On this night, exchange of information occurred (another blog entry, perhaps) and I did my standard "let me call the doc and I'll get back to you" response.
So I did, and as happens about half the time with this particular doc, he required some piece of random, asinine information before he would agree to accept the patient. Which meant I had to call the worker back to obtain said information so I could then call the doctor back....
Sigh.
Me, to the other social worker: So, Dr. Grumble wants to know the last time your guy was in St. Elsewhere's. Unfortunately, I need you to go and find that out for me so I can call the doc back. He won't accept until he knows for sure.
Him: OK, Baby. I'll do that.
I'm sorry, wait...."BABY"? Did that guy, whom I've never, ever met, and only spoken to on the phone one other time in my life, just call me "baby"?
Surely not.
Surely I was just imagining things.
SURELY an adult male that lives in the 21rst century wouldn't call a perfect stranger "baby". The whole sexual-harassment-thing notwithstanding, it's just plain insulting.
I let it slide because I couldn't be 100% certain that I heard that correctly--although I was 99.99% certain I had heard correctly. I was pondering this when he returned to the phone.
Casanova: OK, so he was in St. Elsewhere the last time about six years ago. He also just mentioned that he used the other night too.
Me: What did he say he used?
Casanova: He didn't.
Me: Well, I can tell you right now, Dr. Grumble is going to want to know that as well. Might as well go and find out. I'll wait.
Casanova: OK, baby.
No. He. Did. NOT.
He didn't just call me that again!
Who IS this guy?
I was too stunned to speak that instance and I'm fully regretting not giving him a piece of my mind. Especially when he had the nerve to call me that for a third time.
No, I won't sue. No, I won't report him--it's not that big of deal to me. No, I won't say anything to him now--too much time has passed. What I will do is call him on it should he ever pull that nonsense again.
And I'll blog about it, of course.
Baby my fanny. ->