I've only been once for me. And that was when I broke my leg.

I've had two ER visits (once at age three for stitches in my head and once at 14 for a sprained ankle), plus one walk-in clinic visit last year for sinus infection (I was in between doctors, otherwise I would have gone to the doctor's office).

I've never broken a bone or had any kind of serious or chronic illness, so in general, I don't see doctors much.

I think the last time I went to the actual emergency room was when I was 10 or so. Last time I went to urgent care was probably in college, when I had to get the campus health services to help me after hours when I got knocked down by a bike.

Twice to the ER (broken bones both times), four times to "urgent care" (all since age 22). Though only one of those urgent care visits really counts--three of those were for strep throat, but twice was to the place a couple blocks from work that really wasn't an "urgent care" place, truly, I was just too lazy to go all the way to my doctor when I knew they were covered by insurance and I could go on my lunchbreak (and I was certain I had strep). And once was to the urgent care place that was also a travel medicine clinic because that was the only place that would give me some of the vaccines I needed for my round-the-world trip.

I don't remember ever having gone to the ER.

I know the ER thing was a criticism of the episode when it came out, but I think it kind of makes sense. I ended up in the ER right before graduating from college because I had been really sick and was too busy with work and school and had bad student insurance and finally ended up with an insanely high fever on a Saturday and it was my only option. Urgent care twice since I moved to Montana 3 years ago because not very many doctors are covered by any insurance here and the ones that are covered are not taking appointments with new patients. Which isn't helpful when you need them right away.

So I saw it as reasonable, seeing as how they were trying to work one (or more) full time jobs and not having insurance- they weren't going to be able to get the preventative care and without insurance an urgent care facility is the best you can do. Or if you're in a smallish town like I am, sometimes insurance doesn't even help avoid urgent care if there isn't a doctor's office that can take you within 30 miles.

However when I got the DVDs of that season a few months ago I read the forums on TWoP and I think people fought about whether or not it was manufactured drama for at least 20 pages.

Bravo was re-running the first season of Top Chef yesterday and my Tivo picked it up. I forgot how much I freaking loved Harold. And Dave. If I were ever on Top Chef, I'd totally be Dave- babbling and crying and flipping out all the time.

I have to say I'm fortunate that I've never needed to use the ER for myself. Even without insurance, I've always been able to go the walk-in route. When I was in school, I could use the uni clinic. It wasn't free, but it was a reasonable cost for a college student. Plus, you could pay for limited insurance through the uni, if you wanted. So, I never had to wait until something got so bad, I had to go to the ER. Also, as a vet, having the VA to fall back on when I'm uninsured is a nice bonus. I've had to rely on them a couple of times.

Last time I went to urgent care was...last night, for vertigo that hasn't subsided after 2 1/2 weeks.

I was trying to get a proper appointment, but because my old doctor retired I hadn't established with a new one, so my first appointments were going to be from three weeks to two months out. Seriously, people, if I'm still dizzy after Christmas, I've got something wrong with me!

Anyway, finally found a med center that had regular doctors plus their associated walk-in where they could see me and, bonus, let me set up with their doctor so it won't be this bad next time. And the doc diagnosed probably labyrinthitis which is the coolest named thing I've ever had and said to rest up and let him know if it didn't clear up in a couple more weeks.

Okay, in other news, I think I hate this season's TAR. I only like Dallas & mom, and I think everyone else is just miserable and uninteresting.