart solutions for health care woes. At least the movie gives us some concrete things to talk about.

My Name is Susie and I am an Emailaholic

Last Saturday as Peter and I flew to California for a week’s “vacation”, I promised him that I would deal with my email issues. My email issues are such that if there was an email recovery group (and maybe there is) I would have to stand up and say, “Hi, my name is Susie and I am an emailaholic.”
email 795833 My Name is Susie and I am an Emailaholic
I actually really like email and enjoy staying in touch whether I am in the office or on the road. However, now I have had my husband, my best friend, numerous people at work and even my twin sister – who would be the last person to get upset with me – tell me that they have had enough. My girlfriend feels it is a pride issue, my sister thinks I am being inconsiderate of family, and my husband thinks I am just not able to find a good balance between work and non-work. They are probably all correct. I figure that I better start dealing with it before they all get together and plan an intervention.

Well, here is my progress report: I went almost 3 days without looking at my emails, then on the 4th and 5th I checked quickly and responded to just a few. So far so good. Today was the 6th day and I only handled one major issue but it necessitated a fair amount of emails. I am feeling the pull again so am planning to go cold turkey for the last 2 days of my vacation.

Key observation so far – skipping my emails is not the end of the world. I’m really not that important – and I am sleeping better.

Grail Springs Spa – next on our spa tour

The view at Grail Springs is the first thing that captured our attention. They are right on a lake which, when we visited, glistened in the sun although covered with ice and snow. They have made good use of that view from their great room, the dining room and from many of the bedrooms.
01 753418 Grail Springs Spa next on our spa tour
Stacey and I met with Madeline, the owner, who was kind enough to stay longer than planned because we did get a tad delayed in our drive. I love love love meeting the owners of spas because then I can understand the core philosophy and meeting Madeline was no exception. She is a very attractive woman with a great senses of style which was obvious from the outfit she wore. A real country look yet with the most contemporary bubbled hemline. I wasn’t surprised when she told us later that she was a designer.

She had just returned from New York where, among other things, she had done an interview for MSNBC on “The Secret”. (That’s the book so many people are talking about since Oprah had the Australian author on her TV show.) It’s become a controversial book with people lined up in support and in opposition. Madeline is “pro” as she leads “The Secret” retreats at Grail Springs.

What I learned about Grail Springs is how focused they are on detox. The food, the treatments, the reading materials – detox is a real foundation. They have the new infrared hot house dome which can cover various body parts for a really focused infrared therapy. They also have the detox foot baths which I am beginning to see at more spas. And they have colonic therapy.

More about that later.