That's a Brandy I can deal with!

Zodo · Post by **Zodo** » Fri Jul 13, 2001 12:11 am

Though it does make you wonder why Melissa didn't bring that with her on the trip. Possibly figured that she didn't need it, since she'd be with Ken.Now it may be interesting to see if Brandy remembers that everything in a sightless person's house is usually in a very specific location, so it can be easily found again later.-Zodo
aka BUNNY!
Consummate Troublemaker

BJ · Post by BJ » Fri Jul 13, 2001 1:57 am

You guys are good!Veryinky raises a good point--and I am going to type the instrux in braille in the final (I just didn't have time to last night)--IF I have room. I was dumb, and didn't leave myself much room.It would indeed be easier for Melissa to file all her meds in a dated travel case for the trip.And, if I had typed the prescription label true-to-life, it wouldn't be a plot point! I know how it should look, but decided to use a little artistic license to get this detail into the JF universe quickly. Otherwise, since Melissa is mum and Brandy respects her privacy, Shannon would never have found out.Oh, everybody--I'm going to try to get the final up tonight, but if I don't, it won't be up til Sunday night. I have to pack for an out-of-town wedding and get some JoBeth! strips done. Finally.------------------
I'm a slave to karma, I'll be coming back--yeah I'll be coming back--but <A HREF="http://www.jobeth.net" TARGET=_blank>for the last time</A>.

The Incredible Hatboy · Fri Jul 13, 2001 4:34 am

Not to rain on the parade, but isn't clinical depression more-or-less unrelated to real life occurances? That is, good events don't make it go away, and it isn't caused by having a "bad" life; it's mainly a chemical imbalance, hence its treatment with chemicals?------------------
Over-analyze events in a comic? Isn't that an oxymoron?

Kurt · Post by **Kurt** » Fri Jul 13, 2001 5:44 am

Um, it could just be that Brandy has a typewriter and an empty pill bottle.

StarrPolish · Post by **StarrPolish** » Fri Jul 13, 2001 6:15 am

I highly doubt that Kurt, since in the cast page BJ mentions that Melissa is depressed and very good at hiding it...
Maybe that bottles empty and Melissa didn't bother throwing it away because she was in a hurry/excited to see Ken, or she has another one for trips...I don't know.------------------
I am a star in my own universe, shining brightly, but when you put me next to everyone else, I look quite dim. Does anyone have any polish?

Veryinky · Post by **Veryinky** » Fri Jul 13, 2001 6:30 am

... but don't medication bottles for the blind usualy have braille labels on the outside? -Veryinky

Juujika · Post by **Juujika** » Fri Jul 13, 2001 7:18 am

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:<HR>Originally posted by veryinky:
... but don't medication bottles for the blind usualy have braille labels on the outside?
<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>Possibly, but I'd imagine they'd also need a standard, printed label for the Pharmascist, at least...------------------
"Why be difficult when, with a bit of effort, you can be impossible?"

Imp · Post by **Imp** » Fri Jul 13, 2001 7:40 am

Maybe she deliberatly left the pill bottle behind. It's possible Ken doesn't know about Melissa's depression either, and she didn't want him finding out.As someone who has to deal with mild chronic depression, I wouldn't want to be without my meds for a whole week. I can go 3 or 4 days without before I start to feel miserable, doesn't matter if I've been having fun or not. (My doctor has also scolded me on the few occasions I've taken myself off the meds without her supervision.) I'd imagine it's even more critical to stay on the meds if you're suffering acute depression.I have a travel pill box I take with me on trips, maybe she has something similar she filled and took with her.It's interesting that the pill bottle instructions actually say what the pills are for. Mine just say "take one tablet by mouth daily", and gives no indication what it's for.--Chris------------------
"Don't bother the nice lady with the swords."

