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FeedDog Days
August’s contribution to the calendar year is underwhelming. Couldn’t those days be put to better use?
NOTHING IS SCHEDULED to happen this August. Sure, it’s National Psoriasis Awareness Month. So stock up on skin cream. The eighth month is like Jan in The Brady Bunch — we know she exists, but why should we care? Look on your calendar. There are no national holidays in August. Yes, kids now go back to school at the end of the month. But a majority of the 31 days are spent in a Seinfeldian haze: doing a multitude of inconsequential things. August is a month about nothing.
Let’s do a roll call. September is a solid calendar citizen, what with fall falling in the month, and the long Labor Day weekend. October is a blast; who’re you gonna be for Halloween? Face it, we all know what to expect in November. On the fourth Thursday, we’ll give thanks, eat until our belly buttons convert to outies, then watch football in a tryptophan-induced haze. December means the holidays have arrived and we’re busy shopping for gifts and doubling Prozac dosages for family get-togethers. January signifies renewal. We sleep in on the first, saving energy to watch the last halfdozen college-football bowl games. In February we fall in love. March brings us spring. April celebrates fools. May honors mothers and veterans. Dads and summer are fêted in June. In July, we look up to ooh and aah on the fourth. And then comes ...
August.
The do-nothing month. The vacation month. The month that still lives at home with its parents. The 31-day salute to sloth. The month that graduated from San Diego State University in seven years, got a job on the calendar (his dad knew somebody), but prefers playing endless hours of Wii tennis to establishing itself as a go-getter that could handle a promotion to holiday bearer.
Ask anybody what August means to them, and prepare for the pregnant pause — unless it’s their birthday month. San Diego public relations practitioner Heidi Hageman says her August 13 birth celebration ranks right up there with December 25. Writer/editor Maya Kroth feels the same about August 28. Her best defense of August’s cachet is that “august” is one of just three months that are actual vocabulary words (march and may round out the list).
Kroth will be 21 for the ninth time this year. She pointed me to a story posted online at Slate.com. In 2001, David Plotz wrote a piece titled “August: Let’s Get Rid of It.” (I wish I’d thought of that first.) Plotz believes this most-useless month should be reduced to 10 days. And the remaining days of August ought to be ceded back to July and September. He says the day after August 10 should be left independent, and used to celebrate the departure of the month that time forgot and schedulers ignored.
Eilene Zimmerman (born August 15) is a transplanted San Diego writer who grew up in New York. “In August on the East Coast it’s the three H’s — hot, hazy and humid,” she says. “August reminds me of sitting around sweating and trying to find a breeze. It’s when they open fire hydrants, swim clubs overflow with screaming kids, and parents wonder why summer vacation has to be so goddamned long.
“In San Diego, it’s hot, but we have the best August weather of any place in North America. But that brings another downer. If I die a road-rage death on these freeways, it will be in August — when yet another SUV bearing an Arizona license plate is crawling along at 45 in the fast lane because they don’t know where the hell the exit to SeaWorld is.”
HANG ON, FOES OF AUGUST. Jamie Lynn Sigler makes a couple of good points. “My absolute favorite thing is that the water at Law Street beach is the perfect temperature to be in without a wet suit,” says Sigler, a partner at J Public Relations (she’ll be 30.5 on August 2).
And there’s the retail angle. “All the best summer sales happen this month,” Sigler says. “You can get some killer deals on designer dresses at boutiques, and at places like Bloomie’s and Saks. And best of all, you can wear the dresses for three more months, because the weather stays so great.”
Along with Davy Crockett and Belinda Carlisle, Mike Sager came into this world on August 17. The La Jolla–based Esquire writer-at-large believes August is bittersweet. “But people usually focus on the bitter — the idea that with the ensuing fall comes the return of the school year and business as usual, the dying of the light,” Sager muses. “But August is my favorite time in San Diego; if asked to travel I refuse to leave. The marine layer has finally burned off; the quality of the air and light and water are unparalleled. There is nothing more copacetic in this life than the Disney hues of an August sunset at Windansea Beach, your love interest by your side, your toes buried in the warm sand, your kid romping in the surf.”
