The Physical Shinn (Prior)
Last update: August 7, 2026
The John Shinnick Website
The Physical Shin
Appointments
Time for a rant. One of my biggest pet peeves concerns the medical profession. I’ve noticed more and more that I will call to make an appointment to see a doctor or take a test at a lab, and the person on the other end will say something like “We have an appointment available on July 31 at 10:00.” So it began for my recent ultrasound procedure. “Yes, that will be fine, thanks.” Then I get the news. “Be sure to arrive 15 minutes before your appointment time.”
Things deteriorate from there. “You mean I should arrive at 9:45?” I ask politely, although it’s become less polite lately, because I know where this is going. “Yes.” I know it’s pointless, but I just can’t help but ask “Then doesn’t that mean that my appointment is for 9:45?” Well, isn’t it? “The doctor will see you at 10:00. The 15 minutes is for paperwork.” I now go through a remarkable transformation. I generally have great respect for customer service employees who must feel as foolish going through this dance as I do. But much like Bruce (you wouldn’t like me when I’m angry) Banner turning into the Incredible Hulk, I cease being John Shinnick, mild-mannered retiree, and become The Patient from Hell.
“So what were all those forms you had me fill out on line? I thought that was the paperwork. Besides, I have another appointment that won’t be over until 9:30, and I won’t be able to reliably get to your office by 9:45.” I whine.
“Then why did you say 10:00 was a good time for your appointment?”
“Because it was. It was perfect. 9:45 isn’t.”
“I have an August 1 appointment for 8:00 available. Will that work for you?”
“Do you really mean 7:45?”
“You’ll have to be here at 7:45 for your 8:00 appointment.”
“Then isn’t it really an 7:45 appointment?”
“I guess you could say that.”
“I DID say that. Would YOU say that?”
My hair salon (aka barbershop). They're pretty good with hair, and make OUTSTANDING appointments.
Obviously she wouldn’t because she didn’t. But I fooled her. I’ve gotten used to this drill. That this appointment was for 7:45 on a Saturday no less, but it was for a test that required fasting. The sooner it was over, the sooner I’d get to feed my face. I was just fine with my 8:00 / 7:45 appointment. Oh, by the way, the line “I DID say that. Would YOU say that” was blatant plagiarism from the movie “My Cousin Vinny”
One of my favorite places is a hair-styling salon (I don’t think barber shops exist anymore) called “Heads”. Not only are they good at cutting hair, they are pleasant and punctual and when I make an appointment for 10:00, it’s for 10:00. I show up at 10:00 and by 10:00, I’m done with my paperwork. (That was satire. There is no paperwork for haircutting, but then, there wasn’t any for my ultrasound either. I’d done it all online. I did nothing until 8:00 when my sonographer called me in for my procedure.) We’re ready to go. A snip here and a snip there and I’m out the door, looking like Brad Pitt again.
No fasting required.
Note – the day after I wrote the above I made an appointment with my gastroenterologist. The scheduler said He had an opening for September 11 at 8:40. “So I should show up at 8:25?” I asked. She laughed an understanding laugh. “No, 8:40.” It made my day.
