I Guess I Will Go See Peter Gabriel Concert in Germany

Mom recently bought a tablet.  I hate the damn thing.  Mom's been going back and forth on getting a tablet or an iPad for about a year.  Then she finally decides to get one, I go choose it and get it, hook it up to the Internet and then hear her complain about the tablet for weeks on end.  Whenever  I suggest taking the tablet back to the shop, she gasps, "Oh, NO!  I love it!"

In order to get the tablet working, I had to log onto my Google account.  Now, Mom wants her own Google account.  I don't know how to do this.  So, she keeps complaining that she's getting ads aimed for me and not her.  (No, I don't know why this is a problem, but anyway --) Finally, one day she wailed while holding the tablet, "I just can't get rid of you!"

Thanks, Mom. 

Here I was worried about her turning into Stephen Hawking with the spine and neurological problems that I was considering cancelling the trip to see a Peter Gabriel concert in Germany.  Looks like I'm going.

While I plan this trip, take care of Mom and try not to go completely out of my tiny little mind, I caught an earworm (you know -- those catchy tunes that just won't leave your head no matter what.)  So I thought I'd share my current earworm with you, Gentle Reader.  You're welcome.

My Mom's Doctor's Shock the Monkey Story

I can't get away from Peter Gabriel, no matter where I go.

My Mom's been to a lot of doctors recently with her spinal problems.  One of her doctors is actually called a "pain doctor" (physiatrist.)  He recommended Mom see a neurologist.  He suggested two at the same practice, one with Peter as his first name.

"Oh, pick Peter, Mom," I said.

"Ah, you and your Peter, already!"

The doctor raised a quizzical eyebrow.

"Peter is the name of her rock star heartthrob," Mom explained.

"Peter who?" asked the doctor.

"Peter Gabriel," I replied.  When the doctor clearly wasn't sure who Peter Gabriel was (sigh), I said, "He did Shock the Monkey."

"Shock the Monkey!"

"Yeah, that's my guy."

He grinned lopsidedly.  "When I was in residency at Penn, we were allowed to have a radio on when examining patients.  Well, one day, we were testing this patient's nerves, and Shock the Monkey came on.  The patient got really offended.  As if we called the radio station and arranged to have it played right when we were examining the guy!  Anyway, long story short, they took our radio away."

That's Peter for you.  Taking radios away from physiatrists since 1982.