Speedy's Cafe - General Chat about anything you like!

[T.o.b.y]

It's something to do with TB. You get all the normal baby ones and then get that in school, I don't know if it's a booster or something. Or if they still do it, I assume so. It leaves a distinctive round scar on your arm, maybe they're actually chemically branding us! ;)

They still do that in Britain? Wow. In Germany, when I was little, we got oral TB vaccination, now it has been abolished completely because it was shown to be ineffective.

[Carol the Dabbler]

When I was little (well before you kids came along! ) you could actually feel the needle going all the way in to the root. Ugh, it was awful, by far the worst part of dental work.

 

You'd have loved our dentist, then -- he didn't give injections, just drilled away!

 

That wouldn't have done for a root canal, of course, but it wasn't too bad for regular fillings.  The drilling didn't hurt as bad as those needles you mentioned, though it was very uncomfortable and took forever (because he used the old-style drill that felt like a little jackhammer).

[Pseudonym]

 

It's something to do with TB. You get all the normal baby ones and then get that in school, I don't know if it's a booster or something. Or if they still do it, I assume so. It leaves a distinctive round scar on your arm, maybe they're actually chemically branding us! ;)

They still do that in Britain? Wow. In Germany, when I was little, we got oral TB vaccination, now it has been abolished completely because it was shown to be ineffective.

 

 

I'm not quite sure what it is, I think it's multiple things rolled into one. First you get a test on your forearm to see if your allergic, that's a 5 point injection that makes a noise like a stapler. If that doesn't have any reaction a week later you get an oral vaccination and then the BCG injection, which goes just under the skin and forms a bubble that eventually becomes a scar. Going by the NHS website, which seems to talk about the injection in relation to babies I get the impression I must have been of a generation where it was skipped for babies and they had to catch us later. 

[Arcadia]

Sounds like the old smallpox vaccination scars.  But those didn't use a hypodermic syringe.  Judging by the scar, they had a thing about half an inch in diameter with lots of tiny pinpoints sticking out of the end.  They'd dab the vaccine on your upper arm and then push the thing against that area.  Those didn't have boosters, though, thank goodness.

Ah, is that what those were? I couldn't remember if they were for smallpox or cholera. It's the one that leaves the nasty little scab, right? I remember my poor Mom got sick from hers. We had to have a whole range of vaccinations when I was a kid because we went overseas, but I've long since forgotten what most of them were. Hmmm... I wonder if that's why I'm not too keen on travelling? Subconsciously dreading the vaccinations?

 

When I was a kid (back in the middle ages), the pen1cillin they used for injections was a very thick liquid, so it required a large-bore needle.  And it had to be given into a muscle, not merely under the skin.  The only muscle large enough on a skinny little kid is -- you guessed it!  My father would hold my head and arms down while the doctor held my legs down with one arm while using the other hand to jab the needle at my gluteus maximus (which probably didn't improve his technique any).  I honestly wasn't that much of a wimp, it's just that those things hurt!

Oh god, that's right, I had one of those things once, most painful shot I ever had! I'd forgotten all about it. Gee, Carol, thanks for reminding me.....

 

Any other time I had penc1llin, it was in pill form, I wonder why the difference? At any rate, they seem to be onto other anti-bacterials now ... it used to be ampicll1n or amoxicill1n, but the last time or two I had one, it had a different kind of name entirely. I asked why but didn't get a very enlightening answer, as I recall. The last one didn't even work, I had to go back for a round of something stronger. It must have done the trick, though, I've been healthy as a horse ever since.

 

 

When I was little (well before you kids came along! ) you could actually feel the needle going all the way in to the root. Ugh, it was awful, by far the worst part of dental work.

 

You'd have loved our dentist, then -- he didn't give injections, just drilled away!

 

That wouldn't have done for a root canal, of course, but it wasn't too bad for regular fillings.  The drilling didn't hurt as bad as those needles you mentioned, though it was very uncomfortable and took forever (because he used the old-style drill that felt like a little jackhammer).

 

Yeah, looking back on it, dentistry used to be pretty barbaric by today's standards. I've got all these silver fillings that the dentists want to replace with that new-fangled resin stuff, but even if I wanted to (which I don't think I do) I can't afford it. They keep yanking on one, hoping it will come out, but it's in there good and solid. Heh heh.