In August, baseball season is heading into the final stretch. Bob Scanlan is part of Cox Channel 4’s Padres pre- and post game TV analysis team. He turns his insightful eye toward his birthday month (August 9).
“Isn’t it nice there’s a month we’re not having to run around making Hallmark rich on an artificially concocted ‘holiday’?” he asks. “Maybe the beauty of August is its simplicity and pureness.”
Scanlan wonders if the month might be able to step up to the plate for something useful. “Why not make August the San Diego Crystal Clean month?” he proposes. “For 31 days there could be events and promotions that encourage people to clean up beaches, streets, parks, neighborhoods ... After a summer of fun, it would be a good time to clean up after ourselves.”
Not a bad idea. Pragmatically, I propose a merger of the Plotz and Scanlan plans. Let’s cede the first and last 10 August days to its calendar neighbors. Then maybe we can motivate the town to spend 10 days cleaning and shining our natural and manmade resources. On that independent day suggested by Plotz, we can sit back and celebrate how lucky we are to live where we do — and let the residual glow flicker every other day of the year.
C’mon, August. Rush to action.
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Reader Comments:
Thank you for your mention of National Psoriasis Awareness Month. As a sufferer of severe forms of both psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis, and as a volunteer for the National Psoriasis Foundation, I am cheered to see that awareness in the general community of my painful and crippling disease is widespread, as evidenced by your thoughtful advice that we should stock up on skin cream. Here's hoping skin cream can treat the widespread lesions so that I'm no longer afraid to appear in public where I might receive horrified stares. I'm not sure how the skin cream will treat the accompanying arthritis that I have, along with 10 to 30% of other psoriasis sufferers. So kind of you not to make light of a disease that has been the butt of jokes for years. Your enlightened attitude gives me hope.
This article is disappointing. I mean, did Donoho even Google the term Psoriasis Awareness Month? If he had, he would have found information about the disease, such as:
Psoriasis can cause significant disability and is often associated with other serious health conditions such as heart disease, diabetes and depression. Ten to 30 percent of people with psoriasis may also develop psoriatic arthritis, which causes pain, stiffness and swelling in and around the joints.
I have had psoriasis since I was just a baby of 6 months old. I have struggled with it all my life. I am here to tell you that treating psoriasis does not solely entail slathering on skin cream. Growing up, my mother slaved over my scaling scalp; each night she would comb through my hair, applying the sticky oils, only having to wash them off again the next morning. When I was 19 I was so sick of my hair being in the way of my scalp treatments, that I decided to shave my hair off completely. That is not something that 19 year old girls are supposed to be worrying about. I spent thousands of hours standing in front of an ultra-violet radiation lamp. I spent numerous moments wondering whether, because of my imperfect skin, “would any man ever love me?” or whether or not I should reproduce, only to pass on this horrible genetic disease. Looking back, skin cream was the least of my worries. And I only have the mild form of psoriasis.
Perhaps in a gesture of reconciliation, San Diego Magazine should run an article on our upcoming San Diego National Psoriasis Walk for Awareness, an event that happens on October 4th at Mission Bay. Please log onto walk.psoriasis.org for more information.
Good Evening San Diego from across this great country of ours Boston MA! Your city is a fair and beautiful, the very one that hosted our National Conference in the year 2004! and then four short years later such misunderstanding from a columnist. This truly saddens me.
Stock up on your skin cream? If only it were only that easy for those who suffer so!
Please try harder not to undo what so many of use who have traveled to Capital Hill each year working so hard try to dispel.
Psoriasis and Psoriatic Arthritis are immune mediated diseases of the skin and joints. These diseases hospitalize many each year, causes disability and costs hundreds of thousands of dollars in healthcare costs and work related absences. The medications used can be both helpful and at the same time have the potential to be toxic, all this in order to be able to live in a somewhat normal fashion.
I would hope a public appology for those who suffer might be in short order along with a column explaining what psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis is and is not.
A little education can go a long way.
Thank you!