BJ · Post by BJ » Fri Jul 13, 2001 8:10 am

Oop. My bad. That's why I labelled the bottle "acute" instead of "clinical"--I just keep thinking clinical for some reason."Acute" is much more nebulous. <IMG SRC="http://www.keenspace.com/forums/wink.gif">

Pooga · Post by **Pooga** » Fri Jul 13, 2001 10:26 am

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:<HR>Originally posted by Imp:
I have a travel pill box I take with me on trips, maybe she has something similar she filled and took with her.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
That would be my bet. Depending on the type of person she is and the number of meds she has to take, she might have one of those 7-day pill-boxes.
<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:<HR>Originally posted by Imp:
It's interesting that the pill bottle instructions actually say what the pills are for. Mine just say "take one tablet by mouth daily", and gives no indication what it's for.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
That is what the medical profession refers to as a "Fabrica Fabula".(In layman's terms that's a narative device.) <IMG SRC="http://www.keenspace.com/forums/wink.gif">Pooga------------------
"Curling. Brought to you by the inventors of the hammer throw, golf, and the caber toss. I have no idea why scots are allowed to invent games." <A HREF="http://hellsweethell.keenspace.com/" TARGET=_blank>Pyromancy</A>[This message has been edited by Pooga (edited 07-13-2001).]

Veryinky · Post by **Veryinky** » Fri Jul 13, 2001 10:43 am

Actualy BJ, the braille is just a small sticker they add extra so it might be hidden by shannon's hands. I pointed it out to counter Kurt's theory. Though I have to admit that Brandy could of used Mellisa's braille machine to type one out herself. <BLOCKQUOTE>quote:<HR>The Incredible Hatboy: Not to rain on the parade, but isn't clinical depression more-or-less unrelated to real life occurances? That is, good events don't make it go away, and it isn't caused by having a "bad" life; it's mainly a chemical imbalance, hence its treatment with chemicals? <HR></BLOCKQUOTE> Actualy, having clinical depression is a biological predisposition to depression. You still need something to trigger it.-Veryinky
(manic depressive)
<A HREF="http://www.ndmda.org/" TARGET=_blank>http://www.ndmda.org/</A>
National Depressive and Manic-Depressive Association

Peterh · Post by **Peterh** » Fri Jul 13, 2001 11:53 am

No furthering the button trick -- it would have been soooo easy to take that further in the bathroom. No... instead, she uses the opportunity to tell Shannon about something that would be worthwile knowing. I already couldn't help feeling sorry for her -- now I *know* that I can't help liking her (I guess that this is what keeps me coming back to JF for more ever since I first hit on the strip). peter

Michael Martin · Post by **Michael Martin** » Sat Jul 14, 2001 10:31 am

Besides, just because "true" clinical depression isn't caused by bad events in the person's life doesn't mean the medication isn't still prescribed to people whose real problem is on the outside, not the inside...--Michael
"I'm so glad I'm a Beta..."------------------
The <A HREF="http://wscholars.keenspace.com" TARGET=_blank>Weishaupt Scholars</A> are watching you. Shouldn't you be watching them back?

Imp · Post by **Imp** » Sat Jul 14, 2001 11:48 am

I think "clinical" is actually the more nebulous term. I see acute depression as synonymous with major depression. There would still be the question of whether this was episodic or chronic.veryinky voiced what I was already going to say about how depression works. I can certainly vouch for this from personal experience and family history.

StarrPolish · Post by **StarrPolish** » Sun Jul 15, 2001 6:52 am

Well...my dad has allergy pills that say something like this:Take one daily for congestion and sinus pressureAnd maybe Melissa is on more than one medication (maybe she's on something for an ear or sinus infection) and the brail is typed over the normal typing and tells what it's for so she knows...
Gah! My brain is going to explode!

Xiombarg · Post by **Xiombarg** » Mon Jul 16, 2001 4:08 am

Actually, the label will have whatever info the Doctor wanted to be there. Most of the time, in the case of repeating meds, it will say "Take as directed", or something as ambiguous as that, because it's familiar. In the example of depression meds, they (specifically) are Not labeled for privacy reasons, and typically, you'd have to look up the drug name (or it's "family") in a med reference to find out what it does, and the usual dosage.But, as BJ said, "It Wouldn't Be a Plot Point" if he'd done it that accurately, so [i*Nyaaah!*Not to mention, if Melissa is very meticulous in hiding her condition, she'd probably get the Rx, transfer the contents to a plain, Braille bottle, and ditch the empty elsewhere than her home. She can even request from the pharmacy to have it in a plain bottle, too.On her trip, she could probably pass them off as Birth-Control pills, and her hubby (who'd have no idea what they really look like), might even be *very* helpful in reminding her to take 'em every morning!Just my two