May 27, 2003 - 1:48 p.m.

i have the sore throat of death.

ok, maybe that's an exaggeration, but as far as i'm concerned at this point in time, it's the truth.

sunday was a niggly, scratchy throat. yesterday a bad sore throat with aches and pains. today is a full-on whopper of a sore throat with only couch-ridden activities being considered.

daytime tv is sooooooooo bad. please save me. and since when did dr phil get his own show???????????

i called the doctor's office at 8.59 am to get an appointment. the line was busy/engaged. called back at 9.02, and - i'm not making this up - the evil doctor herself picked up the phone and answered it only with "HELLO."

she wavered after a few seconds of my not responding and rushed off "scotchmer street medical centre", like i was inconveniencing her.

i gave her my name and told her i'd had a horrible sore throat for three days. were there any appointments available for today?

"no. i can't help you today, i'm sorry. goodbye."

i swear, this lady could not be any more rigid if she wanted to. i finally got an appointment, but at another place one minute further down the road. i know, i am so spoiled, right? but i'm tired of these see-anyone-off-the-street clinics. my dad calls the phenomenon "doc in a box". ha ha ha, ho.

sherriden, if you're reading this, can you please send me the details of your fabulous doctor again? i looked everywhere but could not find them. ok, that's a lie. i looked until i got tired and then went back to the couch. thank goodness my readymade magazine arrived today, or i would be watching more soap operas.