Karen from Boston MA
Wow. I am a Psoriasis and Psoriatic Arthritis victim - yes victim. One year ago I was a normal mother of three. Now, I'm wondering how long it will be before I'm bound to a wheelchair. I'm only 36. Skin cream, you say? The skin cream I use is only a tiny part of my treatment. I actually take a cancer drug called Methotrexate. (Feel free to Google that and see what kind of side-effects pop up.) It was a tough decision to swallow that first pill, but, I did it to try to slow down the destruction of my joints so I can be a mother to my three small kids. But, you know what, that first pill was a little easier to swallow than reading the opening to your article.
I'm 51. I've had psoriasis since I was 7. There's no cure and it never completely goes away. I've never experienced a remission.
I have it inside my ears. It sometimes causes ear infections and it often affects my hearing.
The itch can be unbearable at times.
Most of the medications that I use have "black box" warnings from the FDA. That's because the potential side effects are more then a little severe. Some of the treatments -- google Enbrel, Humira and Remicade -- are VERY expensive. (Meaning several thousand dollars per treatment.) Some insurance companies won't cover them. Other people can't afford the co-payments
I have to be careful with the kind of soap and detergent that I use, because the wrong soap or the wrong detergent can be very painful the next time I was my hands, take a shower, or wear freshly laundered clothes.
I have to worry about spending the night at a friend's or relatives home, because there is a pretty good chance that I'm going to leave bloodstains on their sheets and towels.
I haven't been in a swimming pool for many, many years. That's because the chlorine can irritate my psoriasis. Many public swimming pools (and that includes communial pools at condos for example) have rules against "open sores". (Did someone say discrimination?)
I'm have psoriasis on the tops of my hands. It's real hard to hide. I'm an accountant, which means that I'm constantly meeting new people. I'm constantly having to answer questions like: "What did you do to your hands!" (It happened once when I participated in a panel discussion. My colleagues question was picked up by the open mike. Everyone in the room heard her question, while it gave me an opportunity to educate people about psoriasis, it also took something away from the scheduled topic.)
I very rarely wear shorts. Even in the hottest weather. That's because I don't want to have to answer questions about what's on my legs.
Mike from NJ
I suppose I should be elated that you mentioned in your 'Dog Days' issue that August is National Psoriasis Awareness Month.
I suppose I should be even MORE elated that it was the second sentence of the first paragraph. What an honorable mention.... oh, but wait, the third sentence (which is an incomplete sentence, by the way) completely stripped the honor: "So stock up on skin cream."??????????????
I am a 60 year old woman who contracted psoriasis at the pubescent innocent age of 13. One morning I awoke and stepped into the bathroom at my home and was shocked by what I saw on my body: Large scaly patches on my elbows, knees, legs and chest. After I was able to let a sound out of my gaping mouth I screamed and screamed for my mother. She ran in and tried to calm me down. Well, she tried to calm me down for the next 15 years, but to no avail. These patches very quickly covered 80% of my once beautifully-skinned body. My mother and I cried every day and most nights I cried myself to sleep. EVERY DAY, through her tears, she wished that it would leave MY body and transfer to HERS. She knew the emotional, physical and psychological hell I was in every single day of my life; I even contemplated taking my own life.
I still have psoriasis on about 45% of my body and I have dealt with the psychological aspect of it. I still cover my body in long sleeves & long pants even in 100 degree weather (I grew weary of people's disgusted looks toward me).
So, please don't make light of something you know nothing about; educate yourself, if you choose to.
To the Editor
Am so very disappointed that this newspaper would allow this “newsman” (and I use that term loosely) to print such a callous statement like “so stock up on skin cream” for people with psoriasis. Maybe this “newsman” should educate the drs or hospitals that hospitalized me 4 times that all they need to do was give me skin cream. Or tell the dermatologists that this was no real problem – just give me skin cream. Or tell the Rheumatologists that the severe pain will go away, so no need to medicate the pain and severe swelling. And I am sure you should send this article to the American Medical Association that determined that psoriasis can kill….I am sure they will be relieved to know – all they have to do is prescribe skin cream and save all of those lives.
And what a relief for me who was hospitalized 4 times due to this disease….. that my arms and legs swelled so badly that for 2 yrs I could not even get shoes…..and for 2 yrs I could not even walk the pain was so severe…..all that time wasted since all I had to do was go buy some skin cream. Next time I fall walking from one room to the next or sit crying the pain is so severe or leave a drug store empty handed since the medical insurance will not pay for my prescriptions since they are so expensive ($400.00 per tube most times). I will ask them to contact this San Diego paper – all I need is skin cream.
