Worst job - urologist? Steve, you've obviously never been to an OB/GYN. That'll get my vote for worst job ever every time.

Eileen:

How do you know I've never been to an OB/GYN?

But you're right . . . I imagine that is every bit as bad as being a urologist. One has to wonder how they arrive at the career choice they make?

I mean, you don't grow up WANTING to be a urologist, do you?

Steve C.

Steve: If you HAVE ever been to an OB/GYN that should be a blog entry in and of itself. I'd pay money to read that account.

E

Steve---here's a tip on whether you've gotten a bad OB/GYN...if they start zooming the speculum around like an airplane, as if they're trying to encourage a baby to eat a spoon of strained squash----"Vroom vroom vroom, here comes the spec-u-lum!"----then it's time to get a less enthusiastic doc.

Laurel =)

PS---guess the same goes for prostate exams: "Knock knock" "Who's there?" "It's Mis-ter Fin-ger...may I come in?"

More proof that nothing is out of the "Corporate Hallucinations" realm. You're doing the gentlemanly thing, Steve. Makes no sense for women to have the far more invasive procedure when the man's "tubes" are so much easier to "tie."

And don't cry for Dr. Mike, Argentina. I'm sure he's extremely well compensated for his pains (and yours).

Greg

Proctologist could be worse maybe?

My cousin is one of the leading urologist on the planet. Or as we, his insensitive and quasi-jealous relatives say - his job is to stick his finger up the asses of famous people. Is that better than sticking your finger up the asses of normal, unfamous people? His first name is Peter (snicker, snicker). Even though he makes more money than God, it doesn't make him immune to our tasteless jokes. He washes his hands and laughs all the way to the bank.

But that's not the worst job in the world. The job that Chris and I judge all other jobs by is - furnance watcher. This poor slob sits alone all day long in front of a 1,300F degree furnance in a filthy dirty dark and dingy shop with nothing else to do and nobody to talk to all day long. HORRIBLE.

Surely the worst job is being a reverse-vasectomist; imagine having to rootle around in there re-connecting the plumbing. Although I remember a writer friend of mine from New Zealand unknowingly reversing his own vascectomy. It was back in the 80s when they were experimenting with lasers instead of nail scissors; his tubes managed to find themselves and reconnect. He only found out when his wife got pregnant. Boy did she have some explaining to do!

Lying scumbag of an IT person? The hell you say??

I hope it all goes well, Steve. A friend of mine's husband just went in to have his done and they only found one tube...there was no second one! After much digging, which apparently means much pain in recovery, they figured out that he really only had one and gave up. According to this doc, it means he probably only has one kidney. Can you imagine being almost 40 and discovering you have only had one kidney your whole life? Explains his high blood pressure, I guess and is good to know for future reference.

Can't wait for the next story...

"He’s sort of like a prostitute in that regard . . . only he gets paid more. I hope."

I don't know. I'm willing to bet that there is a certain level of prostitute that makes FAR more than the average urologist.

The phrase that jumped out at me was "Dr. Mike spends his entire working day fondling men’s genitalia and exploring their anuses." Now Steve, i'll be delicate here. Having had a vasectomy (and I *love* to tell the story, believe me. Comedy gold) I can state with a fair amount of certainty that if, in fact, your ass was involved at any point, then your guy was DOING IT WRONG.

One particularly elegant part of the process was the dropping off of the post-event sample (checking for survivors, you see). You get to drop this off with the invariably attractive nurse in a brown paper bag festooned with - I am not making this up - a biohazard symbol.

- neruda

Steve - Every good wish for a successful procedure.

I've never had a vasectomy, but I did have a hernia operation once. How long has it been? Well, that's none of your business, but I do recall that the attending physician who examined me beforehand wept, saying he was put in mind of the elephants of his native land. Then he counseled me that after the surgery my testicles would be purple and the size of softballs. So I asked: "Yes, but will there be any noticeable changes?"

So - a mine whose every rift is loded with comic ore. Bring your lap top - and stand up when you type on it. There'll be plenty of time for that later.

Pat

Steve - I'm with Neruda on the post-event sample thing being the end-all/be all of mortification. I had to drop off the sample for my husband. I'm not sure how, but as I was getting ready to hand it to the (nasty old battle-ax) nurse, it fell out of its little bag and the sample jar rolled across the floor and hit some man in the foot. I still cringe at the memory. - Amy

Worst job in the world? Urologists at least make some good money. Not to mention the fringe benefits.
But how about the person who has to OPEN the sample bottles? I'm pretty sure we're not talking six figures there.

Thanks for the good laugh Steve. I've been reading your blog since I saw you speak at the Government Communicators conference a few weeks back - when you had me laughing so hard I was crying.

Wasn't expecting to read about vasectomies or Churchill or any of that, but that's ok. It just adds richness to the day!

I have always found so much to laugh about in the world of employee communications. I guess that's why I loved your session.

My clients don't laugh enough - I think I'll send them to your blog. Although, maybe it's just easier to find humor when you are a consultant. Ya think?

hahah 'i bet i can get it done in a week'. Classic.

I'm willing to bet that there is a certain level of prostitute that makes FAR more than the average urologist.