[Van Buren Supernova]

I also have those silvery fillings. My dentist experiences had been horrifying but I guess I told the stories before.

Anyway, I don't have any problem with my wisdom teeth, they just grow (I assume they are) but most people I know had painful experiences with them. Do you?

 

Jab in the arm, I had that as well, don't remember what was that for though. I had pox, so maybe that's not that.

 

 

Other topic, actually, just quite recently, I believe after the latest Christmas, I found out that saying Merry Christmas could be non PC? Is that so?

But why??? I get why, but why????

Especially if you bother to add 'for those who celebrate' which I don't normally do.

 

Well, I grew up saying all kind of greetings respective to all religions, to everyone. And most people (classmates, colleagues) around me did the same. Because to me, to us, any celebration means holiday, and we all cherish holidays, in whatever form, and sincerely wish each other happy ones.

 

I have to say it's a bummer now that it's viewed as non PC, although I still do that (again, for every celebration of every religion and so do most people around me).

[Carol the Dabbler]

My wisdom teeth were removed when I was in my twenties, because there was no room for them (they were still under my gums, growing sideways -- toward the next tooth -- instead of up). Alex still has all 32 of his teeth, though, and in beautiful condition.

 

Yes, it's now considered non-"PC" to say "Merry Christmas." Note that I said "PC" in quote marks, because Arcadia thinks of some nice things (like not hurting someone's feelings) as being politically correct, whereas I call that being thoughtful and polite, so when I say "PC" I mean the overboard kind, and I put quotes around it so Arcadia will know what I mean (because you know how she gets). When I get around to sending out cards, I pick the "happy holidays" kind, but I'm certainly not averse to saying "Merry Christmas" on December 25th, because in general I think not saying it is the overboard kind of "PC." (Maybe I don't say it to the rabbi, though.)

[Arcadia]

Yes, you know how I get. (Is this why none of our new folks seem to stick around after their first post?     )

 

It's my belief that businesses started using "Happy Holidays" instead of "Merry Christmas" to avoid alienating potential customers who might not believe in Christmas. Then some customers who do believe in Christmas got offended instead, and it blew up into a "thing." I have no idea whether it's considered either PC or "PC", since it's not covered in the manual. :p

 

For what it's worth, all of my hippy dippy liberal commie friends say "Merry Christmas," except one, who is Jewish and really does get quite offended by all the Christmas cheer she is bombarded with.

[Van Buren Supernova]

Haiz.. so now I have to think twice while using it? But I suppose it's 'quite new'? Anyway, sometimes with different cultures in many part of the worlds I can get away with a lot of non-PC stuffs because it's not common knowledges anyway (no need to be envious though, we strangle each other throats for many other reasons as well :p)

[Arcadia]

Well, being PC (not "PC" ) is like any other kind of good manners ... using them takes a little effort. Some people are worth the effort, some ain't. I usually watch myself more around strangers (who knows, one of them might turn out to be someone important!) but I seldom make the effort around people who know me well.

[Doe]

Hello my friends,

 

The Armenian neighbor painted and sent eggs. What can I send him?

[Fantasy Lover]

A chocolate bunny

[SherlockedCAMPer]

A chocolate bunny

The first thing that came to mind was the chocolate cumberbunnies. Regular chocolate bunny would be better.

[Doe]

 

A chocolate bunny

The first thing that came to mind was the chocolate cumberbunnies. Regular chocolate bunny would be better.

 

 

Thank you for both of you.   

[Pseudonym]

 

The first thing that came to mind was the chocolate cumberbunnies. Regular chocolate bunny would be better.

 

 

Cumberbunnies are only sent to mortal enemies. ;)

[Carol the Dabbler]

Well, being PC (not "PC" ) is like any other kind of good manners ... using them takes a little effort. Some people are worth the effort, some ain't. I usually watch myself more around strangers (who knows, one of them might turn out to be someone important!) but I seldom make the effort around people who know me well.

 

So you are polite to strangers, but not to people who know you well enough to know better.  What about people you know slightly?

[Pseudonym]

She's monstrous to those. ;)

[Van Buren Supernova]

 

 

The first thing that came to mind was the chocolate cumberbunnies. Regular chocolate bunny would be better.