Thank God we have an organization like the Nat’l Psoriasis foundation who educate and help us who are so very ill so we do not fall prey to the same ignorant callousness you have displayed in this newspaper.
And to those of us who have this illness and is reading this, have no fear, sometimes very ignorant people do get jobs like this – obviously someone bought him this job. I wish I had that money so I can get some help for my illness – and I wish the same for you. And hopefully they will come up with a cure real soon.
Pat OShea
NYC NY
Good morning to the San Diego Magazine.
I have been searching about your publication, and on your site, you state that:
"San Diego Magazine gives readers the insider information they need to experience San Diego-from the best places to dine and travel to the politics and people that shape the region. This is the magazine for San Diegans with a need to know."
As a former La Jolla resident and SDM reader, I had thought this to be true. And now, I read this disgusting excuse for an article, leading with a "joke" about a disease that effects millions, (hint--some live in San Diego!)
From your website, you state:
"San Diego Magazine Custom Publishing, a division of CurtCo MediaLabs, produces over 25 titles per year for a variety of corporate clients. The division’s diverse client list includes organizations such as San Diego’s Regional Chamber of Commerce, Convention & Visitors Bureau, Economic Development Corporation and the Opera."
I am curious how many of these organizations will enjoy reading this DONOHO article? (hint--Psoriasis sufferers live in San Diego too.)
And finally, to cap it all off, You also Publish this:
"San Diego County Medical Society Membership Directory
Client: San Diego County Medical Society
Focus: Annual membership directory with photos and listings for all SDCMS member physicians."
Now, I am just a new sufferer to this god aweful disease, not a doctor. But I can asure you, I will be sending a copy of this article to my Dermatologist, and all those in her office. (hint--It is a small community.)
Shame on you, San Diego Magazine!
AnnB
I am very disappointed that the author of this article takes having Psoriasis so lightly. His words are like a slap in the face to millions who suffer from this disease on a daily, even hourly basis. I can only wish that my psoriasis treatment consisted of stocking up on skin cream!
I have had psoriasis for the last 8 years. It has changed my life drastically in so many ways. I no longer do many activities like I used to do. Take going to the gym for instance. I do not go there anymore because of the fear and humiliation of the red scales that people would see on my body! People think I have a terrible contagious disease when in fact I have an auto immune disease. My skin reproduces every 3 days instead of every 28-30 days.
Also, imagine almost canceling your vacation because of the way your skin looks! Lucky for me I do have a great support system, but not everyone has that. And even with a great support system I have still suffered from depression, thoughts of suicide, feelings of low self worth, and so many other self destructive behaviors.
I could go on and on about how devastating and life crippling this disease is but instead I will say this: No one, especially in journalism, should take light of any disease unless they truly understand what the disease is and what effect it has on people and their lives.
I hope the magazine accepts Christy's invitation to come to their support group meeting. I think it would be a real
eye-opener and something this publication definitely needs!
Denise from Rochester, NY
While I am the first to admit that I enjoy a good joke and don't typically mind ones about diseases, I think that your article leads more with ignorance than with humor. It is obvious that you have no idea how serious the disease, Psoriasis, is for millions of people. It is far worse than just a skin problem. It is more than just dry flaky elbows. Psoriasis is a horrible, disfiguring disease that is often accompanied by crippling arthritis.
There is no known cause or cure for Psoriasis. There is no typical Psoriasis sufferer. It affects men, women, teenagers, children, and babies alike. There is no single treatment that works for everybody either. Many have limited or no success with any known treatment, and they are forced to live a life of reclusion. How would you like it if you were afraid to go to the store or go to your children's school for fear of ridicule and disgust from onlookers?
Doctors know more about curing cancer than the do about curing Psoriasis. It is not a skin disease, it is a disease of the immune system. It only manifests itself through the skin.
I suggest you visit the National Psoriasis Foundation website and request some information so you may educate yourself about the plight of the millions affected by Psoriasis.