Friday Free-for-All: Speak Up on Grey's, Diagnosis-lessness, Candy Disposal

The opportunities for spouting off on this site have grown over the years from the forum to blog comments to article add-ons. I'm going to take Fridays to highlight a few contributions each week to try and get everybody in on the conversation.

First up today is early reaction to last night's episode of Grey's Anatomy, in the form of comments to my post about Mary McDonnell joining the show as a surgeon with Asperger syndrome. The first episode of her story arc is still sitting unwatched on my DVR, but a couple of readers have already weighed in. Writes CC:

I saw this episode last night. Her character's Asperger's traits were so obvious to me it pained me that the show would allow the other doctors to be so oblivious to her, but then I thought maybe that was the point of the episode, to show how they function within society fairly well despite having the label 'disorders or syndrome.'

Another commenter, Kiersten, also expressed amazement that the ever-competent Bailey, in particular, would not have caught on more quickly. What did you think? If you saw the episode, go to the blog post and add your comments to CC's and Kiersten's. I'll also be putting reactions from bloggers and reviewers in the today's news folder, so keep an eye out.

Speaking of clueless doctors, a poster in the forum this week is turning to parents for advice, because doctors can't seem to figure out a diagnosis for her three-year-old. Writes maxianne:

What I would like to know is if there is another child out there somewhere with the same problems as George for someone to talk too. He has had two MRI scans and a CT scan, numerous blood tests, all OK. He has low muscle tone in his chest, although his physio says she cannot believe his strength. He has like an ataxic arm movement, he is developmentally slow, he cannot talk or walk although he can bear weight when held at the hips; his legs are strong. He is also visually impaired -- the doctor thinks this is separate from his other problems. He has nystagmus and no pupil reaction in his left eye.

Sound familiar to anyone? Stop by the forum to compare notes with this parent, or just provide a little moral support.

On a lighter note, I asked for ideas on what you do with all that Halloween candy that comes home and can't be eaten due to dietary restrictions, weight issues, or sugar craziness. One suggestion has come in so far, and let's just say, if you often get nice end-of-the-year candy gifts from someone named Molly, you may want to stop reading. She writes, under the title "Regift It -- Is That Bad?":

Okay, so be glad you're not on my holiday gift list ... I keep the tons of candy my kids accumulate (and most of which they can't eat) and then use it for gifts -- fill a coffee mug with some to give to a teacher, get some mini sleds or stockings and fill them up to give to the therapist, delivery man, lady who watches my cat, etc. (sometimes with a gift certificate or money).

Personally, I'd say that anything that doesn't involve candy going to waste is fine with me. Why, I regift my kids' candy to myself all the time. If you've got other plans for the sweet stuff, go to the Readers Respond page and spill the (jelly) beans.

What's on your mind today? What are you up to this weekend? It's Friday, and time's for wasting. Dump your spare thoughts in the comments here.

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