Perks

I'm up uber early this morning, attaching my coffee IV, in preparation for a presentation I'm giving at 7:30 a.m. to a group of gastroenterologists. I go straight from 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., no breaks. Nurse Jackie and I have started calling these days "no time to pee days." Sorry to be crass, but it's true.

However, the super-long days and stomach-churning pace of my life sometimes have their perks...

...Like being invited to a Cubs game on Tuesday night and a fancy, dancy hob-nobbing dinner tonight. Tonight's dinner, at Tavern on Rush, is another good example of this plush life into which I occasionally tumble. The folks abusing their expense accounts tonight are the owners and developers of clinical pathways that all our physicians use to treat a plethora of conditions. There are clinical pathways for stroke, heart failure, migraine, labor and delivery, just to name four out of the 800 or so we have.

So these folks have a lot of exposure in our system. And they problem have an awful lot of money.

I shall not feel guilty for ordering the Filet Mignon! Or the expensive cabernet.

Even though I still have to pay to get myself downtown (few bucks in gas) and pay to park ($6 with restaurant validation), it's a steal to have experiences like this.

These perks also help make the insanity worthwhile. At least I'll have neat experiences to reflect upon when I do end up in the looney bin!