Lewisville... we have a problem.

The problem is that I apparently didn't communicate to the receptionist at Denton County MHMR that not only was I there to see the financial assessment person, I was also there for my psychiatric evaluation and a medication refill on Thursday when I showed up at 11 AM for an 11:10 AM standby appointment. Yes, I know the phrase "standby appointment" is an oxymoron, but so are most things in Texas. However, as long as folks know why you're hanging around, they generally try to accomodate you.

Well, the financial portion went off pretty well... I managed to once more prove a negative, meaning I managed to prove I have no income. This means that services will be provided at no cost and my prescriptions at $1.50 per prescription. I was done with this by 1:00 PM. So , I cooled my heels in the waiting room and waited on the doctor. And waited...

And waited...

And waited. And finally was tagged by a tech recruiter out of Chicago about a position in Grand Prarie. But that may be another post.

Finally, about 2:30 PM, I was tired of waiting. I'd now cooled my heels for three and a half hours and they were ice cold. Besides, I'd read every copy of Mother Jones they had in the waiting room. My choices were now ESPN the magazine or Ladies Home Journal. I went back to the reception window and asked if the doctor knew I was waiting.

The receptionist gave me one of those looks that is only managed by women sporting beehive hairdos, a look that causes you to wonder if the act of backcombing hair to that height causes a strain on the gray matter. "Oh, the doctor left a few minutes ago. I thought you were only here for financial assessment."

"I was done with that an hour and a half ago. I'm sorry, I thought I had mentioned I was also here for my psych evaluation with Dr. _____."

"Well, I wondered why you were hanging around. Should I make you another standby appointment?"

"You'd better. I've got less than a week's worth of medication left and I'm not sure what might happen if I go off it completely. I've been on half doses since middle July as it is."

"How about Wednesday morning at 8?"

"Sounds good to me. See you then."

Welcome to Texas.