 

 

Cumberbunnies are only sent to mortal enemies. ;)

 

You should consider sending them to friends as well. I've never let my friends feel too cozy and safe, that's how I show that I care

 

 

 

So you are polite to strangers, but not to people who know you well enough to know better.  What about people you know slightly?

I am trying to remember whether I had even exeperienced her 'polite phase'.. :p

 

But I actually the same, always told my friends that if I say something ruthless or heartless means they are special to me. They never buy it. Sigh. It IS TRUE!! (Mrs. Wenceslas's)

[Carol the Dabbler]

You always hurt the one you love.... 

[Arcadia]

 

Well, being PC (not "PC" ) is like any other kind of good manners ... using them takes a little effort. Some people are worth the effort, some ain't. I usually watch myself more around strangers (who knows, one of them might turn out to be someone important!) but I seldom make the effort around people who know me well.

 

So you are polite to strangers, but not to people who know you well enough to know better.  What about people you know slightly?

 

 

 

She's monstrous to those. ;)

 

You always hurt the one you love.... 

 

I see Pseud and Carol answered for me. XD

[Pseudonym]

I can be very awkward - I don't know what to say or how to appropriately react a lot of the time, and a general disinterest in people doesn't help. So, point me in the right direction here - would you see a 50th birthday as a 'big' birthday? To me a big birthday is an idea that's pretty much reserved for kids and an 18th, maybe a 21st if pushing it (that might be different where the drinking age is 21 rather than 18 like here). Adult birthdays are pretty much nothing of a muchness, just another year older.

My brother keeps going on about his wife's 50th, how they have to go on a lavish holiday for her birthday, even though they can't really afford it, saying he couldn't say no, not for that birthday, and now he just came to me and pointedly said it's her 50th today. I don't normally get her a card but I guess I better had since he made a point of it. I just... is a 50th a big birthday?   

[T.o.b.y]

I can be very awkward - I don't know what to say or how to appropriately react a lot of the time, and a general disinterest in people doesn't help. So, point me in the right direction here - would you see a 50th birthday as a 'big' birthday? To me a big birthday is an idea that's pretty much reserved for kids and an 18th, maybe a 21st if pushing it (that might be different where the drinking age is 21 rather than 18 like here). Adult birthdays are pretty much nothing of a muchness, just another year older.

My brother keeps going on about his wife's 50th, how they have to go on a lavish holiday for her birthday, even though they can't really afford it, saying he couldn't say no, not for that birthday, and now he just came to me and pointedly said it's her 50th today. I don't normally get her a card but I guess I better had since he made a point of it. I just... is a 50th a big birthday?

I think that depends on the person whose birthday it is. For some people / in some families, all "0s" are big; 30, 40, 50, etc. while in other cases only some or one of those might be considered a particular milestone and other people see it your way and don't consider their birthdays a big deal at all regardless of the number.

 

We used to have big family parties for my grandmother's birthdays but that was more of an excuse to have a family gathering. The date was convenient and if there was one thing everybody could agree on it was a fondness for her.

[Carol the Dabbler]

I've known people who have big parties for all the 0's, yeah.  There are of course a lot of people who don't, but for those who do, it's clearly important.  So I think you're absolutely right, better at least get her a nice card.

[SherlockedCAMPer]

In my family, we don't make too big of a deal but my sister and I (she started it) will give a sympathy card when a family member turns 50 (mainly to our aunts and uncles and I gave her one 2 years ago). A person having a Golden birthday (age matches the day of the month they were born on) as an adult might have a special odd age birthday.

[J.P.]

It's awaiting me and I gag each time I think of it. It's not important to me, but if I don't do anything at my workplace, I would look like a greedy bastard. People are throwing whole beeping parties (food-wise) for smaller occasions. Bleh.

[T.o.b.y]

It's awaiting me and I gag each time I think of it. It's not important to me, but if I don't do anything at my workplace, I would look like a greedy bastard. People are throwing whole beeping parties (food-wise) for smaller occasions. Bleh.

And there's no way you can keep it a secret? Poor you. Where I work, it's usually enough to just bake something. The last time, nobody realized it was my birthday, they just accepted that I brought cake for whatever reason. :-D