A Prescription For Fear

Dear Diary,

I was watching the news today and normally the news makes me angry, but today it made me extra angry and I wasn’t sure why.  As I continued to watch I began noticing that it wasn’t the news itself that was evoking my spurts of anger but rather it was the commercials.  Particularly the commercials for prescription drugs.

I have noticed lately more and more ads for prescription drugs on the airwaves, and I see this causing more and more problems in our society.  Isn’t the purpose of creating a prescription drug to help rid society of sickness.  But by advertising drugs excessively a number of unexpected side effects are occurring.  Here are just a few:

Anxiety:  “Distress or uneasiness of mind caused by fear of danger or misfortune.”  The ads introduce the public to diseases they never even knew about and as a result get they wondering if they have the disease and just don’t know it.

Hypochondria: “An excessive preoccupation with one’s health, usually focusing on some particular symptom.”  After hearing a list of symptoms people start to imagine they have said symptoms.  An example of this is Restless Leg Syndrome, and after working eight hours at an office desk most everyone will think they have it.

Depression: “A combination of symptoms that interfere with a person’s ability to work, sleep, study, eat, and enjoy once-pleasurable activities.”  This is caused by the mere thought of getting older.  According to the commercials, our bones will fall apart, we will have to pee all the time, we won’t be able to get it up, we will have constant heartburn, and are all doomed to be depressed.

After careful analysis I realized the prescription drug industry is a lot more devious than I originally thought.  On the surface it seems the purpose of their ads are to keep people informed about new products when really their ads alone create a need for their product.  Very tricky!

But I have out smarted the drug industry.  Instead of rushing out to buy drugs to help ease the above symptoms I’ll just stop watching the news.  It is true what they say, ignorance is bliss.  But then again who will inform me when the next H1N1 breakout hits?

Hugs and kisses till next time!

**All definitions are accurate because I found them on the internet– WebMD to be precise.

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Ready… Set… DATE!

Dear Dairy,

Who ever invented Speed Dating is a genius.  It is so logical and here’s why:  if you end up going out on a blind date or even a set up from a dating website you are obligated to spend an entire night with them.  While with speed dating you get your first impression with someone and if it’s good then you can go out with them again and if it’s not then it is over in a few minutes.  Once again New York efficiently impresses me again.

The other night I had my first experience with this unusual social gathering and I have to admit it was a good time.  For those of you who are unfamiliar with the concept of speed dating let me provide you with a brief summery of the evening.

My girls and I (yes we came as a gaggle of girls, all five of us) and signed in and then proceeded to the bar for some liquid courage.  After we received our drinks and properly surveyed the land we went back to the area of the bar roped off for the event.  Each of us were then given a number on a piece of paper with a grid on it for us to write down notes judging our dates.  At this point a gentleman sat down across from me and we started to chat.  Unfortunately this was not my first date.  The gong (yes it was a gong) sounded and the rules were given then the gentleman sitting across from me had to move, he would be my last date.  So I waited for my next date to show up… he never showed.  I paid $35 to be stood up on my first date.  Even though it wasn’t anyone’s fault, because I am a girl my feelings were hurt a little.  Good thing the Yankee’s game was on right in front of me, unfortunately they were losing to Toronto.  Finally after four minutes of twirling my hair and cursing the Canadians the gong sounded and my first date of the evening sat down.   This pattern continued for about six other dates and then we were given a break to get more alcohol and fried cheese.  The gong summoned us again and we went back to our table for about seven more dates.  After our last date the ladies and I departed to another bar where we could rehash about the event and discuss any soul mates we discovered.

When we got home there was an email waiting for me to choose who I wanted to see again.  My gfs all chose everyone so that they would be able to see how many people chose them.  But me, being the conservative, only picked one person.  I didn’t want to lead anyone on!  My “chosen person” did chose me but I suspect he chose everyone because he did chose all my buddies and I haven’t received an email from him.  Don’t worry, I’m not disappointed because he isn’t my soul mate.

Looking back on the event I never expected to find someone I could really date, the chances are just too slim.  But I do prefer speed dating to online dating.  I’m a believer in “the spark”.  Everyone I’ve ever dated I’ve had “the spark” with immediately after meeting them.  While they all are very different on paper the connection I had with most of them is similar and that isn’t something you can convey over the internet.

So the lingering question is “Will I speed date again?”  I think the answer is yes.  If anything it gave me the opportunity to brush up on my flirting (I’ve been told I’m a horrible flirt.)  I didn’t meet my match, but I did meet some interesting characters, a conceded snaggle tooth, a man who doesn’t know he is gay, and a rude neuro oncologist from SF (which only supports my claim that San Franciscans are not my people).

Then again maybe I will meet my match speed dating.  After all it is full of characters and who ever I end up with will have to be a character to keep up with me.

Hugs and kisses till next time!

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